on account of the hope treasured up for you in Heaven. Of this hope you have already heard in the Message of the truth of the Good News.

For this reason we also, from the day we first received these tidings, have never ceased to pray for you and to entreat that you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His will accompanied by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things;

to whom it was His will to make known how vast a wealth of glory for the Gentile world is implied in this truth--the truth that 'Christ is in you, the hope of glory.'

To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me.

I say this to prevent your being misled by any one's plausible sophistry.

"Do not handle this;" "Do not taste that;" "Do not touch that other thing" --

And for this very purpose I send him to you that you may know how we are faring; and that he may cheer your hearts.

And when this Letter has been read among you, let it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and you in turn must read the one I am sending to Laodicea.

I Paul add with my own hand this final greeting. Be mindful of me in my imprisonment. Grace be with you.