我要你们知道，我为你们和老底嘉人，和所有没有与我见过面的人，是何等地勤奋；
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2为要使他们的心得安慰，因爱心互相联络，以致有从确实了解所产生的丰盛，好深知神的奥秘，就是基督；That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3在他里面蕴藏着一切智慧和知识。In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4我说这话，免得有人用花言巧语迷惑你们。And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5虽然我身体不在你们那里，心却与你们同在，很高兴见你们循规蹈矩，对基督的信心也坚固。基督里的丰盛
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6既然你们接受了主基督耶稣，就要靠着他而生活，As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7照着你们所领受的教导，在他里面生根建造，信心坚固，充满着感谢的心。Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8你们要谨慎，免得有人用他的哲学和虚空的废话，不照着基督，而是照人间的传统和世上粗浅的学说☛“世上粗浅的学说”或译“宇宙的星宿”；20-21节同。，把你们掳去。Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9因为神本性一切的丰盛都有形有体地居住在基督里面；For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10你们在他里面也已经成为丰盛。他是所有执政掌权者的元首。And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11你们也在他里面受了不是人手所行的割礼，而是使你们脱去肉体情欲的基督的割礼。In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12你们既受洗与他一同埋葬，也就在此礼上，因信那使他从死人中复活的神的作为跟他一同复活。Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13你们从前在过犯和未受割礼的肉体中死了，神却赦免了你们一切的过犯，使你们与基督一同活过来，And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14涂去了在律例上所写、敌对我们、束缚我们的字据，把它撤去，钉在十字架上。Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15基督既将一切执政者、掌权者的权势解除了，就在凯旋的行列中，将他们公开示众，仗着十字架夸胜。And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16所以，不要让任何人在饮食上，或节期、初一、安息日等事上评断你们。Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17这些原是未来的事的影子，真体却是属基督的。Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18不要让人藉着故作谦虚和敬拜天使夺去你们的奖赏。这等人拘泥在所见过的幻象☛有古卷是“这等人窥察所没有见过的”。，随着自己的欲望无故地自高自大，Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19不紧随元首；其实，由于他全身藉着关节筋络才得到滋养，互相联络，靠神所赐的成长而成长。基督里的新生活
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20既然你们与基督同死而脱离了世上粗淺的学说，为什么仍像生活在世俗中一样，去服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21这些都是根据人的命令和教导，论到这一切都是一经使用就都败坏了。(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22这些规条使人徒有智慧之名，用私意崇拜，自表谦卑，苦待己身，其实在克制肉体的情欲上毫无功效。Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?