because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you cherish towards all God's people,

on account of the hope treasured up for you in Heaven. Of this hope you have already heard in the Message of the truth of the Good News.

For this reason we also, from the day we first received these tidings, have never ceased to pray for you and to entreat that you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His will accompanied by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things;

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

if, indeed, you are still firmly holding to faith as your foundation, without ever shifting from your hope that rests on the Good News that you have heard, which has been proclaimed in the whole creation under Heaven, and in which I Paul have been appointed to serve.

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--

For I would have you know in how severe a struggle I am engaged on behalf of you and the brethren in Laodicea and of all who have not known me personally,

As therefore you have received the Christ, even Jesus our Lord, live and act in vital union with Him;

If you have died with Christ and have escaped from the world's rudimentary notions, why, as though your life still belonged to the world, do you submit to such precepts as

These rules have indeed an appearance of wisdom where self-imposed worship exists, and an affectation of humility and an ascetic severity. But not one of them is of any value in combating the indulgence of our lower natures.

If however you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, enthroned at God's right hand.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Do not speak falsehoods to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its doings,

and have clothed yourselves with the new self which is being remoulded into full knowledge so as to become like Him who created it.

Masters, deal justly and equitably with your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in Heaven.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sends greeting to you, and so does Barnabas's cousin Mark. You have received instructions as to him; if he comes to you, give him a welcome.

Jesus, called Justus, also sends greeting. These three are Hebrew converts. They alone among such have worked loyally with me for the Kingdom of God--they are men who have been a comfort to me.