Completeness in Christ
FOR I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be encouraged, being held together in love, and into all the riches of the complete certainty of understanding, into the knowledge of the mystery of the God and Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit: rejoicing and seeing your discipline, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 ¶ As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him:
7 Firmly rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught; abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone take you captive through philosophy and vain deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him dwells all the fulness of the divine nature in bodily form.
10 ¶ And you are made complete in him, which is the head of all rule and authority:
11 In whom also, you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands; in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, in which also you have risen with him through faith, of the working of God who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he had made alive together with him, having forgiven all your transgressions;
14 Blotting out the record of broken laws that was against us (which was hostile to us); and taking it out of the way, nailed it to his cross;
15 And by it, stripped naked (disrobed) rulers and authorities; triumphing over them, and put them to open shame.
16 ¶ Therefore let no one judge you in meal, or in drink; or in respect of a festival, or new moon, or Sabbath:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man disqualify you of your reward by false humility and worshipping of Angels, entering into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not retaining the Head, from which all the body through ligaments and sinews has supply, and are held together, growing with the growth of God.
20 ¶ Therefore if you are dead together with Christ from the elementary principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to rules:
21 Touch not; taste not; handle not?
22 Which all are to perish with use; according to the commandments and doctrines of men.
23 Which things, have indeed an appearance of wisdom in self made religion, and the humbling and severe self-control of the body; but are not in any value to the gratification of the flesh.