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.

he has now reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you holy, blameless, and without fault before him.

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.

This secret was hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints,

For I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen me face to face.

I say this so that no one will mislead you with nice-sounding rhetoric.

See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to the Messiah,

Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a New Moon, or Sabbath days.

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind.

These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence.

But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene speech, and all such sins.

and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of the one who created it.

In him there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah is all and in all.

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!

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.