Modern Literal Version
[Colossians 2]

     ^2:1 For^* I wish you^* to know how-vast a struggle I have concerning you^* and those in Laodicea and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ^2:2 in order that their hearts might be encouraged, having been knitted together in love^* and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God and Father and of the Christ, ^2:3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

     ^2:4 But I am saying all of this, in order that not anyone may delude you^* in persuasive speech.^2:5 For^* even if I am absent in the flesh, but yet I am together with you^* in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your^* order and the firmness of your^* faith in Christ.

     ^2:6 Therefore, as you^* received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk^* in him, ^2:7 having been rooted and being built up in him and being confirmed in the faith, just-as you^* were taught in it, abounding in thanksgiving.

     ^2:8 Beware^*, that there will not be anyone there who is leading you^* away as his prey through philosophy and vain deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ, ^2:9 because all the fullness of the Deity is dwelling in him bodily. ^2:10 And you^* are fulfilled in him, who is the head of all principality and authority; ^2:11 in whom you^* were also circumcised with a circumcision not made^* with hands, in the stripping off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ, ^2:12 having been buried together with him in the immersion^*, in which you^* were also raised up together with him through the faith from the working of God, who raised him up from the dead. ^2:13 And you^*, being dead in your^* trespasses and the uncircumcision of your^* flesh, he made^* you^* alive together with him, having forgiven^* us all our trespasses; ^2:14 having wiped-away the handwriting in the decrees that were against us, which were an adversary to us. He has also taken these out of the midst of us, having nailed it to the cross, ^2:15 having stripped off the principalities and the authorities, he publicly made a show of them, having triumphed over them in it.

     ^2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you^* in food, or in drink, or in this respect of a feast day, or a new month, or a Sabbath; ^2:17 which are a shadow of the future things, but the body is Christ's. ^2:18 Let no one arbitrate against you^*, willing it so in your^* humility and in a religion of the messengers; stepping you^* further into the things which he has not seen, being vainly arrogant by his mind of flesh, ^2:19 and not holding-fast to the head, from whom all the body is being supplied and knitted together through the joints and ligaments, which is growing with the growth of God.

     ^2:20 If you^* died together with Christ away from the elemental principles of the world, why, (asthough living in the world), are you^* submissive to its decrees: ^2:21 do not touch; do not taste; do not handle; ^2:22 (which things in the using are all leading to corruption), according to the commandments and teachings of men? ^2:23 Which things are indeed in a man-made religion holding a reason which comes from man's wisdom and humility and unsparing cruelty of the body, but are not in any value toward the indulgence of the flesh.

Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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