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

to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects -- bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God -- given to me for you -- in order to complete the word of God,

God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.

He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.