Colossians 2
1 For I desire you to know, how great a contest I am having—in behalf of you, and of those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
For 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;
2 In order that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, even unto all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding, unto a personal knowledge of the sacred secret of God, —Christ:
that 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, namely, Messiah,
3 In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away.
in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
4 This I say, in order that, no one, may be reasoning, you, aside with plausible discourse;
Now I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive words.
5 For, though, indeed, in the flesh, I am absent, yet, in the spirit, with you, I am—rejoicing, and beholding your order and the solid firmness of your Christ-ward faith.
For 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 Messiah.
6 As therefore ye have accepted the Anointed Jesus as your Lord, in him, be walking, —
As therefore you received Messiah Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
7 Rooted, and being built up, in him, and making yourselves sure in your faith, even as ye have been taught, —surpassing therein with thanksgiving.
rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, —according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, —and not according to Christ:
Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty and deceptive philosophy, according to human tradition, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Messiah.
9 Because, in him, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily,
For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10 And ye are, in him, filled full, —Who, is the head of all principality and authority,
and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
11 In whom, ye have also been circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand, in the despoiling of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ, —
in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah;
12 Having been buried together with him in your immersion, wherein also ye have been raised together, through your faith in the energising of God—Who raised him from among the dead.
having 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.
13 And, as for you—who were, dead, by your offences and by the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath brought you to life together with him, —having in favour forgiven us all our offences,
You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 Having blotted out the handwriting against us by the decrees, which was hostile to us, —and hath taken away, the same, out of the midst, nailing it up to the cross:
wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
15 Spoiling the principalities and the authorities, he made of them an open example, celebrating a triumph over them thereby.
having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no one, therefore, be judging, you, —in eating and in drinking, or in respect of feast, or new moon, or sabbath, —
Therefore do not let anyone judge you about food and drink, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17 Which are a shadow of the things to come, whereas, the body, is of the Christ.
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah's.
18 Let, no one, against you, be arbitrating, however wishful, —in respect of lowliness of mind, and of a religious observance of the messengers: upon what things he hath seen, taking his stand, in vain, puffed up by his carnal mind, —
Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding fast the head: from which, all the body, through means of its joints and uniting bands, receiving supply, and connecting itself together, groweth with the growth of God.
and 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.
20 If ye have died, together with Christ, from the first principles of the world, why, as though alive in the world, are ye submitting to decrees, —
If you died with Messiah from the elementary principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21 Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch; —
"Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch"
22 Which things are all for decay in the using up; —according to the commandments and teachings of men?
(all of which perish with use), according to human commandments and teachings?
23 The which things, indeed, though they have, an appearance, of wisdom, in self-devised religious observance, and lowliness of mind, [and] ill-treatment of body, are, in no honourable way, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
