6As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him; 7having been rooted and being built up in him, and being established in the faith as ye were taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8Beware lest there shall be any one that despoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9Because in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are made complete in him[10], who is the head of all principality and power; 11in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 12being buried with him in the immersion, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And you also, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made alive together with him, graciously forgiving us all our trespasses; 14blotting out the handwriting in ordinances that was against us, which was opposed to us, and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15despoiling principalities and powers[15a], he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it[15b].
16Let not any one therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a feast-day, or of a new-moon, or of a sabbath; 17which are a shadow of the things to come, but the body is of Christ. 18Let no one defraud you of the prize, seeking it[18] in humiliation and worship of the angels, intruding into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding fast the head, from whom all the body, by means of the joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and being knit together, increases with the increase of God.
20If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21"Handle not, nor taste, nor touch," 22(which are all to perish with the using,) after the commandments and teachings of men? 23Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in self-chosen worship, and humiliation, and neglecting of the body, not in any honor, for the satisfying of the flesh.
III. If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things upon the earth. 3For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, our life, shall be manifested, then will ye also with him be manifested in glory.
5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6on account of which things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience; 7in which ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things. 8But now, do ye also put all away, anger, wrath, malice, reviling, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him who created him; 11where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God's chosen, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, 13forbearing one another, and freely forgiving each other, if any one have a complaint against any, even as Christ freely forgave you, so also do ye; 14and over all these, love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which ye were also called in one body; and be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to God. 17And whatever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter toward them.