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

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Long ago you heard of this hope in the message which came to you of the truth of the gospel.

and it is he who has told me of your love for me in the spirit.

For this reason from the day I heard of it I have never ceased to pray for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will with every kind of wisdom and spiritual insight;

that you may be strengthened in every kind of strength by the might of his glory for every kind of patience and fortitude with good cheer.

For he has delivered us out of the dominion of the darkness, and transplanted us into the kingdom of his dear Son,

for in him was the universe created, things in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; by him and for him all have been created;

For in him all the divine fulness chose to dwell;

It is of this I was made a minister, according to the stewardship entrusted to me by God for you, fully to declare God's message;

For that end I am ever toiling, wrestling with all that energy of his which is mightily at work within me.

For I would have you know how great a contest I am waging for you and the brethren in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen my face.

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.

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

And you also, at one time dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sensual nature, he has made alive together with himself. For he forgave us all our transgressions,

instead of keeping connection with the Head from the whole body draws nourishment for all its needs by the joints which bind it; and is knit together, and grows with a divine growth.

For these precepts, although they have a show of wisdom with their self-imposed devotions and fastings and bodily austerities, are of no real value against the indulgence of the carnal appetites.

for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

In it that new creation there is no "Greek and Jew," "circumcised and uncircumcised," "barbarian," "Scythian," "slave," "free man," but Christ is all, and in us all.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting for Christians.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is well pleasing in Christians.

Slaves, obey in all things your earthly masters, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of purpose, out of reverence for your Lord.

And whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord, and not for men.

You know that from the Lord you will receive reward of the inheritance, for you are the Lord Christ's slaves.

For he who wrongs another will be paid back for his wrong-doing, and there will be no favoritism.

Keep on praying for me, too, that God may open for me a door of utterance to speak the secret truth of Christ, for which I am a prisoner.

I have sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, one of your own number, for this very purpose, to let you know how I am, and to cheer your hearts.

These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, belonging to the circumcision, who have been any comfort to me.

Epaphras, one of yourselves, salutes you, a slave of Christ who is always agonizing for you in his prayers, that you may stand firm, mature, and fully assured in all the will of God.

For I can testify to his deep interest in you and in those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.