¹I would like you to know what a great struggle I am having for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for everyone who has not seen my face in the body,[#Col 1:29; #Col 4:13–16; Rev 3:14]

²that their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, and receive all the riches and assurance of full understanding, and knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,[#Col 4:8; #Ro 16:25]

³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.[#Ro 11:33; 1Co 1:24]

⁴Now this I say lest anyone beguile you with enticing words.[#Eph 5:6]

⁵For though I am absent in the body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your orderliness and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.[#1Co 14:40; #1Pe 5:9]

Fullness of Life in Christ

⁶As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,[#Col 1:10; 1Th 4:1]

⁷rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, just as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.[#Eph 2:20–22; 3:17]

⁸Beware lest anyone captivate you through philosophy and vain deceit, in the tradition of men and the elementary principles of the world, and not after Christ.[#1Ti 6:20; #Gal 4:3]

⁹For in Him lives all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.[#Jn 1:14; Col 1:19]

¹⁰And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all authority and power.

¹¹In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,[#Ro 6:6; #Ro 2:29]

¹²buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through the faith of the power of God, who has raised Him from the dead.[#Ro 6:3–4; #Ac 2:24; Ro 4:24]

¹³And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins.[#Eph 2:1; Jas 2:26]

¹⁴He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.[#Eph 2:15]

¹⁵And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.[#Lk 10:18; Eph 4:8]

¹⁶Therefore let no one judge you regarding food, or drink, or in respect of a holy day or new moon or sabbath days.[#1Ch 23:31; Heb 9:10]

¹⁷These are shadows of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.[#Heb 8:5; 10:1]

¹⁸Do not let anyone cheat you of your reward by delighting in false humility and the worship of angels, dwelling on those things which he has not seen, vainly arrogant due to his unspiritual mind,[#Col 2:8, 23]

¹⁹and not supporting the head, from which the entire body, nourished and knit together by joints and sinews, grows as God gives the increase.[#Eph 4:15–16]

The New Life in Christ

²⁰Therefore, if you died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you subject yourself to legalistic rules?[#Col 2:8; #Col 2:14–16]

²¹“Do not touch! Do not taste! Do not handle!”[#1Ti 4:3]

²²These all are to perish with use and are aligned with the commandments and teachings of men.[#1Co 6:13; #Isa 29:13; Titus 1:14]

²³These things have indeed a show of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility and neglecting of the body, but are worthless against the indulgence of the flesh.[#Col 2:18; 1Ti 4:8]