1 ¶ For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

For 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;

2 t hat their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in charity and in all the riches of the fulfilled understanding to know the mystery of the God and Father and of the Christ;

that 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,

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

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

4 ¶ And this I say lest anyone should beguile you with enticing words.

This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

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

For 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.

6 T herefore in the manner in which ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him,

As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

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

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

8 B eware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

Take 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:

9 F or in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,

for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

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

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

11 I n whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of the Christ;

in 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;

12 b uried together with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.

having 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.

13 ¶ And you, being dead in sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

And 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;

14 b lotting out the bill of the decrees that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross,

having 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;

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

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

16 ¶ Let no one therefore judge you in food or in drink or in respect of a feast day or of the new moon or of the sabbath days,

Let 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:

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

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

18 L et no one govern you according to their own will under pretext of humility and religion of angels, intruding into those things which they have not seen, vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind,

Let 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,

19 a nd not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, fed and united by its joints and bonds, grows in the increase of God.

and 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.

20 F or if ye are dead with the Christ to the elements of the world, why, as though living unto the world, do ye decree rites,

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

21 t ouch not; taste not; handle not?

Handle not, nor taste, nor touch

22 W hich all perish with the using, because they are the commandments and doctrines of men,

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

23 w hich things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body, but they have absolutely no value against the appetites of the flesh.

Which 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.