King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
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;
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For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.
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;
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I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself,
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
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in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
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I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments.
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.
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For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
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As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
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rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in 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.
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See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
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For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
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and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.
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:
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In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in 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.
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when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who 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;
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And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our 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;
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erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
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He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, 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:
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Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths.
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
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These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to 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,
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Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking,
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.
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and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from 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,
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If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
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"Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"?
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
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All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings.
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.
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These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.