2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you,
and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen
my face in the flesh;
2:2 That their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in
love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding
to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father,
and of Christ;
2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2:4 And this I say, lest any man should deceive you with
enticing words.
2:5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in
the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the
steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so]
walk ye in him:
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as
ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
2:8 Beware lest any man make a prey of you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
2:10 And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all
principality and power:
2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made
without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh
by the circumcision of Christ:
2:12 Buried with him in baptism, in which also ye are raised
with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath
raised him from the dead.
2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, hath he made alive together with him, having
forgiven you all trespasses;
2:14 Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the
way, nailing it to his cross;
2:15 [And] having despoiled principalities and powers, he made a
show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in
respect of a holy-day, or or the new-moon, or of the sabbaths:
2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of
Christ.
2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary
humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things
which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
2:19 And not holding the head, from which all the body by joints
and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together,
increaseth with the increase of God.
2:20 Wherefore, if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of
the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject
to ordinances,
2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) according to the
commandments and doctrines of men?
2:23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship,
and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to
the satisfying of the flesh.
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