From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

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

Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel

that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave -- a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf --

For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,

He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God -- given to me for you -- in order to complete the word of God,

that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form,

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.

He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.

And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea as well.