Beware lest {anyone take you captive} through philosophy and empty deceit, according to {human tradition}, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ,

because in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily,

having been buried with him in baptism, in which also you were raised together with [him] through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with reference to eating or drinking or participation in a feast or a new moon or a Sabbath,

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, live in him,

And {although you were dead} in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

having destroyed the certificate of indebtedness in ordinances against us, which was hostile to us, and removed it out of the way [by] nailing it to the cross.

in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

I say this in order that no one will deceive you with persuasive speech,

[When he] had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a display of [them] in public, triumphing over them by it.

in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

so that their hearts may be encouraged, united in love and into all the wealth of the full assurance of insight into the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,

and you are filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority,

for even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

which [things] {although they have}, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, {do not have any value} against the indulgence of the flesh.

which are a shadow of what is to come, but the reality [is] Christ.

and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by the ligaments and sinews, grows with the growth of God.

which [things] are all [meant] for destruction by consuming according to human commandments and teachings,

"Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,"

Let no one condemn you, taking pleasure in humility and the worship of angels, going into detail [about] [the things] which he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit [to them] as [if] living in the world?

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on behalf of you, and those in Laodicea, and all those who have not seen my face {in person},

firmly rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding with thankfulness.