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

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ that are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

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

which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;

For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;

whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,

to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,

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

and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.

If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

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

for which things'sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and'spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;

and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.