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 in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects -- bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,

He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.

Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.

My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.

Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

In him you also were circumcised -- not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.

because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.

Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

Pray that I may make it known as I should.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

And tell Archippus, "See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord."