Paul's Letter to the Colossians (WEB)
2:1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for
as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2:2that 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, both of the Father and of Christ, 2:3in whom are all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge hidden. 2:4Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of
speech. 2:5For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing
your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 2:6As therefore you received Christ Jesus,
the Lord, walk in him, 2:7rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were
taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. 2:8Be careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not
after Christ. 2:9For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, 2:10and in him you are made
full, who is the head of all principality and power; 2:11in whom you were also circumcised with a
circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the
circumcision of Christ; 2:12having 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. 2:13You were dead
through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with
him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; 2:14having blotted out the bond written in ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he has taken it out that way, nailing it to the
cross; 2:15having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it. 2:16Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with
respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 2:17which are a shadow of the things to
come; but the body is Christ's. 2:18Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and
worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his
fleshly mind, 2:19and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and
knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth. 2:20If you died with Christ
from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to
ordinances, 2:21"Don't handle, nor taste, nor touch" 2:22(all which things are to perish with the using),
after the precepts and doctrines of men? 2:23Which things indeed appear like wisdom in
self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the
indulgence of the flesh.