Colossians 2
2 1For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for
them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love,
and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may
know the mystery of God, even Christ,
3in whom are all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
4This I say, that no one may
delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5For though I am absent in the
flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and
the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6As therefore ye received
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
7rooted and builded up in
him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in
thanksgiving.
8Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of
you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
9for in him dwelleth
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
10and in him ye are made full, who
is the head of all principality and power:
11in whom ye were also
circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of
the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
12having been
buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through
faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13And you,
being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you,
I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all
our trespasses;
14having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that
was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way,
nailing it to the cross;
15having despoiled the principalities and the
powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16Let
no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day
or a new moon or a sabbath day:
17which are a shadow of the things to
come; but the body is Christ's.
18Let no man rob you of your prize by a
voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things
which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19and not
holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit
together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.
20If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though
living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,
21Handle
not, nor taste, nor touch
22(all which things are to perish with the
using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?
23Which things have
indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the
body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the
flesh.