1For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Messiah, 3in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. 4This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Messiah. 6As therefore you received Messiah Yeshua the Lord, so walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him, and established in your faith, even as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8Take heed that there not be anyone who takes you captive through his philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Messiah: 9for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, 10and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power: 11in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah; 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, he made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; 14having blotted out the bond written in decrees that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16Therefore let no man judge you in food, or in drink, or in regard to a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: 17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah’s. 18Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worship of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, increases with the increase of God. 20If you died with Messiah from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, 21Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch 22(all of which things are to perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23Which things indeed have a show of wisdom in self-made worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.