so that you might live in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit while doing all kinds of good things and growing in the full knowledge of God.

For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether they are kings, lords, rulers, or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.

For God was pleased to have all of his divine essence inhabit him.

he has now reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you holy, blameless, and without fault before him.

In him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So then, just as you have received the Messiah Jesus the Lord, continue to live dependent on him.

For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful.

because all the essence of deity inhabits him in bodily form.

And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.

In union with him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without human hands by stripping off the corrupt nature by the circumcision performed by the Messiah.

When you were buried with the Messiah in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Even when you were dead because of your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with him when he forgave us all of our offenses,

When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.

In him there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah is all and in all.

And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him.