which are a shadow of the things to come, but the body is Christs.

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

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.

This is the Christ whom we proclaim, warning every one, and instructing every one, with all the wisdom that we possess, in the hope of bringing every one into God's presence perfected by union with Christ.

Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].

[In doing this] Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities [i.e., evil forces] and made a public display of them, triumphing over them through the cross. [Note: This could possibly be rendered "God triumphed over them through Christ"].

For you died [with Christ, See 2:20], and your life is [now] hidden with Christ in [fellowship with] God.

Be careful that you do not let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

When Christ, your life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

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.

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

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;

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.

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

Whenever I pray for you I am continually thanking God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

(since I heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love to all the saints)

as you learned it from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow slave. He is a faithful minister of Jesus Christ in your behalf,

I am now rejoicing in my sufferings on your behalf; and I am filling up in my own body what is yet lacking of the sufferings of Christ in behalf of the church, his Body.

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."

May their hearts be comforted! May they be knit together in love! May they gain in all its riches the full assurance of their understanding! May they come to a perfect knowledge of the secret truth of God, which is Christ himself.

For though I am absent from you in body, I am with you in spirit, happy to note your discipline and the solid front of your faith in Christ.

As then you have received Jesus Christ, your Lord, in him live your lives;

For it is in Christ that all the fullness of deity dwells bodily,

bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as Christ the Lord forgave you, so must you forgive.