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Colossians

Affirms Christ's supremacy and encourages living a life worthy of the Lord. ... click to read full summary of this book.

Chapter 2

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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;

I want you to understand the big struggle I have for you, for the people in Laodicea, and for those who haven't seen me in person.

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;

So that they would feel better, with their hearts connected through love, and having complete certainty about their understanding, they would know the secret of God, the Father, and Jesus Christ.

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In whom all wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

I say this so no one tricks you with sweet-sounding lies.

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.

Even if I'm not physically with you, I'm still with you in spirit, happy to see how organized you are and how strong your trust in Christ is.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Just like you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, keep living your life with him at the center.

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Firmly connected to him and growing stronger, firmly believing as you've been taught, and filled with gratitude.

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.

Be careful not to let anyone mislead you with confusing ideas and false promises, based on what people have passed down, and focused on worldly ways, rather than following Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

For in him is found all of God's full presence in a physical form.

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

You are fully complete in him, who is the leader of everything in authority and strength.

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:

In whom you are spiritually cut off from sin, through Christ's circumcision that doesn't need hands; it removes the sin from your body.

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.

In baptism, you are buried with Jesus and also rise with him through your faith, because God has brought him back to life.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

And you, who were once dead in your wrongdoings because your body wasn't changed, he has made alive with him, forgiving all your mistakes.

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;

Eliminating the rules that were against us, going against us, and removing them, he fastened them to his cross.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

And after destroying important rulers and authorities, he displayed their remains, celebrating victory over them.

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:

Don't let anyone judge you based on what you eat or drink, or because of special days like holidays, new moons, or Sabbath days.

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

These are like a preview of future events, but the real thing belongs to Christ.

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,

Don't let anyone trick you out of your reward by persuading you to be overly humble and worship angels. They are meddling in things they don't understand, inflating their ego based on their physical thoughts.

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.

And without the Head, which gives the body nourishment through joints and bands, and holds it together, grows as God's goodness increases.

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,

So if you have died with Christ from the world's basic rules, why do you still follow its rules as if you are living in the world?

(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Do not touch, taste, or handle it.

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Which ones will be lost by following;) the rules and teachings made by people instead of God's commands?

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.

Which things seem wise in their religious practices, showing humility and disregard for the body, not for any worldly gain or pleasure.

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