which is present with you as also in all the world, and is fruitful and increases, as also with you, from the day that you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Therefore we also, from the day that we heard, cease not to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

that you may walk worthily of the Lord in all that is pleasing [to him], being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

and he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that he might himself be preeminent in all things,

for in him [God] was well pleased that all fullness should dwell,

whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;

that your hearts may be comforted, being united in love and [raised] to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God,

But I say this that no one may mislead you with persuasive words.

See that no one leads you off as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ,

which are a shadow of things that were to come; but the body is Christ's.

and put on the new man, renewed in knowledge in the likeness of him that created him,

Fathers, be not fault-finding with your children, that they be not discouraged.

knowing that you will receive from the Lord the recompense of the inheritance. You serve Christ the Lord;

for he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no respect of persons.

Masters, render to your servants what is just and equal, knowing also that you have a master in heaven.

praying also at the same time for us, that God will open to us a door of utterance to declare the mystery of Christ, for which also I am bound,

that I may declare it plainly, as I ought to speak.

Let your words always be with kindness, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer every one.

whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that he may know your affairs and comfort your hearts,

Epaphras, who is of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always striving for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For I bear him witness that he has great zeal for you and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.

And when this letter has been read with you, cause that it be also read by the church of the Laodiceans; and do you also read that from Laodicea.