Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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,

which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it].

As it was given to you by Epaphras, our well-loved helper, who is a true servant of Christ for us,

and moreover he has informed us of your love, which is inspired by 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;

so as to walk worthily of the Lord unto all well-pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing by the true knowledge of God;

[we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy;

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

by whom we have been ransomed from captivity through having our sins forgiven.

He is the likeness of the unseen God, born first before all the creation ??16 for it was by him that all things were created both in heaven and on earth, both the seen and the unseen, including Thrones, angelic Lords, celestial Powers and Rulers; all things have been created by him and for him;

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:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.

For God in full measure was pleased to be in him;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

but now you have been reconciled by {his physical body} through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

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

Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church.

I have been appointed to serve the Church in the position of responsibility entrusted to me by God for your benefit, so that I may fully deliver God's Message--

to whom God does disclose the glorious advantages of this mystery to you Gentiles, to wit, "that by Christ you may have the expectation of glory."

whom we proclaim, [by] admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, in order that we may present every person mature in Christ,

And for this purpose I am working, using all my strength by the help of his power which is working in me strongly.

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech.

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.

As, therefore, ye have accepted the Anointed Jesus as your Lord, in him, be walking, -

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.

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:

and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

having been buried with Him in your baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith produced within you by God who raised Him from among 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 canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross.

having spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by 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:

All that is the mere shadow of what is to be; the substance belongs to Christ.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Which say there may be no touching, tasting, or taking in your hands,

which [things] are all [meant] for destruction by consuming according to human commandments and teachings,

which [things] {although they have}, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, {do not have any value} against the indulgence of the flesh.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth.

For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

Mortify therefore your sensual appetites, fornication, impurity, irregular passions, wicked desires, and that licentiousness practised by idolaters.

But now you too must put them all aside??nger, rage, spite, rough, abusive talk??hese must be banished from your lips.

Be not guilty of falsehood one to another: having stript off the old man, together with his practices,

improv'd by knowledge into a resemblance of him, who made this change:

where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];

bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.

And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

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

Children be obedient to your parents in everything; for that is right for Christians.

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Slaves, be obedient in everything to your earthly masters; not in acts of eye service, as aiming only to please men, but with simplicity of purpose, because you fear 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,

Since you know that it is from the Master that you will receive the inheritance which will be your recompense. You are serving Christ, the Master.

For he who does wrong will be punished for his wrongdoing, and [with God] there is no partiality [no special treatment based on a person’s position in life].

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

Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Praying together also for us, that God would open to us a door of the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, by which also I was bound;

that I may publish it in the manner, it should necessarily be done.

Be wise in your behaviour to those who are outside, making good use of the time.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.

With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful Brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, wishes to be remembered to you; as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);

and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you in his prayers, praying with genuine concern, [pleading] that you may [as people of character and courage] stand firm, [spiritually mature] and fully assured in all the will of God.

Our dear Luke, the doctor, and Demas wish to be remembered to you.

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

And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”

The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.