Chapter 2

¹For I would have you know, what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh: ²That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity, and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus: ³In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words. ⁵For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you; rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ. ⁶As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk ye in him; ⁷Rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving. ⁸Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ: ⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally; ¹⁰And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power: ¹¹In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ: ¹²Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up from the dead. ¹³And you, when you were dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh; he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences: ¹⁴Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross: ¹⁵And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself. ¹⁶Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths, ¹⁷Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. ¹⁸Let no man seduce you, willing in humility, and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh, ¹⁹And not holding the head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth unto the increase of God. ²⁰If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world? ²¹Touch not, taste not, handle not: ²²Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men. ²³Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.