He is the image (likeness) (representation) of the invisible God. He is the firstborn (Greek: prototokos: childbirth, offspring) of all creation.

All things in the heavens and upon the earth where created through him. The things visible and invisible were created through him. Whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.

If you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

As God's chosen, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness (humility), meekness (mildness), and long-suffering (patience).

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you with all wisdom. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, praises to God, and spiritual songs. Sing with gratitude in your hearts to God.

He rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love (the Son he dearly loves).

See to it that no one enslaves you by means of philosophy and worthless deceit of human wisdom according to tradition of men. It is according to the elementary principles of the world, and not from Christ.

The fullness of divine nature lives in Christ's bodily form. (Greek: theotes: essence and nature of God) (Only the Son of God could have divine attributes, the inherited qualities from the Father)

He is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning (commencement), the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (first place).

It came to you even as it did. Everywhere in the entire world it bears fruit and it increases in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace (loving-kindness) of God in truth.

Whatever you do, work at it without reservation, as to God, and not to men.

You have been buried with him in baptism. You were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

We preach Christ to everyone. With all possible wisdom we warn and teach them in order to bring each one to God as a mature individual in union with Christ.

Make your members that are upon the earth dead with regard to fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (greed), which is idolatry.

Since the day we heard about you, we have not ceased to pray and make request for you. We pray for you to be filled with the [intimate accurate] knowledge (discernment) (recognition) of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Philippians 1:9) (John 17:3)

Let no man judge you in food or in drink or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

He also declared your love to us in the Spirit.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him.

You learned about Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf.

You have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord. Now walk (live) in union with him.

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. I do my share in behalf of his body, the congregation, to provide what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being vigilant with thanksgiving.

Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

It was God's will to make known his secret to the people of the nations, this rich and glorious secret that he has for people. The secret is that Christ is in union with you, which means that you will share in his glory.

Give thanks to the Father, who made us partakers of the inheritance of the holy ones in the light.

You were in the past alienated and enemies because your minds were on your evil works.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. You were called in one body for this purpose. You be thankful.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

He blotted out the bond written in ordinances. It was against us and was contrary to us. He has taken it out of the way. He nailed it to the stake.

Tolerate (endure) (suffer) (put up with) one another, and forgive each other. If any man has a complaint against anyone, forgive them, even as God forgave you.

We have in him our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you got rid of the old self with its evil practices.

You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ.

And all things are reconciled through him. He made peace through the blood of his atonement (of the stake). He reconciles all things, whether things upon the earth, or things in heaven.

It was the good pleasure of the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell.

Because of such things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

I tell you this: Do not let anyone deceive you with false arguments, no matter how good they seem to be.

He disarmed the rulers and authorities! He made a public display of them triumphing over them.

Think about the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

He is before all things, and through him all things originate.

Now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech out of your mouth.

Behave with wisdom toward those who are outside, making the most of the time.

In him is concealed all the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge.

You put on the new self that is being renewed to a true knowledge (full discernment) according to the image of the one who created him.

Walk worthily of God, fully pleasing him. Bear fruit in every good work, and increase in the knowledge (Greek: epignosis: full discernment, recognition) of God.

Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh in all things, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, respecting God.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

You once walked in these when you lived in them.

I do this that they may be filled with courage and be united (knit) together in love. I have the full assurance that only true understanding brings. In this way they will accurately know God's secret, which is Christ himself.

When Christ, who is our life, will be made known, then you will also be made known with him in glory.

There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all and in all.

For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

to the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ that live in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

You are made full (complete) (perfect) (mature) in him. He is the head over all government and authority.

Even though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit (mental disposition). I am glad when I see the resolute firmness with which you stand together in your faith in Christ.

I work hard to get this done. I use the mighty strength Christ supplies. It is at work in me.

Tychicus will make known all my affairs to you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our situation, and that he may comfort your hearts.

I testify for him, that he has worked hard for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.

He will be with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things that are done here.

and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, men that have been comfort (encouragement) (consolation) to me.

For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong that he has done. There is no partiality.

Masters, give your servants that which is just and equal. You know that you also have a Master in heaven.

These have, indeed, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body. But these are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

When this letter has been read among you, make sure it is read also in the congregation of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

You know that God will give you the reward of the inheritance when you serve the Master, Christ.

They are a shadow of the things to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nympha, and the congregation that is in her house.

Say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry you received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.

not holding fast to the head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, grows with the growth from God.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

These are the precepts and doctrines of men.

Let me make it known, as I ought to speak.

Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch.

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing in the Lord.

We always pray for you, and thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for you.

Let no man rob you of your prize by a self-abasement and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things that he has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

If you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances:

This is because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You heard about this hope from the word of truth, the good news.

Provided that you continue in the faith, grounded (on the foundation) and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the good news you heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven. For this I, Paul, was made a minister.

Above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection and unity.

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Let me tell you how hard I worked for you, for the people in Laodicea, and for all others who do not personally know me.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, that they not be discouraged.

It is the secret he hid through all past ages from all human beings but has now revealed to his holy ones.

God will strengthen you with all power, according to the might of his glory, to all patience and longsuffering with joy.

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, receive him),

Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.

But he (Christ) reconciled you in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and without accusation before Him (God).

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

God gave me this stewardship to perform for your good. He has made me a servant of the congregation. It is for the task of fully proclaiming the word of God.

Pray also for us that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the secret of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned.

We have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love you have for all the holy ones.

Keep your roots deep in him! Build your lives on him. Become stronger in your faith, as you were taught, and be filled with thanksgiving.