After hearing of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have for all the saints,

In whom we have our salvation, the forgiveness of sins:

He is before all things, and in him all things have being.

And he is the head of the body, the church: the starting point of all things, the first to come again from the dead; so that in all things he might have the chief place.

Now I have joy in my pain because of you, and in my flesh I undergo whatever is still needed to make the sorrows of Christ complete, for the salvation of his body, the church;

For it is my desire to give you news of the great fight I am making for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh;

These things seem to have a sort of wisdom in self-ordered worship and making little of oneself, and being cruel to the body, not honouring it by giving it its natural use.

If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God.

Do not make false statements to one another; because you have put away the old man with all his doings,

And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his maker;

And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together.

Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them.

For the wrongdoer will have punishment for the wrong he has done, without respect for any man's position.

Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.

And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may have news of how we are, and so that he may give your hearts comfort;

And with him I have sent Onesimus, the true and well-loved brother, who is one of you. They will give you word of everything which is taking place here.

Aristarchus, my brother-prisoner, sends his love to you, and Mark, a relation of Barnabas (about whom you have been given orders: if he comes to you, be kind to him),

And Jesus, whose other name is Justus; these are of the circumcision: they are my only brother-workers for the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me.

And when this letter has been made public among you, let the same be done in the church of Laodicea; and see that you have the letter from Laodicea.