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.
We give
thanks
to God
and the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always
for you,
Since we
heard
of your faith
in Christ Jesus,
and of the love
which ye
have to all
the saints,
For the hope
which is laid up
for you
in heaven,
whereof
ye heard before
in the word
of the truth
of the gospel;
Which is come
unto you,
as it is in all
the world;
and bringeth forth fruit,
as it doth also
in you,
since the day
ye heard of it,
and knew
the grace
of God
in truth:
As ye also learned
of Epaphras
our dear fellowservant,
who is for you
a faithful minister
of Christ;
Who also declared
unto us your love
in 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;
That ye
might walk worthy
of the Lord
unto all pleasing,
being fruitful
in every good work,
and increasing
in the knowledge
of God;
Strengthened
with all might,
according to
his glorious power,
unto all patience
and longsuffering
with joyfulness;
Giving
thanks
unto the Father,
which hath made us
meet
to be partakers
of the inheritance
of the saints
in light:
Who hath delivered us
from the power
of darkness,
and hath translated us
into the kingdom
of his dear Son:
In whom
we have redemption
through his blood,
even the forgiveness
of sins:
Who is the image
of the invisible God,
the firstborn
of every creature:
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.
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
pleased
the Father
that in him should all
fulness dwell;
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
In the body
of his flesh
through death,
to present
you holy
and unblameable
and unreproveable
in his sight:
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;
Who now rejoice
in my sufferings
for you,
and fill up
that which
is behind of the afflictions
of Christ
in my flesh
for his body's sake,
which is the church:
Whereof
I am made
a minister,
according to
the dispensation
of God which
is given to me
for you,
to fulfil
the word
of God;
Even
the mystery which
hath been
hid from ages
and from generations,
but now is made
manifest
to his saints:
To whom God
would make
known
what is the riches
of the glory
of this mystery
among the Gentiles;
which is Christ
in you,
the hope
of glory:
Whom
we preach,
warning every man,
and teaching
every man
in all wisdom;
that we
may present
every man
perfect
in Christ Jesus:
Whereunto
I also labour,
striving according to
his working,
which worketh in me mightily.
For I
would that
ye knew
what great conflict
I have for you,
and for them
at Laodicea,
and for
as many as
have not seen my face
in the flesh;
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;
In whom are
hid all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge.
And this
I say,
lest any man
should beguile you
with enticing words.
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 ye
have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord,
so walk
ye in him:
Rooted
and
built up in him,
and stablished
in the faith,
as ye
have been taught,
abounding therein
with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man
spoil you
through philosophy
and vain deceit,
after the tradition
of men,
after the rudiments
of the world,
and
not after Christ.
For in him
dwelleth all
the fulness
of the Godhead
bodily.
And
ye are
complete in him,
which is the head
of all principality
and power:
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:
Buried with him
in baptism,
wherein also
ye are risen
with him
through the faith
of the operation
of God,
who hath raised him
from the dead.
And you,
being dead
in your sins
and the uncircumcision
of your flesh,
hath
he quickened together with him,
having forgiven you
all trespasses;
Blotting
out the handwriting
of ordinances
that was against us,
which was contrary to us,
and took it
out of the way,
nailing it
to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities
and powers,
he made a
shew
of them openly,
triumphing
over them in it.
Let no man
therefore judge you
in meat,
or in drink,
or in respect
of an holyday,
or of the new moon,
or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow
of things
to come;
but the body
is of 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,
(Touch not;
taste not;
handle not;
Which all are
to perish
with the using;)
after the commandments
and doctrines
of men?
Which things
have indeed
a shew
of wisdom
in will worship,
and humility,
and neglecting
of the body:
not in any honour
to the satisfying
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.
Set your affection
on things above,
not on things
on the earth.
For ye
are dead,
and your life
is hid with Christ
in God.
When Christ,
who is our life,
shall appear,
then shall ye
also appear
with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth;
fornication,
uncleanness,
inordinate affection,
evil concupiscence,
and covetousness,
which is idolatry:
For which things' sake
the wrath
of God
cometh on the children
of disobedience:
In the which
ye also walked
some time,
when
ye lived in them.
But
now
ye also put off all these;
anger,
wrath,
malice,
blasphemy,
filthy communication
out of your mouth.
Lie not one
to another,
seeing that
ye have put off
the old man
with his deeds;
And have put on
the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge
after the image
of him that
created him:
Where there is
neither Greek
nor Jew,
circumcision
nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian,
bond nor free:
but Christ
is all,
and in all.
Put on therefore,
as the elect
of God,
holy
and beloved,
bowels
of mercies,
kindness,
humbleness
of mind,
meekness,
longsuffering;
Forbearing one
another,
and forgiving one
another,
if any man
have a quarrel
against any:
even as Christ
forgave you,
so also do ye.
And above
all these things
put on charity,
which is the bond
of perfectness.
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 word
of Christ
dwell in you
richly in all wisdom;
teaching
and admonishing one
another
in psalms
and hymns
and spiritual songs,
singing
with grace
in your hearts
to the Lord.
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,
submit yourselves
unto your own husbands,
as it is fit
in the Lord.
Husbands,
love your wives,
and be not bitter
against them.
Children,
obey your parents
in all things:
for this
is well pleasing
unto the Lord.
Fathers,
provoke not your children
to anger,
lest
they be discouraged.
Servants,
obey
in all things
your masters
according to the flesh;
not with eyeservice,
as menpleasers;
but in singleness
of heart,
fearing God;
And whatsoever
ye do,
do it heartily,
as to the Lord,
and not unto men;
Knowing that
of the Lord
ye shall receive
the reward
of the inheritance:
for ye
serve the Lord Christ.
But he
that doeth wrong
shall receive
for the wrong
which he
hath done:
and there is
no respect
of persons.
Masters,
give
unto your servants
that which
is just
and equal;
knowing that
ye also have
a Master
in heaven.
Continue
in prayer,
and watch
in the same
with thanksgiving;
Withal
praying also for us,
that God
would open
unto us a door
of utterance,
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 alway
with grace,
seasoned with salt,
that ye
may know how
ye ought to answer
every man.
All my state
shall
Tychicus
declare
unto you,
who is a beloved brother,
and a faithful minister
and fellowservant
in the Lord:
Whom
I have sent
unto you
for the same purpose,
that he
might know
your estate,
and comfort
your hearts;
With Onesimus,
a faithful
and beloved brother,
who is one
of you.
They shall make
known unto you
all things
which are done here.
Aristarchus
my fellowprisoner
saluteth you,
and Marcus,
sister's son
to Barnabas,
(touching whom
ye received
commandments:
if he come
unto you,
receive him;)
And Jesus,
which is called
Justus,
who are of the circumcision.
These only are
my fellowworkers
unto the kingdom
of God,
which have been
a comfort
unto me.
Epaphras,
who is one
of you,
a servant
of Christ,
saluteth you,
always labouring fervently
for you
in prayers,
that ye
may stand
perfect and complete
in all the will
of God.
For I
bear him record,
that he
hath a great zeal
for you,
and them
that are in Laodicea,
and them
in Hierapolis.
Luke,
the beloved physician,
and Demas,
greet you.
Salute the brethren
which are in Laodicea,
and Nymphas,
and the church
which is in his house.
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 say
to Archippus,
Take
heed
to the ministry
which thou
hast received
in the Lord,
that thou fulfil it.
The salutation
by the hand
of me Paul.
Remember my bonds.
Grace be
with you.
Amen.