[Colossians 2]

 

             ^2:1 For^* I wish you^° to know how-vast a struggle I have concerning you^° and the ones in Laodicea and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, ^2:2 in-order-that their hearts might be encouraged, have been knitted together in love^* and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of the God and Father and of the Christ, ^2:3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

 

             ^2:4 But I am saying all of this in-order-that not anyone may delude you^° in persuasive speech. ^2:5 For^* even if I am absent in the flesh, but yet I am together-with you^° in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your^° order and the firmness of your^° faith in Christ.

             ^2:6 Therefore, as you^° received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk^° in him, ^2:7 having been rooted and being built up in him and being confirmed in the faith, just-as you^° were taught in it, abounding in thanksgiving.

 

             ^2:8 Beware^°, that there will not be anyone leading you^° away as his prey through philosophy and vain deception, according-to the tradition of men, according-to the elemental principles of the world, and not according-to Christ, ^2:9 because all the fullness of the Deity is dwelling in him bodily. ^2:10 And you^° are fulfilled in him, who is the head of all principality and authority; ^2:11 in whom you^° were also circumcised with a circumcision that is not handmade, in the stripping off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ, ^2:12 buried together-with him in the immersion^*, in which you^° were also raised up together-with him through the faith from the working of God, who raised him up from the dead. ^2:13 And you^°, being dead in your^° trespasses and the uncircumcision of the flesh, he made^* you^° alive together-with him, forgave^* us all the trespasses, ^2:14 wiped-away the handwriting in the decrees that were against us, which were an adversary to us. He has also taken these out-of the midst of us, when he nailed it to the cross, ^2:15 and stripped off the principalities and the authorities. He publicly made a show of them, and triumphed over them in it.

 

             ^2:16 Therefore, do not let anyone judge you^° in food, or in drink, or in this respect of a feast day, or a new month, or Sabbaths, ^2:17 which are a shadow of the future things, but the body is Christ’s. ^2:18 Let no one arbitrate against you^°, willing it so in your^° humility and in a religion of the messengers, stepping you^° further into the things which he has not seen, being vainly arrogant by his mind of flesh, ^2:19 and not holding-fast to the head, from whom all the body is being supplied and knitted together through the joints and ligaments, which is growing with the growth of God.

 

             ^2:20 If you^° died together-with Christ away from the elemental principles of the world, why (as though living in the world) are you^° submissive to its decrees: ^2:21 do not touch; do not taste; do not handle; ^2:22 which things in the using are all leading to corruption, according-to the commandments and teachings of men? ^2:23 Which things are indeed in a man-made religion holding a reason which comes from man’s wisdom and humility and the unsparing cruelty of the body, with not any value toward the indulgence of the flesh.