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 have you know what combat I have for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in 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:
to the end that their hearts may be encouraged, being united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to [the] full knowledge of the mystery of God;
3 In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away.
in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.
4 This I say, in order that, no one, may be reasoning, you, aside with plausible discourse;
And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech.
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 if indeed in the flesh I am absent, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 As therefore ye have accepted the Anointed Jesus as your Lord, in him, be walking, —
As therefore ye have received the Christ, 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 assured in the faith, even 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:
See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 Because, in him, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily,
For in him dwells 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 authority,
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 have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of the 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 ye have been also raised with [him] through faith of the working of God who raised him from among 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 offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, having forgiven us all the offences;
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:
having effaced the handwriting in ordinances which [stood out] against us, which was contrary to us, he has taken it also out of the way, having nailed 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 spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by 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 none therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in matter of feast, or new moon, or 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 one fraudulently deprive you of your prize, doing his own will in humility and worship of angels, entering into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,
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 fast the head, from whom all the body, ministered to and united together by the joints and bands, increases 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, —
If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as [if] alive in [the] world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?
21 Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch; —
Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,
22 Which things are all for decay in the using up; —according to the commandments and teachings of men?
(things which are all for destruction in the using [of them]: ) according to the injunctions and teachings 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.
(which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, not in a certain honour, ) to [the] satisfaction of the flesh.
