to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth.

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

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

When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.