1 For I would have you know, how great a conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh:
2 That their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, even unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the acknowledgment of the mystery of God,
3 both the Father and Christ, In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, that no man may beguile you with inticing words.
5 For though I am absent from you in the flesh, yet I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to behold your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him;
7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man make a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of this world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are filled by him, who is the head of all principality and power.
11 By whom also ye are circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, by which ye are also risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him,
14 having forgiven you all trespasses, Having blotted out by his decrees the hand-writing against us, which was contrary to us; and having nailed it to his cross, he took it out of the way.
15 And having spoiled the principalities and powers, he exposed them openly, triumphing over them in him.
16 Let none therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or in respect of a feast-day, or of the new-moon, or of sabbath-days: Which are shadow of things to come;
17 but the body is of Christ.
18 Let none defraud you of your reward by a voluntary humility and worship of angels, intruding into the things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the head, from which all the body being nourished and knit together, by the joints and ligaments, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Therefore if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, receive ye ordinances,
21 (Touch not, taste not, handle not:
22 All which are to perish in the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things (though they have indeed a shew of wisdom, in voluntary worship and humility, and not sparing the body) yet are not of any value, but are to the satisfying of the flesh.