The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians

 1 For I would that ye knew what great ^aconflict I have for you, and for them at ^bLaodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of ^aunderstanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, ^band of the Father, and of Christ;

 3 In whom are hid all the ^atreasures of ^bwisdom and ^cknowledge.

 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your ^aorder, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^awalk ye in him:

 7 ^aRooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with ^bthanksgiving.

 8 Beware lest any man ^aspoil you through ^bphilosophy and vain ^cdeceit, after the ^dtradition of men, after the rudiments of the ^eworld, and not after Christ.

 9 For in him dwelleth all the ^afulness of the Godhead bodily.

 10 And ye are ^acomplete in him, which is the head of all ^bprincipality and power:

 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the ^acircumcision made without hands, in putting off the ^bbody of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

 12 ^aBuried with him in ^bbaptism, wherein also ye are ^crisen with him through the faith of the ^doperation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he ^aquickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

 14 ^aBlotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 16 Let no man therefore ^ajudge you in ^bmeat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the ^csabbath days:

 17 Which are a ^ashadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

 18 Let no man ^abeguile you of your reward in a voluntary ^bhumility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

 19 And not holding the ^aHead, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

 20 Wherefore if ye be ^adead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ^bordinances,

 21 ^a(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the ^acommandments and ^bdoctrines of men?

 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.