We give praise to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, making prayer for you at all times,

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things,

So, do not allow anyone to judge [i.e., condemn] you for what you eat, or what you drink, or regarding [your non-observance of] a [yearly] festival, or a [monthly] "new moon" observance, or a [weekly] Sabbath day.

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.

Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from ordinances of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say

[So], when Christ, who is your [or, "our" source of] life, appears [i.e., at His second coming], then you people also will appear with Him in splendor [i.e., in heaven].

You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Epaphras who is from among you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, - at all times, contending in your behalf in his prayers, that ye may be caused to stand complete and fully assured in everything willed by God;