1 F or 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;

For 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,

2 t hat 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,

that 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,

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

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

4 N ow this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

5 F or 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.

For 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.

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

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

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

rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 B e 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.

Beware 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.

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

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

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

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Not Legalism but Christ

11 i n 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;

In 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,

12 h aving 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.

buried 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.

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

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

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

having 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.

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

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

16 L et 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,

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

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

which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

18 L et 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,

Let 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,

19 a nd 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.

and 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.

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

Therefore, 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—

21 “ Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”

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

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

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

23 W hich 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.

These 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.