1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

For 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;

2 I do this so that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and that they may have all the riches of full assurance of understanding, which leads to the full knowledge of God's mystery—Christ himself.

That 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;

3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I say this so that no one may deceive you with persuasive arguments.

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5 For even though I am absent in the body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your orderly conduct and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

For 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.

6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him.

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

7 Be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, based on human tradition and the elemental principles of the world rather than on Christ.

Beware 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.

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And you have been made complete in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done by hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ.

In 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:

12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Buried 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.

13 And when you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ, forgiving us all our trespasses.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 He erased the legal debt that stood against us with its decrees. He took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Blotting 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;

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities, and he publicly exposed them, triumphing over them in him.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Therefore, let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or regarding a festival, a new moon, or Sabbaths.

Let 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:

17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to Christ.

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

18 Let no one disqualify you by delighting in false humility and the worship of angels, dwelling on things he has not seen, being puffed up without reason by his fleshly mind.

Let 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,

19 Such a person does not hold fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that comes from God.

And 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.

20 If you died with Christ to the elemental principles of the world, why, as though still living in the world, do you submit to its decrees?

Wherefore 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 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle"—

Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 which all perish as they are used—based on human commands and teachings.

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 These have an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Which 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.