to the holy and believing brothers in Christ who are in Colosse. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father.

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.

I ask that you may give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the heritage of the saints in the light.

It is God who has delivered us out of the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of His dearly loved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.

Yes, He is the exact likeness of the unseen God, His first-born Son who existed before any created thing,

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

So you, who were once estranged from Him, and hostile in disposition as shown by your wrongdoings, He has now reconciled

If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature who is under heaven; of which I Paul am 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:

In it, by divine appointment, I became a worker, that I might preach among you the message of God in its fulness??26 that secret, hidden from the ages and generations, but now disclosed to those who are consecrated to him,

to whom God would make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

whom we preach warning all men, and teaching all men in all wisdom, to make all men perfect in Christ Jesus.

For which I also labor, striving according to the working of Him who works in me in power.

For I would have you know how great a contest I am waging for you and the brethren in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen my face.

Because they are united in love, I pray that their hearts may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of the full knowledge of the Messiah, who is the mystery of God.

in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working 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,

for these were only the shadows of future things, prefiguring Christ, who is the substance.

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind.

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth.

(all of which are for the destruction of those who use them,) according to the commandments and teachings of men;

When Christ, who is our life, appears, then will you also appear with him in glory.

It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.

among whom you once led your daily life when you lived in them.

and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] barbarian or Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

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

You who are husbands must love your wives and not be harsh to them.

Children, always obey your parents; for that is pleasant to see in those who belong to the Lord.

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.

You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Messiah whom you are serving!

But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.

You who are masters must treat your slaves justly and fairly, and remember that you have a Master too, in heaven.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know how ye do, and might comfort your hearts,

together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"),

and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, men who have been a comfort to me.

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

For I bear him record that he has a great zeal for you and for those who are in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that is in her house.