Study Desk

For I want you to know how great a ^(C1)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at ^(C2)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^(F1)personally seen my face,

that their ^(C1)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(C2)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all ^(C3)the wealth ^(F1)that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(C4)true knowledge of ^(C5)God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

in whom are hidden all ^(C1)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

^(C1)I say this so that no one will deceive you with ^(C2)persuasive arguments.

For even though I am ^(C1)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing ^(F1)to see ^(F2)your ^(C2)orderly manner and the ^(C3)stability of your faith in Christ.

Therefore, as you have received ^(C1)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^(F1)(C2)walk in Him,

having been firmly ^(C1)rooted and now being ^(C2)built up in Him and ^(C3)established ^(F1)in ^(F2)your faith, just as you ^(C4)were instructed, and overflowing ^(F3)with gratitude.

^(C1)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through ^(C2)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the ^(C3)elementary principles of the world, ^(F1)rather than in accordance with Christ.

For in Him all the ^(C1)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

and in Him you have been ^(C1)made ^(F1)complete, and ^(C2)He is the head ^(F2)over every ^(C3)ruler and authority;

and in Him ^(C1)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of ^(C2)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,

having been ^(C1)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also ^(C2)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who ^(C3)raised Him from the dead.

And ^(F1)when you were ^(C1)dead ^(F2)in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He ^(C2)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,

having canceled ^(C1)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and ^(C2)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

When He had ^(F1)(C1)disarmed the ^(C2)rulers and authorities, He ^(C1)made a public display of them, having ^(C3)triumphed over them through ^(F2)Him.

Therefore, no one is to ^(F1)(C1)act as your judge in regard to ^(C2)food and ^(C2)drink, or in respect to a ^(C3)festival or a ^(C4)new moon, or a ^(C5)Sabbath ^(F2)day—

things which are only a ^(C1)shadow of what is to come; but the ^(F1)substance ^(F2)belongs to Christ.

Take care that no one keeps ^(F1)(C1)defrauding you of your prize by ^(C2)delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, ^(F2)taking his stand on visions he has seen, ^(F3)(C3)inflated without cause by his ^(C4)fleshly mind,

and not holding firmly to ^(C1)the head, from whom ^(C2)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ^(F1)ligaments, grows with a growth ^(F2)which is from God.

^(C1)If you have died with Christ ^(F1)to the ^(C2)elementary principles of the world, ^(C3)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to ^(C4)decrees, such as,

"Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"

(which all refer ^(C1)to things destined to perish ^(F1)with use)—in accordance with the ^(C2)commandments and teachings of man?

These are matters which do have the ^(F1)appearance of wisdom in ^(F2)(C1)self-made religion and humility and ^(C2)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against ^(C3)fleshly indulgence.