PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy a brother,

to the saints at Colosse, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

For this cause we also from the day we heard it have not ceased praying for you, and beseeching God that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

for by him were all things created, celestial and terrestrial, visible or invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers, all were created by him, and for him:

and he is before all, and by him all things subsist.

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first begotten from the dead, that he might be in all things pre-eminent.

and by him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace by the blood of his cross: by him, I say, whether they be things on earth, or things in the heavens.

And you who in time past were all aliens, and enemies in mind by wicked works, hath he now reconciled,

by the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreprehensible in his presence:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh the measure of afflictions for Christ which remains to be endured for his body, which is the church,

that their hearts may be comforted, firmly united together in love, and unto all riches of full assurance of understanding, in the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Beware that no man make a prey of you by means of philosophy and vain delusion, after the tradition of men, after the principles of the world, and not after Christ:

in whom also ye have been circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands, by the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ:

buried with him in baptism, in which also ye have been raised up together with him by faith, the energy of God, who raised him from the dead.

Let no man juggle you out of your prize, voluntary in [his] humility and the worship of angels, intruding into things which he never saw, vainly puffed up by his carnal imagination;

and not firmly attached to the head, from which the whole body, by joints and ligaments, harmoniously adjusted and closely compacted, increaseth with increase from God.

(all which things tend to corruption by abuse) according to the injunctions and doctrines of men?

IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

When Christ shall appear, who is our life, then shall you also with him be manifested in glory.

Where there is no difference whether a man be Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian or Scythian, slave or freeman: but Christ is all and in all.

And let the peace of God set up its throne in your hearts, whereunto also ye have been called in one body; and be ye thankful.

And everything that ye do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Wives be subject to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord.

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Parents, irritate not your children, lest their spirit be broken.

Let your discourse be always gracious, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to reply to every man.

And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it also be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye also read that from Laodicea.

The salutation of Paul with mine own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.