¹ For I desire you to know, how great a contest I am having—in behalf of you, and of those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

² In order that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, even unto all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding, unto a personal knowledge of the sacred secret of God,—Christ:

³ In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away.

⁴ This I say, in order that, no one, may be reasoning, you, aside with plausible discourse;

⁵ For, though, indeed, in the flesh, I am absent, yet, in the spirit, with you, I am—rejoicing, and beholding your order and the solid firmness of your Christ-ward faith.

⁶ As therefore ye have accepted the Anointed Jesus as your Lord, in him, be walking,—

⁷ Rooted, and being built up, in him, and making yourselves sure in your faith, even as ye have been taught,—surpassing therein with thanksgiving.

⁸ Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit,—according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world,—and not according to Christ:

⁹ Because, in him, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily,

¹⁰ And ye are, in him, filled full,—Who, is the head of all principality and authority,

¹¹ In whom, ye have also been circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand, in the despoiling of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ,—

¹² Having been buried together with him in your immersion, wherein also ye have been raised together, through your faith in the energising of God—Who raised him from among the dead.

¹³ And, as for you—who were, dead, by your offences and by the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath brought you to life together with him,—having in favour forgiven us all our offences,

¹⁴ Having blotted out the handwriting against us by the decrees, which was hostile to us,—and hath taken away, the same, out of the midst, nailing it up to the cross:

¹⁵ Spoiling the principalities and the authorities, he made of them an open example, celebrating a triumph over them thereby.

¹⁶ Let no one, therefore, be judging, you,—in eating and in drinking, or in respect of feast, or new moon, or sabbath,—

¹⁷ Which are a shadow of the things to come, whereas, the body, is of the Christ.

¹⁸ Let, no one, against you, be arbitrating, however wishful,—in respect of lowliness of mind, and of a religious observance of the messengers: upon what things he hath seen, taking his stand, in vain, puffed up by his carnal mind,—

¹⁹ And not holding fast the head: from which, all the body, through means of its joints and uniting bands, receiving supply, and connecting itself together, groweth with the growth of God.

²⁰ If ye have died, together with Christ, from the first principles of the world, why, as though alive in the world, are ye submitting to decrees,—

²¹ Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch;—

²² Which things are all for decay in the using up;—according to the commandments and teachings of men?

²³ The which things, indeed, though they have, an appearance, of wisdom, in self-devised religious observance, and lowliness of mind, [and] ill-treatment of body, are, in no honourable way, unto a satisfying of the flesh.