Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.

and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.