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 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 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, being knit together in love, and to 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 whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away.

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

4 This I say, in order that, no one, may be reasoning, you, aside with plausible discourse;

And this I say, lest any man should deceive you with enticing 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 I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As therefore ye have accepted the Anointed Jesus as your Lord, in him, be walking, —

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye 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, as ye have been 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:

Beware lest any man make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 Because, in him, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily,

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

10 And ye are, in him, filled full, —Who, is the head of all principality and authority,

And ye are complete in him, 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 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 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.

Buried with him in baptism, in which also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath 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,

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he made alive together with him, having forgiven you all 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:

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 Spoiling the principalities and the authorities, he made of them an open example, celebrating a triumph over them thereby.

And having disarmed principalities and powers, 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, —

Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths:

17 Which are a shadow of the things to come, whereas, the body, is of the Christ.

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

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 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 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 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 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, —

Therefore if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch; —

( Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which things are all for decay in the using up; —according to the commandments and teachings of men?

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

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.

These things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.