Colossians:2

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* For I desire you to know , how great a contest I am havingin behalf of you , and of those in Laodicea , and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh ; * In order that their hearts may be encouraged , being knit together in love , even unto all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding , unto a personal knowledge of the sacred secret of God , Christ : * In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away . * This I say , in order that , no one , may be reasoning , you , aside with plausible discourse ; * For , though , indeed , in the flesh , I am absent , yet , in the spirit , with you , I amrejoicing , and beholding your order and the solid firmness of your Christ-ward faith . * As , therefore , ye have accepted the Anointed Jesus as your Lord , in him , be walking , * Rooted , and being built up , in him , and making yourselves sure in your faith , even as ye have been taught , surpassing therein with thanksgiving . * Be taking heed , lest there shall be anyone leading , you , off as a spoil , through means of their philosophy , and an empty deceit , according to the instruction of men , according to the first principles of the world , and not according to Christ : * Because , in him , dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead , bodily , * And ye are , in him , filled full , Who , is the head of all principality and authority , * In whom , ye have also been circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand , in the despoiling of the body of flesh , in the circumcision of the Christ , * Having been buried together with him in your immersion , wherein also ye have been raised together , through your faith in the energising of God Who raised him from among the dead . * And , as for youwho were , dead , by your offences and by the uncircumcision of your flesh , he hath brought you to life together with him , having in favour forgiven us all our offences , * Having blotted out the handwriting against us by the decrees , which was hostile to us , and hath taken away , the same , out of the midst , nailing it up to the cross : * Spoiling the principalities and the authorities , he made of them an open example , celebrating a triumph over them thereby . * Let no one , therefore , be judging , you , in eating and in drinking , or in respect of feast , or new moon , or sabbath , * Which are a shadow of the things to come , whereas , the body , is of the Christ . * Let , no one , against you , be arbitrating , however wishful , in respect of lowliness of mind , and of a religious observance of the messengers : upon what things he hath seen , taking his stand , in vain , puffed up by his carnal mind , * And not holding fast the head : from which , all the body , through means of its joints and uniting bands , receiving supply , and connecting itself together , groweth with the growth of God . * If ye have died , together with Christ , from the first principles of the world , why , as though alive in the world , are ye submitting to decrees , * Do not handle , nor taste , nor touch ; * Which things are all for decay in the using up ; according to the commandments and teachings of men ? * The which things , indeed , though they have , an appearance , of wisdom , in self-devised religious observance , and lowliness of mind , and ill-treatment of body , are , in no honourable way , unto a satisfying of the flesh .

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