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

to the saints in Colossae, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!

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

because of the hope that is laid up for you in the heavens, which ye heard of before in the word of the truth of the good news,

which is present to you, as also in all the world, and is bearing fruit, as also in you, from the day in which ye heard, and knew the grace of God in truth;

to your walking worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, in every good work being fruitful, and increasing to the knowledge of God,

who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,

if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that is under the heaven, of which I became -- I Paul -- a ministrant.

of which I -- I did become a ministrant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God,

to whom God did will to make known what is the riches of the glory of this secret among the nations -- which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory,

that their hearts may be comforted, being united in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, to the full knowledge of the secret of the God and Father, and of the Christ,

being buried with him in the baptism, in which also ye rose with him through the faith of the working of God, who did raise him out of the dead.

and not holding the head, from which all the body -- through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together -- may increase with the increase of God.

If, then, ye were raised with the Christ, the things above seek ye, where the Christ is, on the right hand of God seated,

for ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God;

because of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,

Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,

and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body, and become thankful.

and all, whatever ye may do in word or in work, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus -- giving thanks to the God and Father, through him.

The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

praying at the same time also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the secret of the Christ, because of which also I have been bound,

and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are fellow-workers for the reign of God who did become a comfort to me.

Salute you doth Epaphras, who is of you, a servant of Christ, always striving for you in the prayers, that ye may stand perfect and made full in all the will of God,