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

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

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

because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News,

which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

who is the image of the invisible God, preeminent over all creation.

if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,

to them God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth.

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

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

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

Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

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

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

praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;

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, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.