[since we] heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints,

that has come to you, just as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as also among you from the day you heard about and understood the grace of God in truth,

Because of this also we, from the day we heard about [it], did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled [with] the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight,

so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, {to please [him] in all respects}, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God,

and he himself is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in everything,

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and steadfast and not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

whom we proclaim, [by] admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, in order that we may present every person mature in Christ,

so that their hearts may be encouraged, united in love and into all the wealth of the full assurance of insight into the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,

I say this in order that no one will deceive you with persuasive speech,

and have put on the new [man] that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him,

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

[because you] know that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also {I am a prisoner},

so that I may reveal it, as it is necessary for me to speak.

Let your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, so that [you] may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.

whom I have sent to you for this very [reason], in order that you may know {our circumstances} and he may encourage your hearts,

Epaphras, who is [one] of you, greets you, a slave of Christ always struggling on behalf of you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

For I testify to him that {he is working hard} on behalf of you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

And whenever this letter is read among you, {see to it} that it is read also among the Laodicean church, and that you also read the [letter] from Laodicea.

And tell Archippus, "Direct your attention to the ministry that you received in the Lord, in order that you may complete it."