Colossians 2
1 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;
For I would have you know what a great conflict I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen me in person:
2 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,
that their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all the riches of a full assurance of understanding in these things, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of our God and Father, and of Christ:
3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive words.
And this I say, least any one should deceive you with fine speeches.
5 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.
For though I be absent in body, yet am I with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your regularity, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As therefore you received Messiah Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
Therefore as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him;
7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught it, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 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.
Take heed least any one make a prey of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ:
9 For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
for all the fulness of the deity dwelleth personally in Him.
10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
And ye are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
11 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;
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision not performed by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision which is of Christ:
12 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.
being buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are raised together with Him, through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 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,
And when ye were dead in trespasses, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
and cancelled the obligation we were under by ritual decrees, which was grievous to us, and hath taken it quite away, even nailing it to his cross.
15 having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made them an open spectacle, triumphing over them by it.
16 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,
Let no one therefore judge you on account of meat, or drink, or in respect of a feast, or a new-moon, or sabbaths;
17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah's.
which are a shadow of good things to come, but the body is of Christ.
18 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,
Let no one deprive you of your reward by an affected humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into what he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal mind;
19 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.
and not adhering to the head, from which all the body, being supplied and held together as by joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 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,
If therefore ye be dead with Christ from the elements of the world; why, as if living in the world, are ye subject to ceremonial ordinances,
21 "Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch"
(such as "touch not, taste not,
22 (all of which perish with use), according to human commandments and teachings?
handle not," which all tend to corruption in the using, ) according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 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.
which things indeed have a pretence to wisdom in voluntary worship, and humiliation, and bodily penance, as having no regard to the satisfying of the flesh.
