1 I want you to know how hard I have worked for you and for the Christians in the city of Laodicea and for those who have never seen me.

Защото желая да знаете каква голяма борба имам за вас и за онези, които са в Лаодикия, и за онези, които не са ме виждали лично,

2 M ay their hearts be given comfort. May they be brought close together in Christian love. May they be rich in understanding and know God’s secret. It is Christ Himself.

за да се утешат сърцата им и, свързани заедно в любов за всяко обогатяване със съвършено проумяване, да познаят Божията тайна, т. е. Христос,

3 I n Christ are hidden all the riches of wisdom and understanding.

в Когото са скрити всички съкровища на премъдростта и знанието.

4 I tell you this so no one will try to change your mind with big sounding talk.

Това ви казвам, за да не ви измами някой с убедителни думи.

5 E ven if I am far away from you in body, I am with you in spirit. I am happy to learn how well you are getting along. It is good to hear that your faith is so strong in Christ.

Защото, ако и да не съм с вас телом, пак духом съм с вас и се радвам, като гледам вашата уредба и постоянството на вашата вяра спрямо Христос.

6 A s you have put your trust in Christ Jesus the Lord to save you from the punishment of sin, now let Him lead you in every step.

И така, както сте приели Христос Исус, Господа, така и ходете в Него,

7 H ave your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him. Wisdom of the World Is Empty

вкоренени и назидавани в Него, утвърждавани във вярата си, както бяхте научени, като изобилствате в нея с благодарение.

8 B e careful that no one changes your mind and faith by much learning and big sounding ideas. Those things are what men dream up. They are always trying to make new religions. These leave out Christ.

Внимавайте да не ви заплени някой с философстването си и с празна измама, по човешки предания, по ученията на света, а не по Христос.

9 F or Christ is not only God-like, He is God in human flesh.

Защото в Него обитава телесно цялата пълнота на Божеството;

10 W hen you have Christ, you are complete. He is the head over all leaders and powers.

и вие имате пълнота в Него, Който е глава на всяко началство и власт.

11 W hen you became a Christian, you were set free from the sinful things of the world. This was not done by human hands. You were set free from the sins of your old self by what was done in Christ’s body.

В Него бяхте и обрязани с обрязване, извършено не от ръка, а с обрязването, което е от Христос, като съблякохте плътското тяло;

12 W hen you were baptized, you were buried as Christ was buried. When you were raised up in baptism, you were raised as Christ was raised. You were raised to a new life by putting your trust in God. It was God Who raised Jesus from the dead.

погребани с Него в кръщението, в което бяхте и възкресени с Него чрез вяра в действието на Бога, Който Го възкреси от мъртвите.

13 W hen you were dead in your sins, you were not set free from the sinful things of the world. But God forgave your sins and gave you new life through Christ.

И вас, които бяхте мъртви чрез прегрешенията си и необрязаното си плътско естество, вас съживи с Него, като прости всичките ви престъпления;

14 W e had broken the Law many ways. Those sins were held against us by the Law. That Law had writings which said we were sinners. But now He has destroyed that writing by nailing it to the cross.

и като заличи противния ни в постановленията Му закон, който беше враждебен към нас, махна го отсред нас и го прикова на кръста;

15 G od took away the power of the leaders of this world and the powers of darkness. He showed them to the world. The battle was won over them through Christ. Watch for Those Who Want to Keep the Law

и като обезоръжи началствата и властите, изведе ги явно на показ, като възтържествува над тях чрез Него. Свобода чрез Христос

16 D o not let anyone tell you what you should or should not eat or drink. They have no right to say if it is right or wrong to eat certain foods or if you are to go to religious suppers. They have no right to say what you are to do at the time of the new moon or on the Day of Rest.

И така, никой да не ви осъжда за това, което ядете или което пиете, или за нещо относно някой празник, или новолуние, или събота,

17 T hese things are a picture of what is coming. The important thing is Christ Himself.

които са сянка на онова, което ще дойде, но тялото е Христово.

18 D o not let anyone rob you of your crown. They will try to get you to bow down in worship of angels. They think this shows you are not proud. They say they were told to do this in a dream. These people are proud because of their sinful minds.

Никой да не ви отнеме наградата с измама, чрез самоволно смиреномъдрие и поклонение на ангели, като наднича в неща, които не е видял, и напразно се надува с плътския си ум,

19 S uch people are not a part of Christ. Christ is the Head. We Christians make up His body. We are joined together as a body is held together. Our strength to grow comes from Christ.

а не държи главата Христос, от Когото цялото тяло, снабдявано и сплотено чрез ставите и жилите си, расте с нарастване, дадено от Бога.

20 Y ou have died with Christ and become dead to those old ways. Then why do you follow the old ways of worship? Why do you obey man-made rules?

Ако сте умрели с Христос относно първоначалните учения на света, то защо, като че ли живеете в света, се подчинявате на постановления, като:

21 T hese rules say, “You must not put your hand on this.” “Do not put this into your mouth.” “You must not put your finger on that.”

"Не се докосвай", "Не вкусвай", "Не пипай"

22 A ll these things come to an end when they are used. You are following only man-made rules.

(които всички се развалят от употреба), според човешки заповеди и учения?

23 I t looks as if it is wise to follow these rules in an act of worship, because they are hard on the body. It looks as if they are done without pride, but they are worth nothing. They do not take away a man’s desire to sin.

Тези неща наистина имат вид на мъдрост в произволно богослужение и смирение и в нещадене на тялото, но не струват нищо в борбата против угаждането на тялото.