Chapter 2 1 for I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as who have not seen me in person, 2 so their hearts might be encouraged, having been knit together in love, with all the riches full assurance and understanding regarding the knowledge of the mystery of God. Christ, 3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
Warning Against False Teachers
4 I say this so that no one might deceive you with persuasive speech, 5 for though I am still absent from you in the flesh, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your good conduct and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 6 Therefore just as you have received Christ Jesus - the Lord, walk in him: 7 having been rooted in him, and being built up; being established in the faith, just as you were taught – andabounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 See that no one takes you captive through the philosophy and empty deceit of human tradition, according to the elementary principals of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily. 10 and you are complete in him, who is the head of all rule and authority; 11 And in whom you were also circumcised, with a circumcision made without hands, by the removal of the fleshy body through the circumcision of Christ. 12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also were raised with him, through the faith of God's Divine Power, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in the transgressions and uncircumcision of the flesh, he made alive together with him, having forgiven all of our transgressions. 14 Having blotted out the writing in the decrees against us, he has removed it, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Thus, having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them having triumphed over them in him.
16 Therefore, do not let anyone judge you, regarding food, or drink, or with regard to a feast or a new moon or Sabbath, 17 which are a shadow of the things coming, but the substance is Christ. 18 Don't be conned by anyone who delights in humility and the worship of angels, who describes in detail what has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshy imagination. 19 but detached from the head, from whom the whole body, through the joints and ligaments, supplied and knit together, grows with Godly growth.
Off With the Old, On With the New
20 If you have died with Christ, to the Elemental principles of the world, why as if you were living in the world, do you submit to its decrees 21 (‘do not handle!’ ‘do not taste!’ ‘do not touch!’ )22 the use of which are all subject to destruction? Why do you still live according to the precepts and teachings of men? 23 These appear to be a form of wisdom, in its self-imposed worship, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but is useless against the gratification of the flesh.
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