And just as it is spreading through the whole world, bearing fruit and increasing, so also is it among you, from the day in which you heard it, and came truly to know the grace of God,

as you learned it from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow slave. He is a faithful minister of Jesus Christ in your behalf,

I ask that you may give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the heritage of the saints in the light.

And you, alienated as you once were, hostile at heart in your evil deeds,

As then you have received Jesus Christ, your Lord, in him live your lives;

since you are rooted in him, and in him continually built up. Be firmly established in the faith as you were taught it, and continually abound in it with thanksgiving.

Principalities and powers he disarmed, and openly displayed them as his trophies, when he triumphed over them in the cross.

If you died with Christ to the world's rudimentary notions, why, as if you still lived in the world, do you submit yourselves to dogmatisms found on teachings and doctrines of men??21 such as "Do not handle this," "You must not taste that," "Do not touch this"??22 all things which are intended to perish in the using?

Therefore, as God's chosen people, consecrated and beloved, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindness, humility, gentleness, good temper;

bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as Christ the Lord forgave you, so must you forgive.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting for Christians.

Slaves, obey in all things your earthly masters, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of purpose, out of reverence for your Lord.

And whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord, and not for men.

Pray that I may unfold it as I ought to speak.