1For I would that yeknew what greatconflict I haveforyou, andfor them atLaodicea, andforas many ashavenotseenmyfacein the flesh;
2Thattheirhearts might be comforted, being knit togetherinlove, anduntoallriches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3Inwhomarehidall the treasures of wisdomandknowledge.
4Andthis I say, lest any man should beguileyouwith enticing words.
5ForthoughI be absentin the flesh, yet am Iwithyouin the spirit, joyingandbeholdingyourorder, and the stedfastness of yourfaithinChrist.
6AsyehavethereforereceivedChristJesus the Lord, so walk yeinhim:
7Rootedand built upinhim, andstablishedin the faith, as ye have been taught, aboundingthereinwiththanksgiving.
8Bewarelest any manspoilyouthroughphilosophyandvaindeceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, andnotafterChrist.
9Forinhimdwellethall the fulness of the Godheadbodily.
10And ye arecompleteinhim, whichis the head of allprincipalityandpower:
11Inwhomalso ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the fleshby the circumcision of Christ:
12
Buried withhiminbaptism, whereinalso ye are risen withhimthrough the faith of the operation of God, who hath raisedhimfrom the dead.
13Andyou, beingdeadinyoursinsand the uncircumcision of yourflesh, hath he quickened togetherwithhim, having forgivenyoualltrespasses;
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Blotting out the handwritingofordinances that wasagainstus, whichwascontrary to us, andtookitoutof the way, nailingit to his cross;
15And having spoiledprincipalitiesandpowers, he made a shew of themopenly, triumphing overtheminit.
16Letnomanthereforejudgeyouinmeat, orindrink, orinrespect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17Whichare a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18Let no manbeguileyou of your rewardin a voluntaryhumilityandworshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hathnotseen, vainly puffed upbyhisfleshlymind,
19Andnotholding the Head, fromwhichall the bodybyjointsandbands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20Whereforeif ye be deadwithChristfrom the rudiments of the world, why, as thoughlivingin the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
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(Touchnot; tastenot; handlenot;
22Whichallaretoperish with the using;) after the commandmentsanddoctrines of men?
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Which thingshaveindeed a shew of wisdomin will worship, andhumility, andneglecting of the body; notinanyhonourto the satisfying of the flesh.