Dual Panel1For I want<2309> you to know<3609> how<2245> great<2245> a struggle<73> I have<2192> on your behalf<5228> and for those<3588> who<3588> are at Laodicea<2993>, and for all<3745> those who<3745> have not personally<4561> seen<3708> my face<4383>,
2that their hearts<2588> may be encouraged<3870>, having been knit<4822> together<4822> in love<26>, and attaining to all<3956> the wealth<4149> that comes from the full<4136> assurance<4136> of understanding<4907>, resulting in a true<1922> knowledge<1922> of God's<2316> mystery<3466>, that is, Christ<5547> Himself,
3in whom<3739> are hidden<614> all<3956> the treasures<2344> of wisdom<4678> and knowledge<1108>.
4I say<3004> this<3778> so<2443> that no<3367> one<3367> will delude<3884> you with persuasive<4086> argument<4086>.
5For even<2532> though<1487> I am<548> absent<548> in body<4561>, nevertheless<235> I am<1510> with you in spirit<4151>, rejoicing<5463> to see<991> your good<5010> discipline<5010> and the stability<4733> of your faith<4102> in Christ<5547>.
6Therefore<3767> as you have received<3880> Christ<5547> Jesus<2424> the Lord<2962>, so walk<4043> in Him,
7having been firmly<4492> rooted<4492> and now being built<2026> up in Him and established<950> in your faith<4102>, just<2531> as you were instructed<1321>, and overflowing<4052> with gratitude<2169>.
8See<991> to it that no<3361> one<5100> takes<4812> you captive<4812> through<1223> philosophy<5385> and empty<2756> deception<539>, according<2596> to the tradition<3862> of men<444>, according<2596> to the elementary<4747> principles<4747> of the world<2889>, rather<3756> than<2532><3756> according<2596> to Christ<5547>.
9For in Him all<3956> the fullness<4138> of Deity<2320> dwells<2730> in bodily<4985> form<4985>,
10and in Him you have been<1510> made<4137> complete<4137>, and He is the head<2776> over all<3956> rule<746> and authority<1849>;
11and in Him you were also<2532> circumcised<4059> with a circumcision<4061> made<886> without<886> hands<886>, in the removal<555> of the body<4983> of the flesh<4561> by the circumcision<4061> of Christ<5547>;
12having been buried<4916> with Him in baptism<908>, in which<3739> you were also<2532> raised<4891> up with Him through<1223> faith<4102> in the working<1753> of God<2316>, who raised<1453> Him from the dead<3498>.
13When you were dead<3498> in your transgressions<3900> and the uncircumcision<203> of your flesh<4561>, He made<4806> you alive<4806> together<4806> with Him, having forgiven<5483> us all<3956> our transgressions<3900>,
14having canceled<1813> out the certificate<5498> of debt<5498> consisting of decrees<1378> against<2596> us, which<3739> was hostile<5227> to us; and He has taken<142> it out of the way<3319>, having nailed<4338> it to the cross<4716>.
15When He had disarmed<554> the rulers<746> and authorities<1849>, He made<1165> a public<3954> display<1165> of them, having triumphed<2358> over<2358> them through<1722> Him.
16Therefore<3767> no<3361> one<5100> is to act<2919> as your judge<2919> in regard to food<1035> or<2532> drink<4213> or<2228> in respect<3313> to a festival<1859> or<2228> a new<3501> moon<3501> or<2228> a Sabbath<4521> day--
17things which<3739> are a mere shadow<4639> of what is to come<3195>; but the substance<4983> belongs to Christ<5547>.
18Let no<3367> one<3367> keep defrauding<2603> you of your prize<2603> by delighting<2309> in self-abasement<5012> and the worship<2356> of the angels<32>, taking<1687> his stand<1687> on visions he has seen<3708>, inflated<5448> without<1500> cause<1500> by his fleshly<4561> mind<3563>,
19and not holding<2902> fast<2902> to the head<2776>, from whom<3739> the entire<3956> body<4983>, being supplied<2023> and held<4822> together<4822> by the joints<860> and ligaments<4886>, grows<837> with a growth<838> which is from God<2316>.
20If<1487> you have died<599> with Christ<5547> to the elementary<4747> principles<4747> of the world<2889>, why<5101>, as if<5613> you were living<2198> in the world<2889>, do you submit<1379> yourself to decrees<1379>, such as,
21"Do not handle<681>, do not taste<1089>, do not touch<2345>!"
22(which<3739> all<3956> refer to things destined to perish<5356> with use<671>)--in accordance<2596> with the commandments<1778> and teachings<1319> of men<444>?
23These<3748> are matters<3056> which<3748> have<2192>, to be sure<3303>, the appearance<3056> of wisdom<4678> in self-made<1479> religion<1479> and self-abasement<5012> and severe<857> treatment<857> of the body<4983>, but are of no<3756><5100> value<5092> against<4314> fleshly<4561> indulgence<4140>.