⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(A)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(B) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(C) and seated us with him^(D) in the heavenly realms^(E) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(F) expressed in his kindness^(G) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace^(H) you have been saved,^(I) through faith^(J)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(K) so that no one can boast.^{(L) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(M) created^(N) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(O) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly^(P) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)^(Q)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(R) to the covenants of the promise,^(S) without hope^(T) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(U) were far away have been brought near^(V) by the blood of Christ.^(W)

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace,^(X) who has made the two groups one^(Y) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh^(Z) the law with its commands and regulations.^(AA) His purpose was to create in himself one^(AB) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(AC) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace^(AD) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(AE) 18} For through him we both have access^(AF) to the Father^(AG) by one Spirit.^(AH)

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(AI) but fellow citizens^(AJ) with God’s people and also members of his household,^{(AK) 20} built^(AL) on the foundation^(AM) of the apostles and prophets,^(AN) with Christ Jesus himself^(AO) as the chief cornerstone.^{(AP) 21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(AQ) in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(AR)

¹² having been buried with him in baptism,^(A) in which you were also raised with him^(B) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^(C)

¹³ When you were dead in your sins^(D) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[a] alive^(E) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,^{(F) 14} having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,^(G) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.^{(H) 15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities,^(I) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them^(J) by the cross.^[b]

Freedom From Human Rules

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you^(K) by what you eat or drink,^(L) or with regard to a religious festival,^(M) a New Moon celebration^(N) or a Sabbath day.^{(O) 17} These are a shadow of the things that were to come;^(P) the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility^(Q) and the worship of angels disqualify you.^(R) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. ¹⁹ They have lost connection with the head,^(S) from whom the whole body,^(T) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.^(U)

²⁰ Since you died with Christ^(V) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,^(W) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:^{(X) 21} “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish^(Y) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.^{(Z) 23} Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility^(AA) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.