Colossians 2:12
ESV
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
NIV
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
NASB
having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
CSB
when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
NLT
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
KJV
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
NKJV
buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
What does Colossians 2:12 mean?
In prior verses, Paul discussed how circumcision, as a physical ritual, is no longer required. Knowing Christ is what matters, and we are identified—spiritually—with Jesus through our faith, not our physical actions. Here, Paul connects the purpose of Old Testament circumcision with the purpose of New Testament baptism. Both serve as an external, physical symbol of the relationship between God and mankind.Just as Christ died and rose again, baptism serves as a symbol of dying to the old self and beginning a new life. These words pack a great deal of information into a short phrase. Baptism is noted as important for every Christian after conversion. Second, salvation is again emphasized as in Christ by faith. Third, faith comes from God's power, not our own. Fourth, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus did not merely pass out, but literally died and then physically rose again. All of these are crucial points for understanding the gospel message.
