Colossians….
1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through
the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 1:2to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ
at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
1:3We give thanks to God the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 1:4having heard of your faith in Christ
Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints, 1:5because of the hope which is laid up
for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of
the Gospel, 1:6which
has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and
growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace
of God in truth; 1:7even
as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow
servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 1:8who also declared to us your love in
the Spirit. 1:9For
this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and
making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his
will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 1:10that you may walk worthily of the
Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and
increasing in the knowledge of God; 1:11strengthened with all power,
according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with
joy; 1:12giving
thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of
the saints in light; 1:13who
delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom
of the Son of his love; 1:14in
whom we have our redemption,*
the forgiveness of our sins; 1:15who
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 1:16For by him were
all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and
things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things have been created through him, and for him. 1:17He is before all things, and in him
all things are held together. 1:18He
is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 1:19For all the
fullness was pleased to dwell in him; 1:20and through him to reconcile all
things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the
heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
1:21You, being in past times alienated and
enemies in your mind in your evil works, 1:22yet now he has reconciled in the body
of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and
blameless before him, 1:23if
it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not
moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard, which is being
proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a
servant.
1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your
sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of
Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the assembly; 1:25of which I was made a servant,
according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill
the word of God, 1:26the
mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been
revealed to his saints, 1:27to
whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; 1:28whom we
proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we
may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; 1:29for which I also labor, striving
according to his working, which works in me mightily.
2:1For I desire to have you know how greatly
I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not
seen my face in the flesh; 2:2that
their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining
all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the
mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 2:3in whom are all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge hidden. 2:4Now
this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 2:5For though I am
absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing
your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 2:6As therefore you received Christ
Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, 2:7rooted
and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught,
abounding in it in thanksgiving. 2:8Be
careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not
after Christ. 2:9For
in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, 2:10and in him you are made full, who is
the head of all principality and power; 2:11in whom you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of
the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 2:12having been buried with him in
baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working
of God, who raised him from the dead. 2:13You were dead through your trespasses
and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you
alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 2:14wiping out the
handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of
the way, nailing it to the cross; 2:15having
stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
2:16Let no man therefore judge you in eating,
or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath
day, 2:17which
are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's. 2:18Let no one rob you of your prize by a
voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things
which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 2:19and not holding firmly to the Head,
from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints
and ligaments, grows with God's growth. 2:20If you died with Christ from the
elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject
yourselves to ordinances, 2:21"Don't
handle, nor taste, nor touch" 2:22(all of which perish with use), according to the
precepts and doctrines of men? 2:23Which
things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and
severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the
flesh.
3:1If then you were raised together with
Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right
hand of God. 3:2Set
your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the
earth. 3:3For you
died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4When Christ, our life, is revealed,
then you will also be revealed with him in glory. 3:5Put to death therefore your members
which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion,
evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 3:6for which things' sake the wrath of
God comes on the children of disobedience. 3:7You also once walked in those, when
you lived in them; 3:8but
now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful
speaking out of your mouth. 3:9Don't
lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
3:10and have put
on the new man, that is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his
Creator, 3:11where
there can't be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
3:12Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones,
holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and
perseverance; 3:13bearing
with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint
against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
3:14Above all these things, walk in love,
which is the bond of perfection. 3:15And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in
one body; and be thankful. 3:16Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and
admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your heart to the Lord.
3:17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through
him.
3:18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands,
as is fitting in the Lord.
3:19Husbands, love your wives, and don't be
bitter against them.
3:20Children, obey your parents in all
things, for this pleases the Lord.
3:21Fathers, don't provoke your children, so
that they won't be discouraged.
3:22Servants, obey in all things those who
are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as
men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 3:23And whatever you do, work heartily,
as for the Lord, and not for men, 3:24knowing
that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you
serve the Lord Christ. 3:25But
he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and
there is no partiality.
4:1Masters, give to your servants that which
is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
4:2Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching
therein with thanksgiving; 4:3praying
together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak
the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; 4:4that I may reveal it as I ought to
speak. 4:5Walk in
wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 4:6Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
4:7All my affairs will be made known to you
by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant,
and fellow bondservant in the Lord. 4:8I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that
he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 4:9together with Onesimus,
the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to
you everything that is going on here. 4:10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner
greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received
commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"), 4:11and Jesus who is called Justus, who
are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of
God, men who have been a comfort to me.
4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of
Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may
stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 4:13For I testify about him, that he has
great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 4:14Luke, the
beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 4:15Greet the brothers who are in
Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in
his house. 4:16When
this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly
of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the
letter from Laodicea. 4:17Tell
Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which
you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it."
4:18The salutation of me, Paul, with my own
hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
Notes:
[1] back to 1:2 The word for "brothers" here and
where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and
sisters" or "siblings."
[2] back to 1:14
TR adds "through his blood,"
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