1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
1我願意你們曉得，我為你們和老底嘉人，並一切沒有與我親自見面的人，是何等的盡心竭力；
2that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and [attaining] to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, [resulting] in a true knowledge of God's mystery, [that is], Christ [Himself],
2要叫他們的心得安慰，因愛心互相聯絡，以致豐豐足足在悟性中有充足的信心，使他們真知神的奧祕，就是基督；
3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
3所積蓄的一切智慧知識，都在他裡面藏著。
4I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
4我說這話，免得有人用花言巧語迷惑你們。
5For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
5我身子雖與你們相離，心卻與你們同在，見你們循規蹈矩，信基督的心也堅固，我就歡喜了。
6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in Him,
6你們既然接受了主基督耶穌，就當遵他而行，
7having been firmly rooted [and now] being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, [and] overflowing with gratitude.
7在他裡面生根建造，信心堅固，正如你們所領的教訓，感謝的心也更增長了。
8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
8你們要謹慎，恐怕有人用他的理學和虛空的妄言，不照著基督，乃照人間的遺傳和世上的小學就把你們擄去。
9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
9因為神本性一切的豐盛都有形有體的居住在基督裡面，
10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
10你們在他裡面也得了豐盛。他是各樣執政掌權者的元首。
11and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
11你們在他裡面也受了不是人手所行的割禮，乃是基督使你們脫去肉體情慾的割禮。
12having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
12你們既受洗與他一同埋葬，也就在此與他一同復活，都因信那叫他從死裡復活神的功用。
13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
13你們從前在過犯和未受割禮的肉體中死了，神赦免了你們（或作：我們）一切過犯，便叫你們與基督一同活過來；
14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
14又塗抹了在律例上所寫攻擊我們，有礙於我們的字據，把他撤去，釘在十字架上。
15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
15既將一切執政的、掌權的擄來，明顯給眾人看，就仗著十字架誇勝。
16Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--
16所以，不拘在飲食上，或節期、月朔、安息日都不可讓人論斷你們。
17things which are a [mere] shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
17這些原是後事的影兒；那形體卻是基督。
18Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on [visions] he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
18不可讓人因著故意謙虛和敬拜天使，就奪去你們的獎賞。這等人拘泥在所見過的（有古卷作：這等人窺察所沒有見過的），隨著自己的慾心，無故的自高自大，
19and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
19不持定元首。全身既然靠著他，筋節得以相助聯絡，就因神大得長進。
20If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
20你們若是與基督同死，脫離了世上的小學，為甚麼仍像在世俗中活著、服從那不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸等類的規條呢？
21'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!'
21a
22(which all [refer] [to] things destined to perish with use)-- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
22這都是照人所吩咐、所教導的。說到這一切，正用的時候就都敗壞了。
23These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, [but are] of no value against fleshly indulgence.
23這些規條使人徒有智慧之名，用私意崇拜，自表謙卑，苦待己身，其實在克制肉體的情慾上是毫無功效。