because in Him were all things created, in the heavens, and upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers??ll things have been created through Him, and for Him;

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

Having put an end to the handwriting of the law which was against us, taking it out of the way by nailing it to his cross;

These things are [only] a shadow of future things, but the body [i.e., the real substance of things] belongs to Christ. [Note: The idea here is that the ritual observances of the Mosaic law were like shadows pointing to the reality of life in Christ].

Let no one lay down rules for you as he pleases, with regard to fasting and the cult of angels, presuming on his visions and inflated by his sensuous notions,

But now you also lay aside all [these] things: anger, rage, wickedness, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;

Fathers, do not make your children resentful. Otherwise, they'll become discouraged.