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1 Paul, an apostle of Christ[fn] Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father {and the Lord Jesus Christ}.[fn]

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you, 4 having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in the heavens, which you heard before in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you, just as it is bearing fruit [and growing][fn] in the whole world, as it is also among you, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

7 Just as you [[also]][fn] learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on {your}[fn] behalf, 8 and who also made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, we also, since the day we heard, do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 {to walk}[fn] worthy of the Lord, pleasing in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for all endurance and patience,

With joy 12 Giving thanks to {God}[fn] the Father, who has qualified {you}[fn] for the share of the inheritance of the holy ones in the light; 13 who delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption [[through his blood]],[fn] the forgiveness of sins;

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, 16 for in him all things were created, [[those]][fn] in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him; 17 and he is before all things, and in him all things hold together,

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning,[fn] the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything, 19 because in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell 20 and through him to reconcile all things to him, having made peace through the blood of his cross, [through him][fn] whether things on earth or things in the heavens.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.

23 If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[fn] under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a servant.

24 Now I rejoice in {the}[fn] sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;

28 We proclaim this one, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person mature in Christ [[Jesus]];[fn]

29 For this I toil, struggling with his energy[fn] that powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of {the God, Christ},[fn] 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and [[the]][fn] knowledge.

4 {I say this, so that no one}[fn] may deceive you with persuasive words.

5 For even though I am absent in the flesh, yet in the spirit I am with you, rejoicing and observing your order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught [[in it]],[fn] abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

9 For in him dwells all the fullness of deity bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body [[of the sins]][fn] of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 {Buried}[fn] with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the activity[fn] of God, who raised him from the dead;

13 And you, being dead [in][fn] your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. 14 By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, he set it aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in himself.

16 Therefore, let no one judge you in fold and in drink, or in part of a feast, or a new moon, or Sabbaths; 17 these are a shadow of the things to come, but the body belongs to [the][fn] Christ.

18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on humility and worship of angels, claiming to have seen visions [[he has not seen]],[fn] puffed up without reason by their fleshly mind, 19 and not holding the head, from whom the whole body, through the joints and ligaments, being nourished and knit together, grows with the growth of God.

20 [[Therefore]][fn] If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations? 21 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, 22 all if which are destined for destruction with use, according to the commandments and teachings of men, 23 which indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, {your}[fn] life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

5 Therefore, put to death your earthly members: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things, the wrath of God comes [upon the sons of disobedience].[fn] 7 In {these things}[fn] you also once walked, when you lived in them.

8 But now you also put away all these things: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and shameful speech from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, having stripped off the old man[fn] with his practices 10 and having put on the new, the one being renewed for knowledge according to the image of the one who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but [the] all and in all is Christ.

12 Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on {compassion, mercy,}[fn] kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone. Just as {the Lord}[fn] forgave you, so also should you. 14 Above all these, love, which is the bond of perfection.

15 And let the peace of {Christ}[fn] rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with [the][fn] grace in your {hearts to God}.[fn] 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God [[and]][fn] the Father through him.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they do not become discouraged.

22 Slaves[fn] obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service as people-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing {the Lord}.[fn]

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. [[For]][fn] You are serving the Lord Christ.

25 {For}[fn] the one who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, provide what is right and fair to your slaves,[fn] knowing that you also have a master[fn] in {heaven}.[fn]

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving, 3 praying at the same time for us, that God may open a door for the word, to speak the mystery of {Christ},[fn] for which I am also in chains, 4 so that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

7 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow slave in the Lord, will make known to you all things concerning me, 8 whom I sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and he may encourage your hearts, 9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision who are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, one of you, a servant of Christ [Jesus],[fn] greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully {assured}[fn] in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has {worked hard}[fn] for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.

15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and {Nympha}[fn] and the church in {her}[fn] house.

16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.[fn]

17 And say to Archippus, “See to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

18 The greeting with my own hand, Paul's. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. [[Amen]][fn]

[[To the Colossians, written from Rome by Tychicus and Onesimus.]][fn]