1 F or I would have you know what combat I have for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in flesh;

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 t o the end that their hearts may be encouraged, being united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to full knowledge of the mystery of God;

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

3 i n which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.

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

4 A nd I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech.

Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

5 F or if indeed in the flesh I am absent, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

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

As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,

7 r ooted and built up in him, and assured in the faith, even as ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

8 S ee that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

9 F or in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;

For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,

10 a nd ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and authority,

and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

11 i n whom also ye have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ;

in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

12 b uried with him in baptism, in which ye have been also raised with through faith of the working of God who raised him from among the dead.

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.

13 A nd you, being dead in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, having forgiven us all the offences;

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 h aving effaced the handwriting in ordinances which against us, which was contrary to us, he has taken it also out of the way, having nailed it to the cross;

wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;

15 h aving spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by it.

having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 L et none therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in matter of feast, or new moon, or sabbaths,

Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

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

which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

18 L et no one fraudulently deprive you of your prize, doing his own will in humility and worship of angels, entering into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,

Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 a nd not holding fast the head, from whom all the body, ministered to and united together by the joints and bands, increases with the increase of God.

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.

20 I f ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as alive in world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?

If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

21 D o not handle, do not taste, do not touch,

“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”

22 ( things which are all for destruction in the using:) according to the injunctions and teachings of men,

(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?

23 ( which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, not in a certain honour,) to satisfaction of the flesh.

Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.