1 F or I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

2 t hat their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,

that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

3 i n whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 T his I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

5 F or though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

6 A s therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

7 r ooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

8 T ake heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

9 f or in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

10 a nd in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:

and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

11 i n whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

12 h aving been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

13 A nd you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

14 h aving blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15 h aving despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

16 L et no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

17 w hich are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

18 L et no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,

19 a nd not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.

and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

20 I f ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,

If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,

21 H andle not, nor taste, nor touch

“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”

22 ( all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

(which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?

23 W hich things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.