concerning sin, because ¹  they do not believe in me; ² 

For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, ¹  you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. ²  You have gone back to needing ³  milk, not ⁴  solid food.

Therefore we must progress beyond ¹  the elementary ²  instructions about Christ ³  and move on ⁴  to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,

If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

So also we, when we were minors, ¹  were enslaved under the basic forces ²  of the world.

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits ¹  of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

Or speak ¹  to the earth ²  and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you.

“Surely you know ¹  that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed ²  on the earth,

The Lord created ¹  me as the beginning ²  of his works, ³  before his deeds of long ago.

The ear that hears and the eye that sees ¹  – the Lord has made them both. ² 

For the law was given through Moses, but ¹  grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.

Jesus answered, ¹  “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? ² 

You yourselves know that these hands of mine ¹  provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me.

because what can be known about God is plain to them, ¹  because God has made it plain to them.

Look at the people of Israel. ¹  Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?

On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential,

And to all these ¹  virtues ²  add ³  love, which is the perfect bond. ⁴ 

“But woe to you Pharisees! ¹  You give a tenth ²  of your mint, ³  rue, ⁴  and every herb, yet you neglect justice ⁵  and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others. ⁶ 

Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you ¹  through an empty, deceitful philosophy ²  that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits ³  of the world, and not according to Christ.

“Woe to you, experts in the law ¹  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth ²  of mint, dill, and cumin, ³  yet you neglect what is more important in the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You ⁴  should have done these things without neglecting the others.