The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Revelation 3:14–22)

For I woulde ye knewe what great fighting I haue for your sakes, and for them of Laodicea, and for as many as haue not seene my person in the flesh,

That their heartes might be comforted, and they knit together in loue, and in all riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding, to know the mysterie of God, euen the Father, and of Christ:

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge.

And this I say, lest any man shoulde beguile you with entising wordes:

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, reioycing and beholding your order, and your stedfast faith in Christ.

Alive with Christ

(Ephesians 2:1–10)

As ye haue therefore receiued Christ Iesus the Lord, so walke in him,

Rooted and built in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye haue bene taught, abouding therein with thankesgiuing.

Beware lest there be any man that spoile you through philosophie, and vaine deceit, through the traditions of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily.

And yee are complete in him, which is the head of all principalitie and power.

In whome also yee are circumcised with circumcision made without handes, by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ,

In that yee are buried with him through baptisme, in whome ye are also raised vp together through the faith of the operation of God, which raised him from the dead.

And you which were dead in sinnes, and in the vncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, forgiuing you all your trespasses,

And putting out the hand writing of ordinances that was against vs, which was contrarie to vs, hee euen tooke it out of the way, and fastened it vpon the crosse,

And hath spoyled the Principalities, and Powers, and hath made a shew of them openly, and hath triumphed ouer them in the same crosse.

Let no man therefore condemne you in meate and drinke, or in respect of an holy day, or of the newe moone, or of the Sabbath dayes,

Which are but a shadowe of thinges to come: but the body is in Christ.

Let no man at his pleasure beare rule ouer you by humblenesse of minde, and worshipping of Angels, aduauncing himselfe in those thinges which hee neuer sawe, rashly puft vp with his fleshly minde,

And holdeth not the head, whereof all the body furnished and knit together by ioyntes and bands, increaseth with the increasing of God.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world, why, as though ye liued in ye world, are ye burdened with traditions?

As, Touch not, Taste not, Handle not.

Which al perish with the vsing, and are after the commandements and doctrines of men.

Which thinges haue in deede a shewe of wisdome, in voluntarie religion and humblenesse of minde, and in not sparing the body, which are thinges of no valewe, sith they perteine to the filling of the flesh.

(Revelation 3:14–22)

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

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

Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Alive with Christ

(Ephesians 2:1–10)

As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,

and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

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

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.

If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”

(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?

These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.