1 For I want you to know how great a struggle {agona: strenuous concern} I have for you and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh {sarx: physical body}.
2 In order that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and unto all the wealth of the full assurance of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God {Theos, Source Of Mystery}, Christ {Christos, Revealed Mystery}.
3 In whom {Christos, Hidden Wisdom Revealer} are hidden all the treasures {thesauros: spiritual riches} of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I say this so that no one {medeis: not a single person} may deceive you with persuasive argument {pithanologia: plausible reasoning}.
5 For even if I am absent in the flesh, I am nevertheless with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order {taxin: disciplined structure} and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ {Christos, Focus of Faith}.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord {Christos Iesous ho Kyrios, Received Sovereign}, so walk in Him {peripateite: ongoing daily conduct}.
7 Having been rooted and built up in Him {Christos, Steadfast Foundation}, and being established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving {eucharistia: grateful praise}.
8 Be alert that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit {apate: misleading fraud}, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ {Christos, True Foundation}.
9 For in Him {Christos, Embodied Deity} dwells all the fullness {pleroma: complete totality} of the Deity bodily.
10 And you are filled in Him {Christos, Source of Fullness}, who is the head of all rule {arches: domain of power} and authority.
11 In Him you also were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh {sarx: sinful nature}, in the circumcision of Christ {Christos, Covenant Circumciser}.
12 Having been buried together with Him {Christos, Crucified Lord} in baptism {baptismos: immersion union}, in which you also were raised together through the faith {pistis: responsive trust} in the working of God {Theos, Powerful Raiser}, who raised Him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He {Theos, Life Giving Father} made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all the trespasses {paraptomata: moral violations}.
14 Having wiped away the handwriting against us in the decrees which were hostile to us, He {Christos, Debt-Canceling Savior} has taken it out of the midst, having nailed it to the cross {stauros: Shame-Bearing Tree}.
15 Having stripped off the rulers and the authorities, He {Christos, Supreme Victor} made a public display of them in boldness {parresia: open demonstration}, having triumphed over them in Him.
16 Therefore, let no one judge {krineto: make a ruling} you in matters of food or drink, or in regard to a part of a festival {heorte: sacred gathering}, or a new moon, or sabbaths.
17 These things are a shadow {skia: dim outline} of the things to come, but the body is of Christ {Christos, Present Fulfillment}.
18 Let no one disqualify {katabrabeuo: act as umpire} you, desiring humility and the worship of angels, entering into the things which he has seen, being vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind {nous: intellectual faculty}.
19 And not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, through the joints {haphon: connective links} and ligaments, being supplied and held together, grows with the growth of God {Theos, Source Of Growth}.
20 If you died with Christ {Christos, Crucified Lord} away from the elements {stoicheion: basic principles} of the world, why, as though you were living in the world, are you subject to decrees?
21 Do not touch {hapsē: come into contact with}, nor taste, nor handle {thigēs: grasp with the hand}.
22 Which are all destined for destruction {phthora: ruin and decay} by use, according to the commandments and teachings of men {anthropon: human beings}.
23 Which things are indeed an appearance of wisdom in self-made worship {ethelothreskia: self-chosen rituals} and humility and neglect of the body, but are not of any value {time: true spiritual benefit} against the indulgence of the flesh.