^8 (A)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through ^(B)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the ^(C)elementary principles of the world, ^[a]rather than in accordance with Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the ^(D)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been ^(E)made ^[b]complete, and ^(F)He is the head ^[c]over every ^(G)ruler and authority;

¹⁰ But ^(A)these people disparage all the things that they do not understand; and ^(B)all the things that they know by instinct, ^(C)like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.

¹² For all who have sinned ^[a](A)without the Law will also perish ^[b]without the Law, and all who have sinned ^[c]under the Law will be judged ^[d]by the Law; ¹³ for it is ^(B)not the hearers ^[e]of the Law who are ^[f]righteous before God, but the doers ^[g]of the Law who will be justified. ¹⁴ For when Gentiles who do not have ^[h]the Law ^[i](C)instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having ^[j]the Law, are a law to themselves,

You Are Built Up in Christ

2 For I want you to know how great a ^(A)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at ^(B)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^[a]personally seen my face, ² that their ^(C)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(D)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all ^(E)the wealth ^[b]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(F)true knowledge of ^(G)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all ^(H)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ^4 (I)I say this so that no one will deceive you with ^(J)persuasive arguments. ⁵ For even though I am ^(K)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[c]to see ^[d]your ^(L)orderly manner and the ^(M)stability of your faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore, as you have received ^(N)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^[e](O)walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly ^(P)rooted and now being ^(Q)built up in Him and ^(R)established ^[f]in ^[g]your faith, just as you ^(S)were instructed, and overflowing ^[h]with gratitude.

^8 (T)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through ^(U)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the ^(V)elementary principles of the world, ^[i]rather than in accordance with Christ.

³ Among them ^[a]we too all ^(A)previously lived in ^(B)the lusts of our flesh, ^[b]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[c]mind, and were ^(C)by nature ^(D)children of wrath, ^(E)just as the rest.