Bible / Colossians
Colossians 2
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 For I would have you know what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh:
2 That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus:
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words.
5 For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you, rejoicing, and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ.
6 As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned: abounding in him in thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy and vain deceit: according to the tradition of men according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally. CCC
10 And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power.
11 In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand in despoiling of the body of the flesh: but in the circumcision of Christ. CCC · Fathers
12 Buried with him in baptism: in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him up from the dead. CCC
13 And you, when you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences: CCC
14 Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross. Fathers
15 And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of a festival day or of the new moon or of the sabbaths,
17 Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man seduce you, willing in humility and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh:
19 And not holding the head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth into the increase of God. CCC · Fathers
20 If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world?
21 Touch not: taste not: handle not.
22 Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men.
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism
- CCC 484 “The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates "the fullness of time", The time of the fulfilment of God's promises and preparations. Mary was invited…”
- CCC 515 “The Gospels were written by men who were among the first to have the faith 174 and wanted to share it with…”
- CCC 722 “The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom "the whole fullness of…”
- CCC 2502 “Sacred art is true and beautiful when its form corresponds to its particular vocation: evoking and glorifying, in faith and adoration, the…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 527 “Jesus' circumcision, on the eighth day after his birth, is the sign of his incorporation into Abraham's descendants, into the people of…”
“For "we," says the apostle, "have been circumcised with the circumcision made without hands.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 527 “Jesus' circumcision, on the eighth day after his birth, is the sign of his incorporation into Abraham's descendants, into the people of…”
- CCC 628 “Baptism, the original and full sign of which is immersion, efficaciously signifies the descent into the tomb by the Christian who dies…”
- CCC 1002 “Christ will raise us up "on the last day"; but it is also true that, in a certain way, we have already…”
- CCC 1214 “This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge"…”
- CCC 1227 “According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ's death, is buried with him, and rises with…”
- CCC 1694 “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, Christians are "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" and so participate in the…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 527 “Jesus' circumcision, on the eighth day after his birth, is the sign of his incorporation into Abraham's descendants, into the people of…”
Read the Fathers
“advent, by which "He has destroyed the handwriting" of our debt, and "fastened it to the cross;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 794 “Christ provides for our growth: to make us grow toward him, our head, he provides in his Body, the Church, the gifts…”
“… first of all "hold the head, from which the whole body is compacted and bound together, and, through means of every joint according to the measure of the ministration of each several part, maketh increase of the body to the edification of itself in love.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“Remember, therefore, my beloved friend, that thou hast been redeemed by the flesh of our Lord, re-established by His blood; and "holding the Head, from which the whole body of the Church, having been fitted together, takes increase”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XIV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.