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For I desire you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodikeia, and for as many as have not seen my face in flesh,
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so that their hearts may be encouraged, being joined together in love, and toward all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, toward knowledge of the mystery of Elohim— the Anointed—
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in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
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I say this so that no one may deceive you through persuasive speech.
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For even if I am absent in flesh, yet in ruach I am with you, rejoicing and seeing your order and the firmness of your trust toward the Anointed.
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Therefore, just as you received Yahushua the Anointed, the Master, walk in him,
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having been rooted and being built up in him, and being established in the trust, just as you were taught, overflowing in thanksgiving.
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Watch lest anyone carry you away through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of Adam, according to the elemental powers of the world, and not according to the Anointed.
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For in him all the fullness of the divine nature dwells bodily,
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and you have been filled in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.
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In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, in the putting off of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Anointed,
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having been buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him through trust in the working of Elohim, who raised him from the dead.
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And you, being dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with him, forgiving us all trespasses,
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wiping away the record of debt in decrees that stood against us and was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, fastening it to the execution stake.
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Having stripped the rulers and authorities, He exposed them openly, triumphing over them through it.
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Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or concerning a feast, or a new moon, or Shabbatot,
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which are a shadow of the things coming, but the body belongs to the Anointed.
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Let no one disqualify you, delighting in false humility and service of messengers, entering into visions he has seen, being puffed up without cause by the mind of his flesh,
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and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the whole body, through joints and ligaments being supplied and joined together, grows with the growth from Elohim.
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If you died with the Anointed away from the elemental powers of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you submit to decrees:
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“Do not handle,” “Do not taste,” “Do not touch”—
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things all destined for destruction through use— according to the commands and teachings of Adam?
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These indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed service, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against indulgence of the flesh.