so that you may lead a life that is worthy of the Lord and give him entire satisfaction. May you be fruitful and increase in the doing of all good, as you thus know God!

In him we enjoy our redemption, that is, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the likeness of the unseen God, born first before all the creation ??16 for it was by him that all things were created both in heaven and on earth, both the seen and the unseen, including Thrones, angelic Lords, celestial Powers and Rulers; all things have been created by him and for him;

he is prior to all, and all coheres in him.

Also, he is the head of the Body, that is, of the church, in virtue of his primacy as the first to be born from the dead ??that gives him pre-eminence over all.

For it was in him that the divine Fulness willed to settle without limit,

and by him it willed to reconcile in his own person all on earth and in heaven alike, in a peace made by the blood of his cross.

Once you were estranged yourselves, your hearts hostile to him in evildoing; but now he has reconciled you by dying in his mortal body,

Since you have had the messiah, even Jesus the Lord, brought to you, lead your life in him,

fixed and founded in him, confirmed in the faith as you have been taught it, and overflowing with thankfulness to God.

it is in him that you reach your full life, and he is the Head of every angelic Ruler and Power;

in him you have been circumcised with no material circumcision that cuts flesh from the body, but with Christ's own circumcision,

when you were buried with him in your baptism and thereby raised with him as you believed in the power of the God who raised him from the dead.

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

and put on the new nature which is renewed in the likeness of its Creator for the knowledge of him.

The reason why I am sending him to you is that he may ascertain how you are, and encourage your hearts.

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you; so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you have got instructions (if he comes to you, give him a welcome);