1For I would that ye knew what great conflict
I have for you, and for them
at Laodicea, and for as
many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2That their hearts might be comforted, being
knit together in love, and unto all riches of the
full assurance of understanding, to the
acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the
Father, and of Christ;
3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge.
4And this I say, lest any man should beguile
you with enticing words.
5For though I be 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.
6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk
ye in him:
7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished
in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding
therein with thanksgiving.
8Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of
men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ.
9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily.
10And ye are complete in him, which is the
head of all principality and power:
11In 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
Christ:
12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye
are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
him from the dead.
13And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses;
14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15And having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of
them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or
in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new
moon, or of the sabbath days:
17Which are a shadow of things to come; but
the body is of
Christ.
18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a
voluntary humility and worshipping of angels,
intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19And not holding the Head, from which all
the body by joints and bands having nourishment
ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the
increase of God.
20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from
the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in
the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22Which all are to perish with the using;)
after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom
in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the
body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the
flesh.