1. I want you to know how hard I work for you, for the people of Laodicea, and for people I have never met.
2. Because they are united in love, I work so that they may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of Christ. He is the mystery of God.
3. God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ.
4. I say this so that no one will mislead you with arguments that merely sound good.
5. Although I’m absent from you physically, I’m with you in spirit. I’m happy to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
6. You received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live as Christ’s people.
7. Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving.
8. Be careful not to let anyone rob you ⌊of this faith⌋ through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.
9. All of God lives in Christ’s body,
10. and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority.
11. In him you were also circumcised. It was not a circumcision performed by human hands. But it was a removal of the corrupt nature in the circumcision performed by Christ.
12. This happened when you were placed in the tomb with Christ through baptism. In baptism you were also brought back to life with Christ through faith in the power of God, who brought him back to life.