MODERN LITERAL VERSION

2:1 For* I wish you* to know how-vast a struggle I have concerning you* and those in Laodicea and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2:2 in order that their hearts might be encouraged, being knitted together in love* and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God and Father and of Christ,
2:3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

2:4 But I am saying all of this, in order that no one may delude you* with persuasive words.
2:5 For* even if I am absent in the flesh, but yet I am with you* in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your* order and the firmness of your* faith in Christ.

2:6 Therefore, as you* received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
2:7 having been rooted and being built up in him and steadfast in the faith, just-as you* were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

2:8 Beware, that there will be no one who is leading you* away as his prey through philosophy and vain deceitfulness, according to the tradition of men, according to the fundamental principles of the world, and not according to Christ,
2:9 because all the fullness of the Deity is dwelling in him bodily.
2:10 And you* are fulfilled in him, who is the head of all principality and authority;
2:11 in whom you* were also circumcised with a circumcision not made* with hands, in the stripping off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
2:12 having been buried together with him in the immersion*, in which you* were also raised up together with him through the faith in the working of God, who raised him up from the dead.
2:13 And you*, being dead in your* trespasses and the uncircumcision of your* flesh, he made* you* alive together with him, having forgiven* us all our trespasses;
2:14 having wiped-away the handwriting in the decrees that were against us, which were adverse to us. He has also taken it out of the midst of us, nailing it to the cross;
2:15 having stripped off the principalities and the authorities, he publicly made a show of them, triumphing over them in it.

2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you* in food, or in drink, or in the respect of a feast day, or a new month, or a Sabbath day;
2:17 which are a shadow of the future things, but the body is Christ's.
2:18 Let no one arbitrate against you*, willing it so in your * humility and in a religion of the messengers; stepping you* further into the things which he has not seen, vainly arrogant by his fleshly mind,
2:19 and not holding-fast to the head, from whom all the body is being supplied and knitted together through the joints and ligaments, which is growing with the growth of God.

2:20 If you* died with Christ from the fundamental principles of the world, why, (as though living in the world), are you* submissive to its decrees:
2:21 such as, do not touch; do not taste; do not handle;
2:22 (which things in the using are all leading to corruption), according to the commandments and teachings of men?
2:23 Which indeed in man-made religion have a reason which comes from man's wisdom and humility and unsparing cruelty of the body , but are not of any value toward the indulgence of the flesh.