1 F or I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in 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 may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of 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 hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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

4 N ow this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive 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 spirit, rejoicing to see your good 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 A s you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

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

7 r ooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it 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 anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to 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 you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Not Legalism but Christ

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

11 I n Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of 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 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.

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 A nd you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive 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 h aving wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the 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 H aving disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

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

16 S o let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

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 substance is of Christ.

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

18 L et no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his 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, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from 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 T herefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

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

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

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

22 w hich all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

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

23 T hese things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence 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.