Wakolosai 2
1 Nataka mjue jinsi ninavyojitaabisha kwa ajili yenu na kwa ajili ya wale walioko Laodikia, na pia kwa ajili ya wote ambao hawajapata kuniona mimi binafsi.
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 Kusudi langu ni watiwe moyo na kuunganishwa katika upendo, ili wapate ule utajiri wa ufahamu mkamilifu, ili waijue siri ya Mungu, yaani, Kristo mwenyewe,
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, both of the Father and of Christ,
3 ambaye ndani yake kumefichwa hazina zote za hekima na maarifa.
in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
4 Nawaambia mambo haya ili mtu yeyote asiwadanganye kwa maneno ya kuwashawishi.
Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5 Kwa kuwa ingawa mimi siko pamoja nanyi kimwili, lakini niko pamoja nanyi kiroho, nami nafurahi kuuona utaratibu wenu na jinsi uthabiti wa imani yenu katika Kristo ulivyo.
For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 Hivyo basi, kama vile mlivyompokea Kristo Yesu kuwa Bwana, endeleeni kukaa ndani yake,
As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
7 mkiwa na mizizi, na mmejengwa ndani yake, mkiimarishwa katika imani kama mlivyofundishwa, na kufurika kwa wingi wa shukrani.
rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8 Angalieni mtu yeyote asiwafanye ninyi mateka kwa elimu batili na madanganyo matupu yanayotegemea mapokeo ya wanadamu na mafundisho ya ulimwengu badala ya Kristo.
Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.
9 Maana ukamilifu wote wa Uungu umo ndani ya Kristo katika umbile la mwili wa kibinadamu,
For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,
10 nanyi mmepewa ukamilifu ndani ya Kristo, ambaye ndiye mkuu juu ya kila enzi na kila mamlaka.
and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
11 Katika Kristo pia mlitahiriwa kwa kutengwa mbali na asili ya dhambi, si kwa tohara inayofanywa kwa mikono ya wanadamu, bali kwa ile tohara iliyofanywa na Kristo,
In him 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,
12 mkiwa mmezikwa pamoja naye katika ubatizo, na kufufuliwa pamoja naye kwa njia ya imani yenu katika uweza wa Mungu, aliyemfufua kutoka kwa wafu.
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 Mlipokuwa wafu katika dhambi zenu na kutokutahiriwa katika asili yenu ya dhambi, Mungu aliwafanya mwe hai pamoja na Kristo. Alitusamehe dhambi zetu zote,
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 akiisha kuifuta ile hati yenye mashtaka yaliyokuwa yanatukabili, pamoja na maagizo yake. Aliiondoa isiwepo tena, akiigongomea kwenye msalaba wake.
wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
15 Mungu akiisha kuzivua enzi na mamlaka, alizifanya kuwa kitu cha fedheha hadharani kwa kuziburura kwa ujasiri, akizishinda katika msalaba wa Kristo.
Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Kwa hiyo mtu asiwahukumu ninyi kuhusu vyakula au vinywaji, au kuhusu kuadhimisha sikukuu za dini, au Sikukuu za Mwezi Mwandamo au siku ya Sabato.
Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17 Hizi zilikuwa kivuli cha mambo ambayo yangekuja, lakini ile iliyo halisi imo ndani ya Kristo.
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18 Mtu yeyote asiwaondolee thawabu yenu kwa kusisitiza kunyenyekea kwake na kuabudu malaika. Mtu kama huyo hudumu katika maono yake, akijivuna bila sababu katika mawazo ya kibinadamu.
Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 Yeye amepoteza ushirikiano na Kichwa, ambaye kutoka kwake mwili wote unalishwa na kushikamanishwa pamoja kwa viungo na mishipa, nao hukua kwa ukuaji utokao kwa Mungu.
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 Kwa kuwa mlikufa pamoja na Kristo, mkayaacha yale mafundisho ya msingi ya ulimwengu huu, kwa nini bado mnaishi kama ninyi ni wa ulimwengu? Kwa nini mnajitia chini ya amri:
If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21 “Msishike! Msionje! Msiguse!”?
“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
22 Haya yote mwisho wake ni kuharibika yanapotumiwa, kwa sababu msingi wake ni katika maagizo na mafundisho ya wanadamu.
(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
23 Kwa kweli amri kama hizo huonekana kama zina hekima, katika namna za ibada walizojitungia wenyewe, na unyenyekevu wa uongo na kuutawala mwili kwa ukali, lakini hayafai kitu katika kuzuia tamaa za mwili.
These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
