< Colossians 2 >
1 Wherefore, I wish you to know how great a combat I have for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 that being compacted together in love, their hearts may be comforted, even by all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the secret of God,
3 in whom are laid up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say, that no one may deceive you with plausible speech.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 Now as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him;
7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any one make a prey of you through an empty and deceitful philosophy, --according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For all the fullness of the Deity resides substantially in him.
10 And you are complete in him, who is the head of all government and power.
11 By whom, also, you have been circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ;
12 having been buried with him in immersion, by which also you have been raised with him, through the belief of the strong working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 For you, who were dead on account of trespasses, and by the uncircumcision of your flesh, he had made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses: --
14 having blotted out the handwriting of the ordinances concerning us, which was contrary to us, he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross: --
15 having spoiled governments and powers, he made a show of them openly, having triumphed over them by it.
16 Let no one, therefore, judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a festival, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths;
17 which are a shadow of the things which were to come, but the substance is of Christ.
18 Let no one beguile you of your reward, --delighting in humility, and the worship of messengers, intruding into things which he has not seen, being without cause, puffed up by his own carnal mind:
19 and not holding firmly the head, by whom the whole body, through the joints and ligaments, being served and compacted, increases with the increase of God.
20 Now, if you have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as living in the world, you are subject to ordinances,
21 Touch not, taste not, handle not;
22 (which are all to perish with the using; ) after the commandments and doctrines of men;
23 which things have, indeed, a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and not sparing the body--without any respect to the gratification of the flesh.
