Dual Panel1For <1063> I want <2309> you <5209> to know <1492> how great <2245> a struggle <73> I have <2192> for <5228> you <5216>, and <2532> for those in <1722> Laodicea <2993>, and <2532> for those who have <3708> not <3756> met <3708> me <3450> face <4383> to face.
2My goal is that their <846> hearts <2588>, having been knit together <4822> in <1722> love <26>, may <2443> be encouraged <3870>, and <2532> that they may have all <3956> the riches <4149> that assurance <4136> brings in their understanding <4907> of the knowledge <1922> of the mystery <3466> of God <2316>, namely, Christ <5547>,
3in <1722> whom <3739> are <1510> hidden <614> all <3956> the treasures <2344> of wisdom <4678> and <2532> knowledge <1108>.
4I say <3004> this <5124> so that <2443> no one <3367> will deceive <3884> you <5209> through <1722> arguments that sound reasonable <4086>.
5For <1063> though <1487> I am absent <548> from you in body <4561>, I am <1510> present with <4862> you <5213> in spirit <4151>, rejoicing <5463> to see <991> your <5216> morale <5010> and <2532> the firmness <4733> of your <5216> faith <4102> in <1519> Christ <5547>.
6Therefore <3767>, just as <5613> you received <3880> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424> as Lord <2962>, continue to live <4043> your lives in <1722> him <846>,
7rooted <4492> and <2532> built up <2026> in <1722> him <846> and <2532> firm <950> in your faith <4102> just as <2531> you were taught <1321>, and <1722> overflowing <4052> with <1722> thankfulness <2169>.
8Be careful <991> not <3361> to allow anyone <5100> to captivate <4812> you through <1223> an empty, deceitful philosophy <5385> that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world <2889>, and <2532> not <3756> according <2596> to Christ <5547>.
9For <3754> in <1722> him <846> all <3956> the fullness <4138> of deity <2320> lives <2730> in bodily form <4985>,
10and <2532> you have been <1510> filled <4137> in <1722> him <846>, who <3739> is <1510> the head <2776> over every <3956> ruler <746> and <2532> authority <1849>.
11In <1722> him <3739> you <4059> also <2532> were circumcised <4059>– not, however, with a circumcision <4061> performed by human hands <886>, but by <1722> the removal of <555> the fleshly <4561> body <4983>, that is, through the circumcision <4061> done by Christ <5547>.
12Having been buried with <4916> him <846> in <1722> baptism <908>, you <4891> also <2532> have been raised <4891> with <1722> him <3739> through <1223> your faith <4102> in the power <1753> of God <2316> who raised <1453> him <846> from <1537> the dead <3498>.
13And <2532> even though you <5209> were <1510> dead <3498> in your transgressions <3900> and <2532> in the uncircumcision <203> of your <5216> flesh <4561>, he <4806> nevertheless made <4806> you <5209> alive <4806> with <4862> him <846>, having forgiven <5483> all <3956> your transgressions <3900>.
14He has destroyed <1813> what was against <2596> us <2257>, a certificate of indebtedness <5498> expressed in decrees <1378> opposed <5227> to us <2254>. He has taken <142> it away <142> by nailing <4338> it <846> to the cross <4716>.
15Disarming <554> the rulers <746> and <2532> authorities <1849>, he has made a public disgrace <1165> of them, triumphing <2358> over them <846> by <1722> the cross <846>.
16Therefore <3767> do <2919> not <3361> let <2919> anyone <5100> judge <2919> you <5209> with respect to <1722> food <1035> or <2532> drink <4213>, or <2228> in <1722> the matter <3313> of a feast <1859>, new moon <3561>, or <2228> Sabbath days <4521>–
17these <3739> are <1510> only the shadow <4639> of the things to come <3195>, but <1161> the reality <4983> is Christ <5547>!
18Let no one <3367> who delights <2603> in <1722> humility <5012> and <2532> the worship <2356> of angels <32> pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what <3739> he has supposedly <1687> seen <3708>, but he is puffed up <5448> with empty notions <1500> by <5259> his <846> fleshly <4561> mind <3563>.
19He <2532> has <2902> not <3756> held fast <2902> to the head <2776> from <1537> whom <3739> the whole <3956> body <4983>, supported <2023> and <2532> knit together <4822> through <1223> its ligaments <4886> and <2532> sinews <860>, grows <837> with a growth <838> that is from God <2316>.
20If <1487> you have died <599> with <4862> Christ <5547> to <575> the elemental <4747> spirits of the world <2889>, why <5101> do you submit <1379> to them as though <5613> you lived <2198> in <1722> the world <2889>?
21“Do <680> not <3361> handle <680>! Do <1089> not <3366> taste <1089>! Do <2345> not <3366> touch <2345>!”
22These are <1510> all <3956> destined to <1519> perish <5356> with use <671>, founded as they are on <2596> human <444> commands <1778> and <2532> teachings <1319>.
23Even though they have <2192> the appearance of wisdom <4678> with <1722> their self-imposed worship <1479> and <2532> false humility <5012> achieved by an unsparing treatment <857> of the body <4983>– a wisdom with no <3756> true value <5092>– they in <1722> reality result in <4314> fleshly <4561> indulgence <4140>.