In his body of flesh, through means of his death, to present you holy and blameless and unaccusable before him, -

Now, am I rejoicing in the sufferings on your behalf, and am filling up the things that lack of the tribulations of the Christ, in my flesh, in behalf of his body, which is the assembly,

For I desire you to know, how great a contest I am having - in behalf of you, and of those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For, though, indeed, in the flesh, I am absent, yet, in the spirit, with you, I am - rejoicing, and beholding your order and the solid firmness of your Christ-ward faith.

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, -

And, as for you - who 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,

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.

Ye servants! be obedient, in all things, unto them who, according to the flesh, are your masters, - not with eye-service, as man-pleasers, but with singleness of heart, revering the Lord, -