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

because we have heard about your faith in the Messiah Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints,

based on the hope laid up for you in heaven. Some time ago you heard about this hope through the word of truth, the gospel

For this reason, since the day we heard about this, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of God's will with respect to all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether they are kings, lords, rulers, or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.

For God was pleased to have all of his divine essence inhabit him.

Now I am rejoicing while suffering for you as I complete in my flesh whatever remains of the Messiah's sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church.

I became its servant as God commissioned me to work for you, so that I may complete my ministry of the word of God.

For I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen me face to face.

For although I am physically absent, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how stable you are and how firm your faith in the Messiah is.

For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful.

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind.

For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God.

Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old nature with its practices

In him there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah is all and in all.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is appropriate for those who belong to the Lord.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

For the person who does what is wrong will be paid back for what he has done without favoritism.

At the same time also pray for us that God would open before us a door for the word so that we may tell the secret about the Messiah, for which I have been imprisoned.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

Jesus, who is called Justus, also greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God. They have been an encouragement to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of the Messiah Jesus, sends you his greetings. He is always wrestling in his prayers for you, so that you may stand mature, completely convinced of the entire will of God.

For I can testify on his behalf that he has a deep concern for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.