11 Paul , an apostle of Jesus Christ [1] by the will of God , and Timothy [2]our brother , 2 To the [3] saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae : Grace to you and peace from God our Father .
3 We give thanks to God , the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have [4]for all the [5]saints ; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in [6]heaven , of which you previously heard in the word of truth , [7]the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as [8] in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and [9]increasing , even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and [10]understood the grace of God in truth ; 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras , our beloved fellow bond-servant , who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf , 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit .
9 For this reason also , since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the [11] knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding , 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord , [12] to please Him in all respects , bearing fruit in every good work and [13]increasing in the [14]knowledge of God ; 11 strengthened with all power , according to [15]His glorious might , [16]for the attaining of all steadfastness and [17]patience ; joyously
12 giving thanks to the Father , who has qualified us [18]to share in the inheritance of the [19]saints in Light . 13 [20]For He rescued us from the [21] domain of darkness , and transferred us to the kingdom of [22] His beloved Son ,
14 in whom we have redemption , the forgiveness of sins . 15 [23]He is the image of the invisible God , the firstborn of all creation . 16 For [24] by Him all things were created , both in the heavens and on earth , visible and invisible , whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [25] is before all things , and in Him all things [26]hold together . 18 He is also head of the body , the church ; and He is the beginning , the firstborn from the dead , so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything . 19 For [27]it was the Father's good pleasure for all the [28]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself , having made peace through the blood of His cross ; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in [29]heaven .
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind , engaged in evil deeds , 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death , in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach - 23 if indeed you continue in [30]the faith firmly established and steadfast , and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard , which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven , and of which I, Paul , [31]was made a [32] minister . 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake , and in my flesh I [33]do my share on behalf of His body , which is the church , in filling up what is lacking [34]in Christ's afflictions . 25 Of this church I [35]was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit , so that I might [36]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God , 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations , but has now been manifested to His [37]saints , 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles , which is Christ in you, the hope of glory . 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man [38]with all wisdom , so that we may present every man [39] complete in Christ . 29 For this purpose also I labor , striving according to His [40]power , which [41]mightily works within me.
21 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea , and for all those who have not personally seen my face , 2 that their hearts may be encouraged , having been knit together in love , and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding , resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery , that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge .
4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument . 5 For even though I am absent in body , nevertheless I am with you in spirit , rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ . 6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord , so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith , just as you were instructed , and overflowing with gratitude .
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception , according to the tradition of men , according to the elementary principles of the world , rather than e according to Christ . 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form , 10 and in Him you have been made complete , and He is the head over all rule and authority ; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands , in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism , in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God , who raised Him from the dead .
13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh , He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions , 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way , having nailed it to the cross . 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities , He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day- 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come ; but the substance belongs to Christ . 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels , taking his stand on visions he has seen , inflated without cause by his fleshly mind , 19 and not holding fast to the head , from whom the entire body , being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments , grows with a growth which is from God . 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world , why , as if you were living in the world , do you submit yourself to decrees , such as, 21 "Do not handle , do not taste , do not touch !" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use )-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men ? 23 These are matters which have , to be sure , the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body , but are of no e value against fleshly indulgence .
31 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ , keep seeking the things above , where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God . 2 Set your mind on the things above , not on the things that are on earth . 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God . 4 When Christ , who is our life , is revealed , then you also will be revealed with Him in glory .
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality , impurity , passion , evil desire , and greed , which amounts to idolatry . 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience , 7 and in them you also once walked , when you were living in them.
8 But now you also , put them all aside : anger , wrath , malice , slander , and abusive speech from your mouth . 9 Do not lie to one another , since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices , 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him- 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew , circumcised and uncircumcised , barbarian , Scythian , slave and freeman , but Christ is all , and in all .
12 So , as those who have been chosen of God , holy and beloved , put on a heart of compassion , kindness , humility , gentleness and patience ; 13 bearing with one another , and forgiving each other , whoever e has a complaint against anyone ; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love , which is the perfect bond of unity . 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts , to which indeed you were called in one body ; and be thankful . 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God . 17 Whatever you do in word or deed , do all in the name of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks through Him to God the Father .
18 Wives , be subject to your husbands , as is fitting in the Lord . 19 Husbands , love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children , be obedient to your parents in all things , for this is well-pleasing to the Lord . 21 Fathers , do not exasperate your children , so that they will not lose heart . 22 Slaves , in all things obey those who are your masters on earth , not with external service , as those who merely please men , but with sincerity of heart , fearing the Lord . 23 Whatever e you do , do your work heartily , as for the Lord rather than e for men , 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance . It is the Lord Christ whom you serve . 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done , and that without partiality .
41 Masters , grant to your slaves justice and fairness , knowing that you too have a Master in heaven .
2 Devote yourselves to prayer , keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving ; 3 praying at the same time for us as well , that God will open up to us a door for the word , so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ , for which I have also been imprisoned ; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak .
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders e , making the most of the opportunity . 6 Let your speech always be with grace , as though seasoned with salt , so that you will know how you should respond to each person .
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus , our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord , will bring you information . 8 For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances e and that he may encourage your hearts ; 9 and with him Onesimus , our faithful and beloved brother , who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here . 10 Aristarchus , my fellow prisoner , sends you his greetings ; and also Barnabas's cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions ; if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus ; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision , and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12 Epaphras , who is one of your number , a bondslave of Jesus Christ , sends you his greetings , always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers , that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God . 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis . 14 Luke , the beloved physician , sends you his greetings , and also Demas . 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house . 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans ; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea . 17 Say to Archippus , "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord , that you may fulfill it." 18 I, Paul , write this greeting with my own hand . Remember my imprisonment . Grace be with you.
11 Paul , a prisoner of Christ Jesus , and Timothy [42]our brother , To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker , 2 and to Apphia [43] our sister , and to Archippus our fellow soldier , and to the church in your house : 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ .
4 I thank my God always , making mention of you in my prayers , 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the [44]saints ; 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective [45]through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you [46]for Christ's sake . 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love , because the [47]hearts of the [48]saints have been refreshed through you, brother .
8 Therefore , though I have [49]enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper , 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you-since I am such a person as Paul , [50] the aged , and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus - 10 I appeal to you for my child [51] Onesimus , whom I have begotten in my [52]imprisonment , 11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person , that is, sending my very heart , 13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my [53] imprisonment for the gospel ; 14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything , so that your goodness would not be, in effect , by compulsion but of your own free will . 15 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while , that you would have him back forever , 16 no longer as a slave , but more than a slave , a beloved brother , especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord . 17 If then you regard me a partner , accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything , charge that to my account ; 19 I, Paul , am writing this with my own hand , I will repay it ( not to [54]mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well ). 20 Yes , brother , let me benefit from you in the Lord ; refresh my heart in Christ . 21 Having confidence in your obedience , I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say . 22 At the same time also prepare me a lodging , for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.
23 Epaphras , my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus , greets you, 24 as do Mark , Aristarchus , Demas , Luke , my fellow workers . 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit .[55]
