to the holy and believing brothers in Christ who are in Colosse. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father.

We are giving thanks unto God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always, for you, offering prayer, -

which are come to you, as they are in all the world, and are bearing fruit and growing, even as also among you, from the day ye heard them and knew indeed the grace of God, in truth:

For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

You are being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, so that you might patiently endure everything with joy

through whom we receive redemption [i.e., are bought back from Satan], which is the forgiveness of [our] sins.

for by him were all things created, things that are in heaven, and things that are in earth: things visible, and things invisible: whether they be majesty or lordship, either rule or power.

All things are created by him, and in him, and he is before all things, and in him all things have their being.

Through him uniting all things with himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven.

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.

In it, by divine appointment, I became a worker, that I might preach among you the message of God in its fulness??26 that secret, hidden from the ages and generations, but now disclosed to those who are consecrated to him,

To them God willed to make known among the Gentiles how glorious are the riches of that secret truth, which is "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

We are proclaiming Him, warning everyone and teaching everyone with ample wisdom, in order to present to God everyone mature through union with Christ.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

Because they are united in love, I pray that their hearts may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of the full knowledge of the Messiah, who is the mystery of God.

In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!

For although I am physically absent, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how stable you are and how firm your faith in the Messiah is.

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.

For it is in Christ that the fulness of God's nature dwells embodied, and in Him you are made complete,

and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

In whom also ye are circumcised with circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body of the flesh, through the circumcision that is in Christ,

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.

Let none therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or in respect of a feast-day, or of the new-moon, or of sabbath-days: Which are shadow of things to come;

which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

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?

"You must not handle," "You must not taste," "You must not touch"??22 referring to things that are all meant to be used up and destroyed? This is to follow mere human rules and regulations.

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

Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

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

These things are ever bringing down the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience,

let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men,

where there are not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, servant, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.

So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];

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.

You who are husbands must love your wives and not be harsh to them.

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.

Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,

for you know that it is from the Lord that you are going to get your pay in the form of an inheritance; so keep on serving Christ the Lord.

For the man who wrongs another will be paid back the wrong he has done; and there are no exceptions.

You who are masters must treat your slaves justly and fairly, and remember that you have a Master too, in heaven.

Behave yourselves wisely towards them that are without,

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

let an air of modesty appear in all your discourse; and let it be seasoned with discretion, in making a proper reply, when you are call'd into question.

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.

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.

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you, and Mark the nephew of Barnabas,??oncerning whom you received commandments, if he comes to you receive him,??11 and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these are the only co-laborers for the kingdom of God who have been a comfort to me.

and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, men who have been a comfort to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you [See 1:7; 4:9], a slave of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always struggles in his prayers on your behalf so that you will remain mature and be fully convinced [that you are living] by all that God wants [for your life].

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

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