1Now I want you to understand what great concern I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4Now this I say so that no one may deceive you by persuasive speech. 5For though I am indeed absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be walking in Him; 7Being rooted and built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith, exactly as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10And you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power 11In Whom you have also been circumcised with the circumcision not made by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12Having been buried with Him in baptism, by which you have also been raised with Him through the inner working of God, Who raised Him from the dead. 13For you, who were once dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has now made alive with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses. 14He has blotted out the note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins, which was contrary to us; and He has taken it away, having nailed it to the cross. 15After stripping the principalities and the powers, He made a public spectacle of them, and has triumphed over them in it.

16Therefore, do not allow anyone to judge you in eating or in drinking, or with regard to a festival, or new moon, or the Sabbaths, 17Which are a foreshadow of the things that are coming, but the body of Christ. 18Do not allow anyone to defraud you of the prize by doing his will in selfabasement and the worship of angels, intruding into things that he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his own carnal mind 19And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom all the body, being supplied and knit together by the joints and bands, is increasing with the increase of God.

20Therefore, if you have died together with Christ from the elements of the world, why are you subjecting yourselves to the decrees of men as if you were living in the world? 21They say, "You may not handle! You may not taste! You may not touch!" 22The use of all such things leads to corruption, according to the commandments and doctrines of men, 23Which indeed have an outward appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship of angels, and self-abasement, and unsparing treatment of the body, not in any respect to the satisfying of the needs of the flesh.