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For gar I want thelō you hymeis to know oida how great hēlikos a struggle agōn I have echō for hyper you hymeis and kai for those ho in en Laodicea Laodikeia and kai for all hosos who have not ou seen horaō · ho my egō face prosōpon in en the flesh sarx. My goal is that hina their autos hearts kardia may be encouraged parakaleō · ho and knit symbibazō together in en love agapē, · kai so eis that they may have all pas the wealth ploutos of ho full assurance plērophoria of ho understanding synesis, for eis knowledge epignōsis of ho God’ s theos mystery mystērion, · ho which is Christ Christos, in en whom hos are eimi hidden apokryphos all pas the ho treasures thēsauros of ho wisdom sophia and kai knowledge gnōsis. I am telling legō you this houtos so hina that no mēdeis one may deceive paralogizomai you hymeis with en specious arguments pithanologia. Even ei though · kai I am absent apeimi in ho body sarx, I am eimi with syn you hymeis in ho spirit pneuma, and I rejoice chairō · kai to see blepō your hymeis · ho orderly taxis conduct and kai the ho stability stereōma of ho your hymeis faith pistis in eis Christ Christos.

So then oun, just as hōs you received paralambanō · ho Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous as ho Lord kyrios, continue to live peripateō in en him autos, rooted rhizoō and kai built epoikodomeō up in en him autos, · kai established bebaioō in the ho faith pistis just kathōs as you were taught didaskō, and abounding perisseuō in en thanksgiving eucharistia. See blepō to it that no one tis takes eimi you hymeis · ho captive sylagōgeō by dia means of · ho philosophy philosophia and kai empty kenos deceit apatē, according kata to the ho tradition paradosis of ho men anthrōpos, according kata to the ho elemental stoicheion spirits of ho the world kosmos, and kai not ou according kata to Christ Christos. For hoti in en him autos the ho whole pas fullness plērōma of ho deity theotēs dwells katoikeō in bodily sōmatikōs form , 10 and kai you have eimi come to fullness plēroō in en him autos, who hos is eimi the ho head kephalē of every pas principality archē and kai power exousia. 11 In en him hos you also kai were circumcised peritemnō with a circumcision peritomē not acheiropoiētos made with hands , by en the ho putting apekdysis off of ho the body sōma of ho flesh sarx, by en the ho circumcision peritomē of ho Christ Christos. 12 Having been buried synthaptō with him autos in en · ho baptism baptismos, you have also kai been raised synegeirō with him through dia · ho faith pistis in the ho powerful working energeia of ho God theos, who ho raised egeirō him autos from ek the dead nekros. 13 And kai although eimi you hymeis were eimi dead nekros in en your ho trespasses paraptōma and kai the ho uncircumcision akrobystia of ho your hymeis flesh sarx, God made you hymeis alive syzōopoieō with syn Christ autos. He forgave charizomai us hēmeis all pas our ho transgressions paraptōma, 14 having canceled exaleiphō the ho certificate cheirographon of debt with its ho legal demands dogma against kata us hēmeis, which hos was eimi hostile hypenantios to us hēmeis. · kai He has taken airō it autos away ek ho · ho by nailing prosēloō it autos to the ho cross stauros. 15 He stripped apekdyomai the ho principalities archē and kai · ho powers exousia of their authority and disgraced deigmatizō them in en public parrēsia by triumphing thriambeuō over them autos in en Christ autos.

16 Therefore oun do krinō not let krinō anyone tis judge krinō you hymeis with en respect to food brōsis and kai drink posis, or ē in en regard to a religious meros festival heortē, a new neomēnia moon , or ē a Sabbath sabbaton day. 17 These hos are eimi but a shadow skia of what ho was to come mellō, but de the ho reality sōma is found in ho Christ Christos. 18 Let katabrabeuō no mēdeis one rob katabrabeuō you hymeis of your prize, insisting thelō on en self-abasement tapeinophrosynē and kai the worship thrēskeia of ho angels angelos, taking his stand on hos visions horaō, puffed embateuō up with empty eikē notions physioō by hypo · ho his autos earthly sarx way of thinking nous. · ho 19 · kai That person is not ou holding krateō fast to the ho head kephalē, from ek whom hos the ho whole pas body sōma, nourished epichorēgeō and kai held together symbibazō by dia its ho joints haphē and kai ligaments syndesmos, grows auxō with a ho growth auxēsis that is from ho God theos. 20 Since ei you died apothnēskō with syn Christ Christos to apo the ho elemental stoicheion spirits of the ho world kosmos, why tis, as hōs though you were still living zaō in en the world kosmos, do you submit dogmatizō to regulations such as, 21  Do not handle haptō! Do not mēde taste geuomai! Do not mēde touch thinganō!”? 22 These hos are eimi all pas destined eis to perish phthora with ho use apochrēsis, based kata as they are on · ho human anthrōpos commands entalma and kai teachings didaskalia. · ho 23 Such hostis regulations logos indeed men have echō the appearance of wisdom sophia with en their self-imposed religious piety ethelothrēskia, · kai false humility tapeinophrosynē, and kai harsh apheidia control over the body sōma, but they are of no ou value en timē against pros the gratification plēsmonē of the ho flesh sarx.

I want you to know how hard I am contending(A) for you and for those at Laodicea,(B) and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart(C) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery(D) of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(E) I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.(F) For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit(G) and delight to see how disciplined(H) you are and how firm(I) your faith in Christ(J) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,(K) continue to live your lives in him, rooted(L) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,(M) and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(N) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world(O) rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness(P) of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head(Q) over every power and authority.(R) 11 In him you were also circumcised(S) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b](T) was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,(U) in which you were also raised with him(V) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.(W)

13 When you were dead in your sins(X) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive(Y) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,(Z) 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,(AA) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.(AB) 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,(AC) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them(AD) by the cross.[e]

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(AE) by what you eat or drink,(AF) or with regard to a religious festival,(AG) a New Moon celebration(AH) or a Sabbath day.(AI) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(AJ) the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility(AK) and the worship of angels disqualify you.(AL) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head,(AM) from whom the whole body,(AN) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.(AO)

20 Since you died with Christ(AP) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(AQ) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(AR) 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish(AS) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(AT) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(AU) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20
  2. Colossians 2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13.
  3. Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
  4. Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
  5. Colossians 2:15 Or them in him