Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timothy.

To the saints which are at Colossae, and brethren that believe in Christ. Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

for the hope's sake which is laid up in store for you in heaven, of which hope ye have heard before by the true word of the gospel,

For this cause we also, since the day we heard of it have not ceased praying for you, and desiring that ye might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of saints in light.

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.

and by him to reconcile all things unto himself, and to set at peace by him through the blood of his cross both things in heaven and things in earth.

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.

that their hearts might be comforted and knit together in love, and in all riches of full understanding, for to know the mystery of God the father and of Christ:

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the spirit, joying and beholding the order that ye keep, and your steadfast faith in Christ.

and steadfast in the faith, as ye have learned: and therein be plenteous in giving thanks.

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.

and holdeth not the head: whereof all the body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment, and is knit together, and increaseth with the increasing that cometh of God.

Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from ordinances of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say

If ye be then risen again with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the righthand of God.

Lie not one to another, that the old man with his works be put off,

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.

And all things, whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father by him.

Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter unto them.

Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they be of a desperate mind.

Servants, be obedient unto your bodily masters in all things: not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart fearing God.

Let your speech be always well favoured and be powdered with salt, that ye may know how to answer every man.

And when the epistle is read of you, make that it be read in the congregation of the Laodiceans also: and that ye likewise read the epistle of Laodicea.

The salutation by the hand of me, Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you, Amen. {Sent from Rome by Tychicus and Onesimus.}