Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account.

But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, and odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that are with me salute you.

All the saints salute you, especially they that are of Caesar's household.

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ that are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

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

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.

For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;

if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church;

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

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,

This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;

If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,

and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.

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

Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;

that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.

whom I have sent you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts;

together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here.

and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.

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

For I bear him witness, that he hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.

Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church that is in their house.

And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea.

And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.

so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain:

For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God also , how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:

to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed.

For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.

But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you;

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, --that ye abound more and more.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;

that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.

But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;

and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;

that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.

But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.

then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:

For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.

who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.

prove all things; hold fast that which is good;

Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.

I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.

We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith growth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;

so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure;

which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

if so be that it is righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,

and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,

rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:

when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.

To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power;

that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;

he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.

and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you;

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.

neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:

not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves and ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.

For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.