| Chapter
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 | That their hearts might be
comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full
assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and
of the Father, and of Christ; |
| 3
| In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. |
| 4 | And this I say, lest any man
should beguile you with enticing words. |
| 5 | For though I be 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. |
| 6 | As ye have
therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: |
| 7 | Rooted and built up in him, and
stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving. |
| 8 | Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. |
| 9 | For in him dwelleth all the fulness
of the Godhead bodily. |
| 10 |
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and
power: |
| 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: |
| 12 | Buried with him in baptism, wherein
also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath
raised him from the dead. |
| 13 |
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath
he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; |
| 14 | Blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of
the way, nailing it to his cross; |
|
15 | And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of
them openly, triumphing over them in it. |
| 16 | Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or
in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: |
| 17 | Which are a shadow of things
to come; but the body is of Christ. |
|
18 | Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility
and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, |
| 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. |
| 20 |
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why,
as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, |
| 21 | (Touch not; taste not; handle not; |
| 22 | Which all are to perish
with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? |
| 23 | Which things have indeed a shew of
wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any
honour to the satisfying of the flesh. |
