so that you will live a life worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

For all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in him

and through him, to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach

We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him,

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with thanksgiving.

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

and you have been made complete in him, who is the head over all rule and authority.

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

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

When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our sins,

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them through him.

When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

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

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;

and with him Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you everything that has taken place here.

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, and also Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.