Epistula ad Colossenses, 2
1. Volo enim vos scire qualem sollicitudinem habeam pro vo bis et pro his, qui sunt Laodiciae, et quicumque non viderunt faciem meam in carne,
1. For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at La-odice'a, and for all who have not seen my face,
2. ut consolentur corda ipsorum instructi in caritate et in omnes divitias plenitudinis intellectus, in agnitionem mysterii Dei, Christi,
2. that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, of Christ,
3. in quo sunt omnes thesauri sapientiae et scientiae absconditi.
3. in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4. Hoc dico, ut nemo vos decipiat in subtilitate sermonum.
4. I say this in order that no one may delude you with beguiling speech.
5. Nam etsi corpore absens sum, sed spiritu vobiscum sum, gaudens et videns ordinem vestrum et firmamentum eius, quae in Christum est, fidei vestrae.
5. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6. Sicut ergo accepistis Christum Iesum Dominum, in ipso ambulate,
6. As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him,
7. radicati et superaedificati in ipso et confirmati fide, sicut didicistis, abundantes in gratiarum actione.
7. rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8. Videte, ne quis vos depraedetur per philosophiam et inanem fallaciam secundum traditionem hominum, secundum elementa mundi et non secundum Christum;
8. See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.
9. quia in ipso inhabitat omnis plenitudo divinitatis corporaliter,
9. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily,
10. et estis in illo repleti, qui est caput omnis principatus et potestatis;
10. and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11. in quo et circumcisi estis circumcisione non manufacta in exspoliatione corporis carnis, in circumcisione Christi;
11. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ;
12. consepulti ei in baptismo, in quo et conresuscitati estis per fidem operationis Dei, qui suscitavit illum a mortuis;
12. and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13. et vos, cum mortui essetis in delictis et praeputio carnis vestrae, convivificavit cum illo, donans nobis omnia delicta,
13. And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14. delens, quod adversum nos erat, chirographum decretis, quod erat contrarium nobis, et ipsum tulit de medio affigens illud cruci;
14. having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
15. exspolians principatus et potestates traduxit confidenter, triumphans illos in semetipso.
15. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.
16. Nemo ergo vos iudicet in cibo aut in potu aut ex parte diei festi aut neomeniae aut sabbatorum,
16. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath.
17. quae sunt umbra futurorum, corpus autem Christi.
17. These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
18. Nemo vos bravio defraudet complacens sibi in humilitate et religione angelorum propter ea, quae vidit, ingrediens, frustra inflatus sensu carnis suae
18. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
19. et non tenens caput, ex quo totum corpus per nexus et coniunctiones subministratum et compaginatum crescit in augmentum Dei.
19. and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20. Si mortui estis cum Christo ab elementis mundi, quid tamquam viventes in mundo decretis subicimini:
20. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,
21. “Ne tetigeris neque gustaveris neque contrectaveris”,
21. "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"
22. quae sunt omnia in corruptionem ipso usu secundum praecepta et doctrinas hominum?
22. (referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to human precepts and doctrines?
23. Quae sunt rationem quidem habentia sapientiae in superstitione et humilitate, et non parcendo corpori, non in honore aliquo ad saturitatem carnis.
23. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.
