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

because of the hope laid up for you in the heavens, which ye have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel,

even as ye have learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-labourer, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you;

For this cause we also from the day we heard it have not ceased praying for you, and beseeching God that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

giving thanks to God, even the Father, who hath made us meet for a portion in the inheritance of the saints in light;

for by him were all things created, celestial and terrestrial, visible or invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers, all were created by him, and for him:

For it hath pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell;

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh the measure of afflictions for Christ which remains to be endured for his body, which is the church,

of which I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which was given me for you to fulfil the ministry of the word of God??26 the mystery which was hid from ages and from generations, but is now unveiled to his saints;

for which also I am labouring, conflicting in the energy of his might, which worketh in me powerfully.

FOR I wish you to know how great a struggle I sustain for you, and those at Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For though I am absent from you in person, yet I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your regular order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

for which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience;

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

And in every thing that ye do, labour from the soul, as for the Lord, and not man;

knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye are servants to the Lord Christ.

But he that is guilty of injustice shall receive punishment for the wrong he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

praying also at the same time for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, that I may speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains:

whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that he might know your affairs, and comfort your hearts;

and Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow-labourers for the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me.

Epaphras, one of you, saluteth you, a servant of Christ, always wrestling for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For I bear him witness that he hath great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.