We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] love which you have for all the saints (God’s people);

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

For it has reached you, and remains with you, just as it has also spread through the whole world, yielding fruit there and increasing, as it has done among you from the day when first you heard it and came really to know the grace of God,

As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

and it is he who has told me of your love for me in the spirit.

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

[We pray for you] to live a life deserving of the Lord, pleasing to Him in every way, producing fruit in every good deed and growing in the knowledge of God.

enabled with all power, according to his glorious might, for all steadfastness and patience with joy,

giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light,

Who has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love;

For Christ is the very incarnation of the invisible God-- First-born and Head of all creation;

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

All has been created through him and for him. He was before all things, and all things unite in him;

He is the head of the church, it is his body; for he is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead??hat he might come to stand first in everything.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

In the body of his flesh through death, so that you might be holy and without sin and free from all evil before him:

[and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,

God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.

for which also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power.

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

[For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ,

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

For in baptism you were buried with Christ; and in baptism you were also raised to Life with him, through your faith in the omnipotence of God, who raised him from the dead.

And, as for you - who were, dead, by your offences and by the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath brought you to life together with him, - having in favour forgiven us all our offences,

Having made himself free from the rule of authorities and powers, he put them openly to shame, glorying over them in it.

For this reason let no man be your judge in any question of food or drink or feast days or new moons or Sabbaths:

For these are an image of the things which are to come; but the body is Christ's.

Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,

instead of keeping connection with the Head from the whole body draws nourishment for all its needs by the joints which bind it; and is knit together, and grows with a divine growth.

If you were made free, by your death with Christ, from the rules of the world, why do you put yourselves under the authority of orders

(things which are all for destruction in the using of them:) according to the injunctions and teachings of men,

These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God].

Since, therefore, you were raised to Life with the Christ, seek for the things that are above; for it is there that the Christ is 'seated at the right hand of God.'

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God].

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

And to which you, like others, once devoted your lives, when you lived for them.

But now it is right for you to put away all these things; wrath, passion, bad feeling, curses, unclean talk;

Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices,

and have put on the new man, which is renewed for knowledge, ac cording to the image of him that created him;

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

So as God's own chosen people, consecrated and dearly loved, you must once for all clothe yourselves with tenderheartedness, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; you must keep on

Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you:

Over all these virtues put on love; for that is the girdle which makes all complete.

And let the peace of Christ be ruling in your hearts, as it was the purpose of God for you to be one body; and give praise to God at all times.

and everything {whatever} you do in word or in deed, giving thanks [for] all [things] in the name of the Lord Jesus to God the Father through him.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is appropriate for those who belong to the Lord.

Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Servants, in everything obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord.

Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Masters, give to bondmen what is just and fair, knowing that ye also have a Master in the heavens.

Attend to your prayers, maintain your zest for prayer by thanksgiving;

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

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

In wisdom, be walking towards them who are without, - the opportunity, buying out for yourselves,

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 unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you, and Mark the nephew of Barnabas,??oncerning whom you received commandments, if he comes to you receive him,??11 and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these are the only co-laborers for the kingdom of God who have been a comfort to me.

and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are the only fellow-workers for the kingdom of God who have been a consolation to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.

And say to Archippus, Look out for the service which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fill it.

This greeting [is being written] by me, Paul, in my own handwriting. Remember my imprisonment. [Note: This was probably a request for them to pray for him]. May God's favor be with you.