| 1:2 |
To the saints and faithful brethrenbrothers and sisters in Christ atin Colos′saeColossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father |
| 1:3 |
WeIn our prayers for you we always thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you |
| 1:4 |
becausefor we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love whichthat you have for all the saints |
| 1:5 |
because of the hope laid up for you in heaven OfYou this you have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth the gospel |
| 1:6 |
whichthat has come to you Just as indeedit is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world so it ishas been bearing fruit and growing—so among yourselves from the day you heard it and understoodtruly comprehended the grace of God in truth |
| 1:7 |
asThis you learned it from Ep′aphrasEpaphras our beloved fellow servant He is a faithful minister of Christ on ouryour behalf |
| 1:8 |
and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit |
| 1:9 |
AndFor sothis fromreason since the day we heard of it we have not ceased topraying pray for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of hisGods will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding |
| 1:10 |
toso that you may lead alives life worthy of the Lord fully pleasing to him bearingas you bear fruit in every good work and increasingas you grow in the knowledge of God |
| 1:11 |
May you be strengthenedmade strong with all powerthe accordingstrength tothat comes from his glorious mightpower forand allmay enduranceyou andbe patienceprepared to endure everything with joypatience while joyfully |
| 1:12 |
giving thanks to the Father who has qualifiedenabled usyou to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light |
| 1:13 |
He has deliveredrescued us from the dominionpower of darkness and transferred us tointo the kingdom of his beloved Son |
| 1:15 |
He is the image of the invisible God the firstfirstborn born of all creation; |
| 1:16 |
for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth were created things visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or principalitiesrulers or authoritiespowers—all things werehave been created through him and for him |
| 1:17 |
He himself is before all things and in him all things hold together |
| 1:18 |
He is the head of the body the church; he is the beginning the firstfirstborn born from the dead so that in everything he might become preto eminenthave first place in everything |
| 1:19 |
For in him all the fulnessfullness of God was pleased to dwell |
| 1:20 |
and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things whether on earth or in heaven by making peace bythrough the blood of his cross |
| 1:21 |
And you who were once were estranged and hostile in mind doing evil deeds |
| 1:22 |
he has now reconciled in his fleshly body ofthrough flesh by his death inso orderas to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— |
| 1:23 |
provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith stablewithout and steadfast not shifting from the hope ofpromised by the gospel whichthat you heard which has been preachedproclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I Paul became a ministerservant of this gospel |
| 1:24 |
Now I rejoiceam now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh I completeam completing what is lacking in Christs afflictions for the sake of his body that is the church |
| 1:25 |
of which I became aits ministerservant according to theGods divinecommission officethat which was given to me for you to make the word of God fully known |
| 1:26 |
the mystery that has been hidden forthroughout the ages and generations but has now madebeen manifestrevealed to his saints |
| 1:28 |
HimIt is he whom we proclaim warning everyeveryone man and teaching everyeveryone man in all wisdom so that we may present everyeveryone man mature in Christ |
| 1:29 |
For this I toil strivingand struggle with all the energy whichthat he mightilypowerfully inspires within me |
| 2:1 |
For I want you to know how greatlymuch I striveam struggling for you and for those atin LaLaodicea odice′a and for all who have not seen myme face to face |
| 2:2 |
thatI want their hearts mayto be encouraged asand theyunited arein knitlove togetherso inthat lovethey tomay have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of Gods mystery ofthat is Christ himself |
| 2:3 |
in whom are hidhidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge |
| 2:4 |
I sayam saying this inso order that no one may deludedeceive you with beguilingplausible speecharguments |
| 2:5 |
For though I am absent in body yet I am with you in spirit rejoicingand I rejoice to see your goodmorale order and the firmness of your faith in Christ |
| 2:6 |
As you therefore youhave received Christ Jesus the Lord socontinue to live your lives in him |
| 2:8 |
See to it that no one makestakes ayou preycaptive ofthrough you by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition according to the elemental spirits of the universe and not according to Christ |
| 2:9 |
For in him the whole fulnessfullness of deity dwells bodily |
| 2:10 |
and you have come to fulnessfullness of life in him who is the head of allevery ruleruler and authority |
| 2:11 |
In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision made without hands by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; |
| 2:12 |
andwhen you were buried with him in baptism in which you were also raised with him through faith in the workingpower of God who raised him from the dead |
| 2:13 |
And when you who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh God made you alive together with him havingwhen forgivenhe forgave us all our trespasses |
| 2:14 |
havingerasing canceled the bondrecord whichthat stood against us with its legal demands; thisHe he set this aside nailing it to the cross |
| 2:15 |
He disarmed the principalitiesrulers and powersauthorities and made a public example of them triumphing over them in himit |
| 2:16 |
Therefore letdo nonot onelet passanyone judgmentcondemn on you in questionsmatters of food and drink or withof regardobserving tofestivals a festival or a new moonmoons or asabbaths sabbath |
| 2:17 |
These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ |
| 2:18 |
LetDo nonot onelet anyone disqualify you insisting on self abasement and worship of angels takingdwelling his stand on visions puffed up without reasoncause by hisa sensuoushuman mindway of thinking |
| 2:19 |
and not holding fast to the Headhead from whom the whole body nourished and knitheld together throughby its jointsligaments and ligamentssinews grows with a growth that is from God |
| 2:22 |
referringAll these regulations refer to things whichthat all perish aswith use; they are usedsimply according to human preceptscommands and doctrinesteachings |
| 2:23 |
These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigorself ofimposed devotionpiety humility and selfsevere abasementtreatment andof severity to the body but they are of no value in checking theself indulgence of the flesh |
| 3:1 |
IfSo thenif you have been raised with Christ seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God |
| 3:3 |
Forfor you have died and your life is hidhidden with Christ in God |
| 3:4 |
When Christ who is ouryour life appearsis revealed then you also will appearbe revealed with him in glory |
| 3:5 |
Put to death therefore whatwhatever in you is earthly in you: fornication impurity passion evil desire and covetousnessgreed which is idolatry |
| 3:6 |
On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient |
| 3:7 |
InThese theseare the ways you also once walkedfollowed when you livedwere inliving themthat life |
| 3:8 |
But now putyou themmust get rid of all away:such things—anger wrath malice slander and foulabusive talklanguage from your mouth |
| 3:9 |
Do not lie to one another seeing that you have putstripped off the old natureself with its practices |
| 3:10 |
and have putclothed onyourselves with the new natureself which is being renewed in knowledge afteraccording to the image of its creator |
| 3:11 |
HereIn that renewal there cannotis beno longer Greek and Jew circumcised and uncircumcised barbarian Scyth′ianScythian slave and free; man but Christ is all and in all |
| 3:12 |
PutAs on then as Gods chosen ones holy and beloved clothe yourselves with compassion kindness lowlinesshumility meekness and patience |
| 3:13 |
forbearingBear with one another and if oneanyone has a complaint against another forgivingforgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive |
| 3:14 |
AndAbove above all theseclothe putyourselves onwith love which binds everything together in perfect harmony |
| 3:16 |
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God |
| 3:19 |
Husbands love your wives and donever nottreat be harsh with them harshly |
| 3:20 |
Children obey your parents in everything for this pleasesis your acceptable duty in the Lord |
| 3:21 |
Fathers do not provoke your children lestor they becomemay discouragedlose heart |
| 3:22 |
Slaves obey your earthly masters in everything thosenot whoonly arewhile yourbeing earthlywatched mastersand notin withorder eyeserviceto asplease menthem pleasers but inwholeheartedly singleness of heart fearing the Lord |
| 3:23 |
Whatever your task workput heartilyyourselves into it as servingdone for the Lord and not menfor your masters |
| 3:24 |
knowingsince you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you areserve serving the Lord Christ |
| 3:25 |
For the wrongdoer will be paid back for thewhatever wrong he has been done and there is no partiality |
| 4:1 |
Masters treat your slaves justly and fairly knowingfor you know that you also have a Master in heaven |
| 4:2 |
ContinueDevote steadfastlyyourselves into prayer beingkeeping watchfulalert in it with thanksgiving; |
| 4:3 |
andAt the same time pray for us alsoas well that God maywill open to us a door for the word tothat we may declare the mystery of Christ onfor account of which I am in prison |
| 4:4 |
so that I may makereveal it clearclearly as I ought to speakshould |
| 4:6 |
Let your speech always be gracious seasoned with salt so that you may know how you ought to answer every oneeveryone |
| 4:7 |
Tych′icusTychicus will tell you all the news about my affairsme; he is a beloved brother anda faithful minister and a fellow servant in the Lord |
| 4:8 |
I have sent him to you for this very purpose so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; |
| 4:9 |
andhe is coming with himOnesimus Ones′imus the faithful and beloved brother who is one of yourselvesyou They will tell you ofabout everything that has taken place here |
| 4:10 |
Aristar′chusAristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you andas does Mark the cousin of Barnabas concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you receivewelcome him |
| 4:11 |
andAnd Jesus who is called Justus greets you These are the only menones of the circumcision among my fellowco workers for the kingdom of God and they have been a comfort to me |
| 4:12 |
Ep′aphrasEpaphras who is one of yourselvesyou a servant of Christ Jesus greets you alwaysHe rememberingis youalways earnestlywrestling in his prayers on your behalf so that you may stand mature and fully assured in alleverything thethat willGod ofwills God |
| 4:13 |
For I beartestify for him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in LaLaodicea odice′a and in HiHierapolis erap′olis |
| 4:15 |
Give my greetings to the brethrenbrothers atand Lasisters odice′ain Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her house |
| 4:16 |
And when this letter has been read among you have it read also in the church of the La odice′ansLaodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from LaLaodicea odice′a |
| 4:17 |
And say to Archip′pusArchippus See that you fulfilcomplete the ministrytask whichthat you have received in the Lord |
| 4:18 |
I Paul write this greeting with my own hand Remember my fetterschains Grace be with you |