1I would ye knew what fighting I have for your sakes and for them of Laodicia, and for as many as have not seen my person in the flesh, 2that their hearts might be comforted and knit together in love, and in all riches of full understanding, for to know the mystery of God the father and of Christ 3in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4This I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the spirit joying and beholding the order that ye keep, and your steadfast faith in Christ.

6As ye have therefore received Christ Iesu the Lord, even so walk rooted and built in him, 7and steadfast in the faith, as ye have learned: and therin be plenteous in giving thanks.

8Beware lest any man come and spoil you thorow philosophy and deceitful vanity, thorow the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ. 9For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, 10and ye are full in him, which is the head of all rule and power, 11in whom also ye are circumcised with circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body off the flesh, thorow the circumcision that is in Christ, 12in that ye are buried with him thorow baptism, in whom ye are also risen again thorow faith, that is wrought by the operation of God which raised him from death. 13And hath with him quickened you also which were dead in sin in the uncircumcision of your flesh, and hath forgiven our trespasses, 14and hath put out the obligation that was against us, made in the law written, and that hath he taken out of the way, and hath fastened it on his cross, 15and hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a shew of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.

16Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink: or for a piece of an holyday, as the holyday of the new moon or of the saboth daye, 17which are nothing but shadows of things to come: but the body is in Christ. 18Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless puffed up with his fleshly mind, 19and holdeth not the head, whereof all the body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment, and is knit together, and increaseth with the increasing that cometh of God.

20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from doctrine of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say? 21Touch not, Taste not, Handle not: 22which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men: 23which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body, and do the flesh no worship unto his need.