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You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
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And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
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But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
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I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
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For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
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See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
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For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
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having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
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When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
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Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.
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These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.
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Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
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Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
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And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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Further Instructions
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
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Final Greetings
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
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He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
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Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
