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 what combat I have for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in 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;

to 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;

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

in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.

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

And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive 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 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.

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

As therefore ye have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, 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 built up in him, and assured in the faith, even as ye have been taught, abounding in it with 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.

See 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.

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

For in him dwells 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 ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and authority,

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 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;

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.

buried 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.

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 in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, having forgiven us all the offences;

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 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;

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

having spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by 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 none therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in matter of feast, or new moon, or sabbaths,

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

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

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 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,

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, ministered to and united together by the joints and bands, increases 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 have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as alive in world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?

21 t ouch not; taste not; handle not?

Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,

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

(things which are all for destruction in the using:) according to the injunctions and teachings 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 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.