1 For I want you⁺ to know how great a struggle I have for you⁺ and those in Laodicea and as many as have not seen my face in [the] flesh, VP
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and to all [the] riches of the full assurance of understanding, to [the] knowledge of the mystery of God: Christ, VP
3 in whom are hidden away all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. VP
4 I say this so that no one may delude you⁺ by persuasive speech. VP
5 For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you⁺ in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your⁺ order and the firmness of your⁺ faith in Christ. VP
6 Therefore, as you⁺ received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, VP
7 having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith, just as you⁺ were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. VP
8 See, lest there will be anyone taking you⁺ captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ, VP
9 because in Him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily. VP
10 And you⁺ are made complete in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority, VP
11 in whom also you⁺ were circumcised with [the] circumcision done without hands in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, VP
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which also you⁺ were raised with [Him] through the faith from the working of God, the [One] having raised Him out from [the] dead. VP
13 And you⁺ being dead in the trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your⁺ flesh, He made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all the trespasses, VP
14 having blotted out the handwriting in the decrees against us, which was adverse to us. And He has taken it out of the midst, having nailed it to the cross. VP
15 Having divested the rulers and the authorities, He made a show [of them] in public, having triumphed over them in it. VP
16 Therefore let no one judge you⁺ in food or in drink or in [the] part of a feast or of a New Moon or of Sabbaths, VP
17 which are a shadow the things about to be; but the body [is] of the Christ. VP
18 Let no one disqualify you⁺, delighting in humility and worship of the angels, going into what he has seen, vainly being puffed up by the mind of his flesh, VP
19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom all the body, being supplied and being knit together by the joints and ligaments, grows with the growth of God. VP
20 If you⁺ died with Christ, away from the elements of the world, why, as if living in [the] world, are you⁺ subject to decrees: VP
21 “You should not handle! You should not taste! You should not touch!”— VP
22 which are all unto decay with the use, according to the precepts and teachings of men, VP
23 which, having indeed a word of wisdom in self-willed worship and humility and harsh treatment of [the] body, are not in any value toward [the] indulgence of the flesh. VP