Colossians 2

1 For I want [desire, intend] you to know how much [to what extent, in what degree] I am struggling [exerting myself, working hard] for you and for those at Laodicea [a city in Asia Minor], and for all who have not met [seen, encountered] me face to face [in person, personally], word study 2 that they may be encouraged [comforted, strengthened] in heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], knit together [united, joined] in love [unconditional, divine affection], and filled with the full riches [abundance, wealth] of complete understanding [full assurance, certain knowledge], so that they may know [have a deep understanding of] the mystery [hidden truth, secret] of God [the Father, the supreme Deity], namely [that is, specifically] Christ [the Anointed One, the Messiah], word study 3 in whom [among all things] are hidden [concealed, stored up] all the treasures [secret stores, riches] of wisdom [higher understanding, spiritual insight] and knowledge [true understanding, spiritual truth]. word study 4 I say [declare, proclaim] this so that no one [person, individual] will deceive [beguile, delude] you by [through, using] smooth [persuasive, enticing] rhetoric [speech, words, plausible but false reasoning]. word study 5 For although I am absent [not present, away] from you in body [flesh, physical presence], I am present [united] with you in spirit [breath, vital principle], and I delight [rejoice, take pleasure] to see your orderly [fixed, arranged] condition and firm [stable, unshakeable] faith [trust, confidence] in Christ [the Anointed, Messiah]. word study 6 Therefore [then, as a consequence], just as [in the same way] you have received [taken, accepted] Christ Jesus [the Messiah, the Anointed One] as Lord [Master, God], continue [go on, persevere] to walk [live, follow] in Him [in His ways, with Him], word study 7 rooted [firmly established, deeply grounded] and built up [constructed, established] in Him [Christ, the foundation], established [confirmed, made secure] in the faith [trust, confidence in God] as you were taught [instructed, guided], and overflowing [abounding, superabounding] with thankfulness [gratitude, praise]. word study 8 See to it that no one takes [takes advantage of, deceives] you captive [as spoil, leads you astray] through philosophy [human wisdom, worldly reasoning] and empty [vain, worthless] deception [false teachings, lies], which are based on human [man-made, earthly] tradition [customs, teachings] and the spiritual forces [elemental principles, worldly powers] of the world [the earthly system, human society] rather than on [in accordance with, following] Christ [the Anointed One, the Messiah]. word study 9 For in Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus] all the fullness [completion, entirety] of the Deity [God’s divine nature] dwells [resides, makes His home] in bodily [physically] form [human body, flesh]. word study 10 And you have been made [spiritually] complete [fulfilled, satisfied] in Christ [the Anointed One], who is the head [ruler, leader] over every [all, every single] ruler [prince, authority] and authority [power, dominion]. word study 11 In Him [through your union with Christ] you were also circumcised [spiritually, in a non-physical sense], in the putting off [removal, divestment] of your sinful nature [the body of the sins of the flesh], with the circumcision [removal of the old self] performed by Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus] and not by human hands [not made by human effort]. word study 12 And having been buried with Him [united with Him in death] in baptism [ceremonial act of washing or immersion], you were raised with Him [brought back to life spiritually] through your faith [trust and confidence] in the power [active energy, divine ability] of God [the one true deity], who raised Him from the dead [brought back to life from a state of death]. word study 13 When you [being dead spiritually] were dead in your trespasses [sins, misdeeds] and in the uncircumcision [lack of spiritual purity] of your sinful nature [flesh, self-directed humanity], God [the Father, Creator] made you alive [quickened, gave spiritual life] with Christ [the Messiah, Savior]. He forgave us [pardon, showed mercy to] all our trespasses [sins, offenses, wrongdoings], word study 14 having canceled [blotted out, wiped away] the debt [record of our debts, handwriting of ordinances] ascribed to us [against us, contrary to us] in the decrees [laws, ordinances] that stood [were] against us [opposed to us]. He took it away [out of the way], nailing [fastening] it to the cross [the instrument of crucifixion]! word study 15 And having [stripped away, despoiled] disarmed the powers [spiritual rulers, authorities] and authorities [principalities, freedoms to act], He made a public [open, bold] spectacle [display, show] of them [celebrating victory], triumphing over them by [through, in] the cross [the instrument of His triumph]. word study 16 Therefore let no one [not a single person, anyone] judge you by what you eat [in meat, food] or drink [consume liquids], or with regard to a feast [festival, special celebration], a New Moon [a time of renewal], or a Sabbath [day of rest, worship]. word study 17 These [which are a shadow, an image] are a shadow [a dark image] of the things [events, spiritual blessings] to come [to ensue, about to happen], but the body [the whole physical person] that casts it belongs [exists, is] to Christ [the anointed Messiah]. word study 18 Do not let anyone [no person, nothing] who delights in false [pretended, self-imposed] humility [lowliness of mind, modesty] and the worship [religion, ceremonial service] of angels [messengers, heavenly beings] disqualify [rob, deprive] you with speculation [investigating, intruding] about what he has seen [perceived, experienced]. Such a person is puffed up [inflated, proud] without basis [in vain, without reason] by his unspiritual [fleshly, carnal] mind [intellect, understanding]. word study 19 He has lost connection [is no longer holding fast, has become detached] to the head [Christ, the source of spiritual life], from whom the whole body [the church, the community of believers], supported [nourished, supplied] and knit together [united, joined] by its joints [connections, ligaments] and ligaments [bonds, ties], grows [increases, develops] as God [the Creator, the Sustainer] causes it to grow [brings it to maturity, increases its spiritual strength]. word study 20 If you have died [passed away, ceased to exist] with Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] to the spiritual forces [elemental principles, rudiments] of the world [the earthly realm], why, as though you still belonged [were living] to the world [the system of human society], do you submit [subject yourselves, decree] to its regulations [ordinances, rules]: word study 21 “Do not [refrain from, abstain] handle [manipulate, have to do with], do not [never, under no circumstances] taste [experience, savor], do not [come into contact with] touch [make physical contact, cling to]!”? word study 22 These [all things, everything] will all perish [be destroyed, come to an end] with use [using up, consumption], because they are based [founded, rooted] on human [man-made, earthly] commands [precepts, teachings] and [according to] teachings [doctrines, instructions]. word study 23 Such restrictions [self-imposed rules, human-made regulations] indeed have an appearance of [higher, spiritual] wisdom, with their self-prescribed [voluntary, will-worship] worship, their false [pretended, superficial] humility, and their harsh [severe, unsparing] treatment of the body; but they are of no value [useless, unprofitable] against the indulgence [gratification, satisfying] of the flesh [human nature, sinful desires]. word study