For I want you to know
how
great
a astruggle
I have
on your behalf
and for those
who
are at bLaodicea
, and for all
those who
have not 1personally
seen
my face
,
that their ahearts may be encouraged
, having been bknit
together
in love
, and attaining to all
cthe wealth
1that comes from the full
assurance
of understanding
, resulting in a dtrue
knowledge
of eGod's
mystery
, that is, Christ
Himself,
in whom are hidden
all
athe treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge
.
aI say this
so
that no
one
will delude
you with bpersuasive
argument
.
For even though
I am
aabsent
in body
, nevertheless
I am
with you in spirit
, rejoicing
1to see
2your bgood
discipline
and the cstability
of your faith
in Christ
.
Therefore as you have received
aChrist
Jesus
the Lord
, so 1 bwalk
in Him,
having been firmly arooted
and now being bbuilt
up in Him and cestablished
1in your faith
, just
as you dwere instructed
, and overflowing
2with gratitude
.
aSee to it that no
one
takes
you captive
through
bphilosophy
and empty
deception
, according
to the tradition
of men
, according
to the celementary
principles
of the world
, 1rather
than
according
to Christ
.
For in Him all the afullness
of Deity
dwells
in bodily
form
,
and in Him you have been amade
1complete
, and bHe is the head
2over all
crule
and authority
;
and in Him ayou were also circumcised
with a circumcision
made
without
hands
, in the removal
of bthe body
of the flesh
by the circumcision
of Christ
;
having been aburied with Him in baptism
, in which
you were also
braised
up with Him through
faith
in the working
of God
, who craised
Him from the dead
.
When you were adead 1in your transgressions
and the uncircumcision
of your flesh
, He bmade
you alive
together
with Him, having forgiven
us all
our transgressions
,
having canceled out athe certificate
of debt
consisting of decrees
against
us, which
was hostile
to us; and bHe has taken
it out of the way
, having nailed
it to the cross
.
When He had 1 adisarmed the brulers
and authorities
, He amade
a public
display
of them, having ctriumphed
over
them through
2Him.
Therefore no
one
is to 1 aact
as your judge
in regard to bfood
or
bdrink
or
in respect
to a cfestival
or
a dnew
moon
or
a eSabbath
2day--
things which are aa mere shadow
of what is to come
; but the 1substance
2belongs to Christ
.
Let no one
keep 1 adefrauding
you of your prize
by bdelighting
in 2self-abasement
and the worship
of the angels
, 3taking
his stand
on visions he has seen
, 4 cinflated
without
cause
by his dfleshly
mind
,
and not holding fast
to athe head
, from whom
bthe entire
body
, being supplied
and held
together
by the joints
and 1ligaments
, grows
with a growth
2which is from God
.
aIf you have died
with Christ
1to the belementary
principles
of the world
, cwhy
, as if
you were living
in the world
, do you submit
yourself to ddecrees
, such as,
"Do not handle, do not taste
, do not touch
!"
(which all
refer ato things destined to perish
1with use
)--in accordance
with the bcommandments
and teachings
of men
?
These are matters
which
have
, to be sure
, the 1appearance
of wisdom
in 2 aself-made
religion
and self-abasement
and bsevere
treatment
of the body
, but are of no
value
against
cfleshly
indulgence
.