To the saints which are at Colossae, and brethren that believe in Christ. Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

since we heard of your faith which ye have in Christ Jesus: and of the love which ye bear to all saints

for the hope's sake which is laid up in store for you in heaven, of which hope ye have heard before by the true word of the gospel,

which is come unto you, even as it is into all the world, and is fruitful as it is among you, from the first day in the which ye heard of it, and had experience in the grace of God in the truth,

as ye learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ,

which also declared unto us your love, which ye have in the spirit.

giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of saints in light.

Which hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son,

which is the image of the invisible God, first begotten of all creatures:

And you - which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your minds were set in evil works - hath he now reconciled

if ye continue grounded and established in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, whereof ye have heard, how that it is preached among all creatures, which are under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister.

Now joy I in my sufferings which I suffer, for you; and fulfill that which is behind of the passions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the congregation -

whereof am I made a minister according to the ordinance of God, which ordinance was given me unto you ward, to fulfill the word of God:

to whom God would make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all rule and power.

in that ye are buried with him through baptism, in whom ye are also risen again through faith, that is wrought by the operation of God which raised him from death.

And ye which were dead in sin through the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened with him and hath forgiven us all our trespasses

which are nothing but shadows of things to come. But the body is in Christ.

Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless, puffed up with his fleshly mind,

which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men:

which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body - and do the flesh no worship unto his need.

If ye be then risen again with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the righthand of God.

Set your affection on things that are above, and not on things which are on the earth.

When Christ, which is our life, shall show himself; then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is worshipping of idols:

for which thing's sakes the wrath of God cometh on the children of unbelief.

In which things ye walked once, when ye lived in them.

and the new put on; which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that made him:

Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness,

and the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which peace ye are called in one body: and see that ye be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom. Teach and exhort your own selves, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs which have favour with them, singing in your hearts to the Lord.

Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, seeing ye know that ye have also a master in heaven.

The dear brother Tychicus shall tell you of all my business, which is a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord,

with one Onesimus a faithful, and a beloved brother, which is one of you. They shall show you of all things which are a doing here.

and Jesus which is called Justus, which are of the circumcision. These only are my workfellows unto the kingdom of God, which were unto my consolation.

Epaphras the servant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, and always laboureth fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect, and full in all that is the will of God.

Salute the brethren which are of Laodicea, and salute Nymphas, and the congregation which is in his house.