that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and spreading all over the world, so it has been doing among you from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth.

so that you might live in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit while doing all kinds of good things and growing in the full knowledge of God.

Now I am rejoicing while suffering for you as I complete in my flesh whatever remains of the Messiah's sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church.

I became its servant as God commissioned me to work for you, so that I may complete my ministry of the word of God.

It is he whom we proclaim as we admonish and wisely teach everyone, so that we may present everyone mature in the Messiah.

So then, just as you have received the Messiah Jesus the Lord, continue to live dependent on him.

For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful.

He does not hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, which is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God enables it.

If you have died with the Messiah to the basic principles of the world, why are you submitting to its decrees as though you still lived in the world?

All of these things will be destroyed as they are used, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

You used to behave like them as you lived among them.

Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also should forgive.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is appropriate for those who belong to the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Messiah whom you are serving!

May I reveal it as clearly as I should!

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him.