because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Long ago you heard of this hope in the message which came to you of the truth of the gospel.

And just as it is spreading through the whole world, bearing fruit and increasing, so also is it among you, from the day in which you heard it, and came truly to know the grace of God,

And this he will do if, indeed, you continue in the faith, firmly founded and stedfast, and never moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, and which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, that gospel of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

that secret truth, which, although hidden from ages and generations of old, has now been made manifest to his saints.

To them God willed to make known among the Gentiles how glorious are the riches of that secret truth, which is "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

For that end I am ever toiling, wrestling with all that energy of his which is mightily at work within me.

May their hearts be comforted! May they be knit together in love! May they gain in all its riches the full assurance of their understanding! May they come to a perfect knowledge of the secret truth of God, which is Christ himself.

Take care lest any man drag you away captive by his philosophy which is a vain deceit, following the traditions of men and the world's crude notions, and not Christ.

instead of keeping connection with the Head from the whole body draws nourishment for all its needs by the joints which bind it; and is knit together, and grows with a divine growth.

If you died with Christ to the world's rudimentary notions, why, as if you still lived in the world, do you submit yourselves to dogmatisms found on teachings and doctrines of men??21 such as "Do not handle this," "You must not taste that," "Do not touch this"??22 all things which are intended to perish in the using?

If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ abides, seated on the right hand of God.

So slay your baser inclinations. fornication, impurity, appetite, unnatural desires, and the greed which is idolatry.

and put on that new self which is continually made over according to the likeness of its Creator, into full understanding.

Over them all bind on love, which is the girdle of completeness.

Let the peace of Christ, to which also you were called in one body, rule in your hearts, and show yourselves thankful.

Keep on praying for me, too, that God may open for me a door of utterance to speak the secret truth of Christ, for which I am a prisoner.

Salute the brothers in Laodicea; Nympha also, and the church which meets at her house.

And tell Archippas to take heed to the ministry which he has received in the Lord, that he may fulfill it.