Christ, The Mystery Of God

1 For I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen me face to face.

1 For I want you to know how great a (A)struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at (B)Laodicea, and for all those who have not (a)personally seen my face,

1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle(A) I have for you, for those in Laodicea,(B) and for all who have not seen me in person.

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at (a)Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face.

2 Because they are united in love, I pray that their hearts may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of the full knowledge of the Messiah, who is the mystery of God.

2 that their (C)hearts may be encouraged, having been (D)knit together in love, and attaining to all (E)the wealth (b)that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a (F)true knowledge of (G)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

2 I want their hearts to be encouraged(C) and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery(D)—Christ.(a)(E)

2 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] (b)love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the (c)mystery of God, that is, Christ,

3 In him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

3 in whom are hidden all (H)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

3 All the treasures of wisdom(F) and knowledge(G) are hidden in Him.

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God].

Christ Versus The Colossian Heresy

4 I say this so that no one will mislead you with nice-sounding rhetoric.

4 (I)I say this so that no one will delude you with (J)persuasive argument.

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.

4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive [but thoroughly deceptive] arguments.

5 For although I am physically absent, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how stable you are and how firm your faith in the Messiah is.

5 For even though I am (K)absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing (c)to see (d)your (L)good discipline and the (M)stability of your faith in Christ.

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit,(H) rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

5 For even though I am absent [from you] in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, (d)delighted to see your good discipline [as you stand shoulder to shoulder and form a solid front] and to see the stability of your faith in Christ [your steadfast reliance on Him and your unwavering confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

Made Alive In Christ

6 So then, just as you have received the Messiah Jesus the Lord, continue to live dependent on him.

6 Therefore as you have received (N)Christ Jesus the Lord, so (e)(O)walk in Him,

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

6 Therefore, as you have received(I) Christ Jesus the Lord,(J) walk in Him,

6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin],

7 For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful.

7 having been firmly (P)rooted and now being (Q)built up in Him and (R)established (f)in your faith, just as you (S)were instructed, and overflowing (g)with gratitude.

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

7 rooted and built up in Him(K) and established in the faith, just as you were taught,(L) overflowing with gratitude.

7 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established (e)in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.

Beware Of Requirements Invented By Humans

8 See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to the Messiah,

8 (T)See to it that no one takes you captive through (U)philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the (V)elementary principles of the world, (h)rather than according to Christ.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition,(M) based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.(N)

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the (f)elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.

9 because all the essence of deity inhabits him in bodily form.

9 For in Him all the (W)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

9 For the entire fullness(O) of God’s nature(b) dwells bodily(c) in Christ,

9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].

10 And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.

10 and in Him you have been (X)made (i)complete, and (Y)He is the head (j)over all (Z)rule and authority;

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

10 and you have been filled by Him, who is the head(P) over every ruler and authority.

10 And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].

11 In union with him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without human hands by stripping off the corrupt nature by the circumcision performed by the Messiah.

11 and in Him (AA)you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of (AB)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

11 You were also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh,(Q) in the circumcision of the Messiah.(d)(R)

11 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature],

12 When you were buried with the Messiah in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

12 having been (AC)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also (AD)raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who (AE)raised Him from the dead.

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

12 Having been buried with Him(S) in baptism, you were also raised with Him(T) through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.(U)

12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead.

13 Even when you were dead because of your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with him when he forgave us all of our offenses,

13 When you were (AF)dead (k)in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He (AG)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins,

14 having erased the charges that were brought against us, along with their obligations that were hostile to us. He took those charges away when he nailed them to the cross.

14 having canceled out (AH)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and (AI)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.(V)

14 having canceled out the (g)certificate of debt consisting of (h)legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross.

15 And when he had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross.

15 When He had (l)(AJ)disarmed the (AK)rulers and authorities, He (AL)made a public display of them, having (AM)triumphed over them through (m)Him.

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.(e)(W)

15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through (i)the cross.

Do Not Be Judged By Human Religious Rules

16 Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a New Moon, or Sabbath days.

16 Therefore no one is to (n)(AN)act as your judge in regard to (AO)food or (AP)drink or in respect to a (AQ)festival or a (AR)new moon or a (AS)Sabbath (o)day—

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge(X) you in regard to food and drink(Y) or in the matter of a festival or a new moon(Z) or a Sabbath day.(f)

16 Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Messiah.

17 things which are (AT)a mere shadow of what is to come; but the (p)substance (q)belongs to Christ.

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

17 These are a shadow(AA) of what was to come;(AB) the substance is(g) the Messiah.(AC)

17 Such things are only a shadow of what is to come and they have only symbolic value; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ.

18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind.

18 Let no one keep (r)(AU)defrauding you of your prize by (AV)delighting in (s)self-abasement and the worship of the angels, (t)taking his stand on visions he has seen, (u)(AW)inflated without cause by his (AX)fleshly mind,

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

18 Let no one disqualify you,(h)(AD) insisting on ascetic practices(AE) and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflated(AF) without cause by his unspiritual(i) mind.

18 Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,

19 He does not hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, which is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God enables it.

19 and not holding fast to (AY)the head, from whom (AZ)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and (v)ligaments, grows with a growth (w)which is from God.

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

19 He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body,(AG) nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God.

19 and not holding fast to the head [of the body, Jesus Christ], from whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth [that can come only] from God.

20 If you have died with the Messiah to the basic principles of the world, why are you submitting to its decrees as though you still lived in the world?

20 (BA)If you have died with Christ (x)to the (BB)elementary principles of the world, (BC)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to (BD)decrees, such as,

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

20 If you died with the Messiah(AH) to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:

20 If you have died with Christ to the (j)elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as,

21 "Don't handle this! Don't taste or touch that!"

21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”?

21 “Do not handle [this], do not taste [that], do not [even] touch!”?

22 All of these things will be destroyed as they are used, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

22 (which all refer (BE)to things destined to perish (y)with use)—in accordance with the (BF)commandments and teachings of men?

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

22 All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men.

22 (these things all perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men.(A)

23 These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence.

23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the (z)appearance of wisdom in (aa)(BG)self-made religion and self-abasement and (BH)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against (BI)fleshly indulgence.

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

23 Although these have a reputation of wisdom(AI) by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.(j)(AJ)

23 These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God].

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