but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him --

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body -- for the sake of his body, the church -- what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.

I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days --

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body -- a wisdom with no true value -- they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.

But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.

because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.

For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.

Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.