KJ3 Literal Translation
Colossians 2
He persuades them to be constant in Christ.
1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have concerning you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
2that their hearts may be comforted, being joined together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God, even of the Father and of Christ,
3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.
4And I say this that no one may beguile you with persuasive speech.
5For though I am indeed absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order and the firmness of your faith into Christ.
6Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him,
7having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8Watch that there will not be one abducting you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
9For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10and having been filled, you are in Him, who is the Head of all rule and authority,
11in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12having been buried together with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, the One having raised Him from among the dead ones.
13And you, being a dead one in the deviations and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with Him, having remitted all your deviations,
14blotting out the handwriting in the ordinances against us, which was contrary to us, even He has taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross;
15having stripped the rulers and the authorities, He made a show of them in freely speaking, triumphing over them in it.
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you in eating, or in drinking, or in part, of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,
17which are a shadow of coming things, but the body is of Christ.
18Let no one rule against you, willing in humility and worship of the angels, intruding into things which he has not seen, being puffed up by the mind of his flesh without cause,
19and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body being supplied through the joints and bands, and being joined together, will grow with the growth of God.
20If, then, you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why are you under its decrees, as living in the world?
21Touch not, taste not, handle not,
22which things are all for corruption in the using, according to the “injunctions and teachings of men.” Isa. 29:13
23Which things indeed are a matter of having wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility, and severity in abuse of the body, but are not of any honor unto gratification of the flesh.
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