¶ For I would that ye knew what¹ great conflict² I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not³ seen my face in the flesh;

That their⁴ hearts might be comforted, being⁵ knit together in love, and unto all⁶ riches of the full⁷ assurance of understanding⁸, to the⁹ acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father¹⁰, and of Christ;

In whom¹¹ are hid¹² all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

¶ And this I say, lest¹³ any man should beguile you with enticing¹⁴ words.

For though I be¹⁵ absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding¹⁶ your order, and the¹⁷ stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

As ye have therefore received¹⁸ Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk¹⁹ ye in him:

Rooted²⁰ and built²¹ up in him, and stablished²² in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with²³ thanksgiving.

Beware²⁴ lest any man spoil²⁵ you through philosophy²⁶ and vain deceit, after the tradition²⁷ of men, after the rudiments²⁸ of the world, and not after Christ²⁹.

For in³⁰ him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily³¹.

¶ And ye are complete³² in him, which is the head³³ of all principality and power:

In whom³⁴ also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without³⁵ hands, in putting³⁶ off the body of the sins of the flesh by³⁷ the circumcision of Christ:

Buried³⁸ with him in baptism³⁹, wherein⁴⁰ also ye are risen with him through the faith⁴¹ of the operation of God, who⁴² hath raised him from the dead.

¶ And you, being dead⁴³ in your sins and the uncircumcision⁴⁴ of your flesh, hath he⁴⁵ quickened together with him, having⁴⁶ forgiven you all trespasses;

Blotting⁴⁷ out the handwriting⁴⁸ of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took⁴⁹ it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

And having⁵⁰ spoiled principalities⁵¹ and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing⁵² over them in it⁵³.

¶ Let no man therefore judge⁵⁴ you in meat⁵⁵, or in drink, or in respect⁵⁶ of an holyday, or of the new⁵⁷ moon, or of the sabbath⁵⁸ days:

Which are a shadow⁵⁹ of things to come; but the body⁶⁰ is of Christ.

Let no⁶¹ man beguile you⁶² of your reward in a voluntary humility⁶³ and worshipping⁶⁴ of angels, intruding⁶⁵ into those things which he hath not seen, vainly⁶⁶ puffed up by his fleshly⁶⁷ mind,

And not⁶⁸ holding the Head, from which all⁶⁹ the body by⁷⁰ joints and bands having nourishment⁷¹ ministered, and knit⁷² together, increaseth⁷³ with the increase of God.

¶ Wherefore if⁷⁴ ye be dead with Christ from⁷⁵ the rudiments⁷⁶ of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject⁷⁷ to ordinances,

⁷⁸(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Which all are to⁷⁹ perish with the using;) after⁸⁰ the commandments and doctrines of men?

Which things have indeed a shew⁸¹ of wisdom in will⁸² worship, and humility, and neglecting⁸³ of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.