Having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which ye have unto all the saints, -

Because of the hope that is lying by for you in the heavens, of which ye heard before, in the word of the truth of the glad-message,

If, at least, ye are abiding still in the faith, founded and firm, and not to be moved away from the hope of the glad-message which ye have heard, which hath been proclaimed in all creation which is under heaven, - of which, I Paul, have become minister.

Now, am I rejoicing in the sufferings on your behalf, and am filling up the things that lack of the tribulations of the Christ, in my flesh, in behalf of his body, which is the assembly,

Of which, I, have become minister - according to the administration of God which hath been given unto me to you-ward, to fill up the word of God,

The sacred secret which had been hidden away from the ages and from the generations, but, now, hath been made manifest unto his saints -

Unto whom God hath been pleased to make known what is the glorious wealth of this sacred secret among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory, -

Unto which I am even toiling, contending according to his energy which is energising itself in me with power.

Having blotted out the handwriting against us by the decrees, which was hostile to us, - and hath taken away, the same, out of the midst, nailing it up to the cross:

Which are a shadow of the things to come, whereas, the body, is of the Christ.

And not holding fast the head: from which, all the body, through means of its joints and uniting bands, receiving supply, and connecting itself together, groweth with the growth of God.

Which things are all for decay in the using up; - according to the commandments and teachings of men?

The which things, indeed, though they have, an appearance, of wisdom, in self-devised religious observance, and lowliness of mind, and ill-treatment of body, are, in no honourable way, unto a satisfying of the flesh.

Make dead, therefore, your members that are on the earth - as regardeth fornication, impurity, passion, base coveting, and greed, the which, is idolatry, -

On account of which things cometh the anger of God, -

And, over all these things, love, which is a uniting-bond of completeness;

And let, the peace of Christ, act as umpire in your hearts, unto which ye have been called in onebody, and be thankful:

Ye masters! that which is just and equitable, unto your servants, be rendering, knowing that, ye also, have a Master in heaven.

Praying, at the same time, for us also, - that, God, would open unto us a door for the word, so that we may speak the sacred secret of the Christ - for the sake of which also I am in bonds,

All the things which relate unto myself, shall Tychicus make known unto you - the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord,

Whom I have sent unto you, to this very end, - that ye may get to know the things which concern us, and he may encourage you hearts:

Salute ye the brethren, in Laodicea, also Nymphas, and the assembly, which meeteth at her house.

And say to Archippus: be taking heed unto the ministry which thou hast accepted in the Lord, - that, the same, thou fulfil.