OET COL

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Readers’ Version

Literal Version

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Paul’s letter to the believers in

Colossae

COL

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Colossians

Introduction

This letter of Paul was written to the believers in Colossae, a town in Asia Minor (also called Anatolia, now part of modern Turkey) that’s almost 500km overland east of Ephesus. Paul had not yet visited Colossae, but he was very concerned for them and he had sent helpers from Ephesus.

Paul had heard that there were false teachers influencing the believers there in Colossae. They taught that if a person wants to be saved and wants to deepen their faith in God, it’s not sufficient to have faith in the messiah because they said that it’s necessary to obey other restrictions and customs as well as worshipping angels.

So Paul wrote to the believers there in Colossae and explained the truth concerning Yeshua the messiah. He told them that it’s Yeshua who made everything around us, therefore he’s greater than the angels and other unseen powers. He also saw the godliness of his father, and there’s no other source of life for believers other than him. So then it’s necessary that the believers don’t follow human customs and traditions, but rather, it’s necessary that they simply follow the messiah.

It should be noted here that this letter, like most of the scriptures, was dictated to a scribe (See 2 Thess 3:17), so it was an oral letter, quite different from our modern letters which we edit with word-processing software, adding a word back in a previous sentence, combining two short sentences, or breaking an over-long sentence. Oral letters tend to contain a lot of run-on sentences where the thoughts keep flowing without a break, thus 1:3-8 and 1:9-16 are considered by most Greek experts to be long sentences (like this one is 😀), however for us as readers, sentences with around a hundred words in them are very difficult for us to absorb, hence this Reader’s Version breaks those long Greek sentences into a number of smaller sentences, in fact, this kind of adjustment is regularly done throughout the Bible by all major English translations in order to make them easier for us to read, but the disadvantage is that we can sometimes lose whatever the connection was between the consecutive thoughts. The OET tries to be more transparent about such adjustments by placing the Literal Version right beside this text so that the serious student can compare the two.

Main components of Paul’s letter

Introduction 1:1-14

The work of the messiah 1:15-2:19

The new life in the messiah 2:20-4:6

Concluding remarks 4:7-18

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

1 This letter is from Paul, a missionary of Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, and from our brother Timothy.

2 To the people there in Colossae who’re godly and faithful brothers and sisters in Messiah.

Grace and peace to you all from God our father and the master Yeshua Messiah.

1:3 Paul’s thanks and prayers

3 We thank God the father of our master Yeshua Messiah as we continually pray for you all, 4 after having heard about your faith in Messiah Yeshua and the love that you have for all godly people 5 which arose because of your hope in a heavenly reward. You all previously heard about that in the message of the truth—the good message 6 that’s in you and that is bearing fruit in the world and growing, just like it did among all of you from the day that you heard it and knew about the grace of God in truth. 7 [ref]You all learnt that from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow slave and who is our faithful servant of the messiah, 8 and he is the one who made your love in the spirit evident to us.

9 It’s because of that that we haven’t stopped praying from the time that we heard it, and requesting that you all would be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight, 10 to live worthily of the master—pleasing him in every kind of good and productive work. We pray that you all will grow in the knowledge of God 11 and be strengthened with all power, according to his great power, leading to endurance and patience with contentment. 12 Then you’ll all be thanking the father, the one who qualified you all for a part of the inheritance of godly people who live in the light. 13 The father rescued us from the power of darkness and redirected us into the kingdom of his dear son—14 [ref]the one who buys us out of slavery and forgives our sins.

3 We _are _giving _thanks to_ the _god the_father of _the master of _us Yaʸsous chosen _one /messiah, always praying for you _all, 4 having _heard the faith of _you _all in chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous, and the love that you _all _are _having toward all the holy ones, 5 because _of the hope which lying _away for _you _all in the heavens, which you _all _previously _heard in the message of _the truth, the good _message, 6 the one being _present to you _all, as also in all the world, is bearing _fruit and being _grown, as also among you _all, from which day you _all _heard and knew the grace of_ the _god in truth, 7 as you _all _learned from Epafras, the beloved fellow-slave of _us, who is a_ faithful _servant of _the chosen _one /messiah for us, 8 the one also having _made _evident to _us the love of _you _all in the_spirit.
9 Because _of this we also, from which day we _heard it, are_ not _ceasing praying for you _all and requesting in _order _that you _all _may _be _filled with _the knowledge of _the will of _him in all wisdom and spiritual insight, 10 to _walk worthily of _the master in all pleasing, in every work good bearing _fruit, and being _grown in _the knowledge of_ the _god, 11 with all power being _enabled, according _to the power of _the glory of _him, to all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving _thanks the father, the one having _qualified you _all for the portion of _the allotment of _the holy ones in the light, 13 who rescued us from the power of_ the _darkness, and redirected us into the kingdom of _the son of _the love of _him, 14 in whom we _are _having the redemption, the forgiveness of_ the _sins,

1:15 Yeshua is both the first and the highest

15 The son is the visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation 16 because it was him who created everything in the heavens and on the earth, both visible and invisible, including all authorities such as kingdoms and governments. Yes, everything was created by him and for him. 17 He came before everything and everything still only exists because of him. 18 [ref]He is the head of the body which is the assembly. He is the beginning, the first of the dead to come back to life, so that he would be the first in everything, 19 because God was pleased to live in him in all totality 20 [ref]and to reconcile everything to himself through him—both things on earth and things in the heavens. God made peace through him by means of the blood at the execution stake.

21 Once all of you were alienated from God—your thinking was that of an enemy and your actions were evil, 22 but now you all have been reconciled by means of the death of Yeshua’s physical body. He’s able to present you as pure and blameless in front of God—unable to be charged for any infraction 23 if indeed you continue on in your established and firm faith. Don’t let anyone drive away the hope that comes from the good message that you all heard and which has been proclaimed throughout the whole world—it’s that good message that I’ve become a servant of.

15 who is the_image of _the the invisible god, the_firstborn of _all creation, 16 because by him was _created the things all in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or masterships, or rulers, or authorities, all the things has _been _created by him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and the things all in him has _consisted.
18 And he is the head of _the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, firstborn from the dead, in _order _that he may _become being _first in all things, 19 because in him all the fullness he _took _pleasure to _dwell, 20 and by him to _reconcile the things all to himself, having _made _peace by the blood of _the stake of _him through him, whether the things on the earth, or the things in the heavens.
21 And you _all once being having _been _estranged and enemies the in _mind in your the evil works, 22 but now you _all _have _been _reconciled in the body of _the flesh of _him, through his death, to _present you _all holy, and blameless, and unindictable, in _front _of him, 23 if surely you _all _are _continuing _on in _the faith, having _been _established and firm, and not being _shifted from the hope of _the good _message which you _all _heard, which having _been _proclaimed in all creation which under the heaven, of _which I Paulos became a_servant.

1:24 Paul’s work for believers

24 So now I’m happy to be suffering for you all, and I’m catching up in my body to the tribulations of the messiah in his body, which is the assembly. 25 I became a servant of the assembly under God’s supervision when he gave me the work of fulfilling God’s message—26 the mystery which had been hidden away from the generations over the ages, but which was recently revealed to his chosen people. 27 God wanted them to explain the riches of the this incredible mystery among the pagans: the messiah in you all bringing the hope of reaching God. 28 Yes, Messiah who we are telling everyone about as we teach and recommend to everyone, so they we might present every person made perfect in Messiah. 29 That’s what I’m working hard towards according to his work as well—working in me with power.

2 I want you all to know how much I struggle for you and for those in Laodicea and for those who’ve never actually set eyes on me. 2 By knowing that, their hearts may be comforted, having been held together in love and to all the riches of the full assurance of the insight, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, Messiah. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? 3 He holds all the treasures of wisdom and secret knowledge.

4 I’m telling you all this so that none of you will be deceived by persuasive talk, 5 because even though I’m physically far way, I’m with you all in the spirit. I’m pleased to see the sensibleness and firmness of your faith in Messiah.

24 Now I _am _rejoicing in the sufferings for you _all, and I _am _filling _up the lacking things of _the tribulations of _the chosen _one /messiah in the flesh of _me for the body of _him, which is the assembly, 25 of _which I became a_servant, according _to the management of_ the _god, which having _been _given to _me for you _all to _fulfill the message of_ the _god, 26 the mystery which having _been _hidden _away from the ages and from the generations, but now was _revealed to _the holy ones of _him, 27 to _whom the god willed, to _make _known what is the riches of _the glory of_ the this _mystery among the pagans, which is chosen _one /messiah in you _all, the hope of_ the _glory, 28 whom we are _proclaiming, admonishing every person and teaching every person in all wisdom, in _order _that we _may _present every person perfect in chosen _one /messiah.
29 To which also I _am _labouring, striving according _to the working of _him, which working in me in power.
2 For/Because I _am _wanting you _all to _have _known, how _much a_struggle I _am _having for you _all and the ones in Laodikeia, and as _many _as have_ not _seen the face of _me in the_flesh, 2 in _order _that the hearts of _them may _be _comforted, having _been _held _together in love, and to all the_riches of _the full _assurance of_ the _insight, to the_knowledge of _the mystery of_ the _god, chosen _one /messiah, 3 in whom all the treasures of_ the _wisdom and of _knowledge are secret.
4 This I _am _saying, in _order _that no _one may _be _deluding you _all by persuade _speech.
5 For/Because if also I _am _being _absent in _the flesh, but the in _spirit I _am with you _all, rejoicing and seeing the order of _you _all, and the firmness of _the faith of _you _all in chosen _one /messiah.

2:6 Living in Messiah

6 So in the same way that you all received the messiah, Yeshua the master, keeping living in him. 7 You’ve already been rooted in him and then built-up and confirmed in the faith just as all of you were taught, and being very thankful.

8 Be careful in case anyone captures your minds with fancy ideas or theories without proof that come from human traditions or from worldly thinking, and not from Messiah. 9 Every component of the greatness of God lives in his human body, 10 and you also have been completed and are in him. He is the head of all rule and authority.

11 It wasn’t just human hands that circumcised you by cutting off part of the body, but Messiah circumcised you all by cutting you away from your sinful acts. 12 [ref]You all were buried with him when you were immersed in water, and you came back to life with him when you came up from the water, through faith in God’s working which gave him life after death. 13 [ref]You all were dead in your disobedience and because your bodies were ‘uncircumcised’. Then he made us alive together with him after he forgave us for all our disobedience. 14 [ref]He erased the writing that listed the charges against us and so it was removed—nailed to the stake. 15 He had disarmed the rulers and authorities and publicly exposed them, because he had won the victory over them on the stake.

16 [ref]Don’t let anyone judge you all about what you eat or drink, or about observing feasts or holidays or days of rest. 17 They’re just shadows of what’s coming, but the body causing the shadow is that of the messiah. 18 Don’t let anyone be disqualifying you all with their apparent humility and worshipping the messengers, telling you what they’ve seen and being arrogant and vain about their earthly minds. 19 [ref]They’re not listening to the head which controls all the joints and ligaments of the body and holds it all together as God causes it to grow.

6 Therefore as you _all _received the chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) the master, be _walking in him, 7 having _been _rooted and being _built _up in him, and being _confirmed in _the faith, as you _all _were _taught, being _plentiful in thanksgiving.
8 Be _watching _out, lest anyone will _be which taking_ you _all _captive through the philosophy and empty seduction, according _to the tradition of_ the _humans, according _to the principles of _the world, and not according _to chosen _one /messiah.
9 Because in him all the fullness of _the deity is _dwelling bodily, 10 and you _all _are having _been _fulfilled in him, who is the head of _all rule and authority, 11 in whom also you _all _were _circumcised with _circumcision not _hand _made, in the disarmament of _the body of _the flesh, by the circumcision of _the chosen _one /messiah, 12 having _been _buried _with with _him in the washing, in which also you _all _were _raised _up _with him, through the faith in _the working of_ the _god, which having _raised him from the_dead.
13 And you _all being dead in the transgressions and in _the uncircumcision of _the flesh of _you _all, he _made_ us _alive _together with him, having _forgiven all our transgressions to _us, 14 having _wiped _out the handwriting against us in _the decrees, which was hostile to _us, and it has _taken _away out _of the midst, having _nailed it to _the stake, 15 having _disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he _exposed them in public, having _triumphed over _them in him.
16 Therefore not let_ anyone _be _judging you _all in food, and in drink, or in regard of_a_feast, or new _moon, or days _of _rest, 17 which is a_shadow of _the things coming, but the body is of _the chosen _one /messiah.
18 Let_ no _one _be _disqualifying you _all, willing in humility, and the_worship of _the messengers, which he _has _seen detailing, vainly being _arrogant by the mind of _the flesh of _him, 19 and not taking _hold _of the head, from whom all the body by its joints and ligaments being _supplied and being _held _together, is _growing with _the growth of_ the _god.

2:20 From death to life with the messiah

20 If you’ve died to worldly principles, then why are you letting yourselves be indoctrinated with worldly living: 21 ‘Don’t hold this. Don’t taste that. Don’t touch this.’ 22 No, All those rules lead to corruption when they’re used as the commandments and teaching of humans. 23 They seem to be wise and make you more religious or humble as you strictly obey them, but don’t honour the realities of our worldly desires.

3 [ref]So if you all were brought back to life along with the messiah, then be concerned with discovering the things from above where the messiah is sitting on God’s right. 2 Yes, be thinking about things from above, not earthly things 3 because you’ve all ‘died’ and your lives had been hidden in God with the messiah. 4 When he is revealed on his return, then your lives will also be revealed with him in GLORY.

20 If you _all _died _off with chosen _one /messiah from the principles of _the world, why are _you _all _being _indoctrinated as _though living in the_world:
21 You _may_ not _touch.
You _may_ not _taste.
You _may_ not _touch.
22 Which is all things to corruption in _the depletion, according _to the commands and teachings of_ the _humans?
23 Which things is an_account indeed having of _wisdom in personal _religion and humility, and severity of_the_body, not in any honour against the_indulgence of _the flesh.
3 Therefore if you _all _were _raised _up _with with _the chosen _one /messiah, be _seeking the things above, where the chosen _one /messiah is, sitting at the_right hand of_ the _god.
2 Be _thinking the things above, not the things on the earth.
3 For/Because you _all _died _off, and the life of _you _all has _been _hidden with the chosen _one /messiah in the god.
4 Whenever the chosen _one /messiah may _be _revealed, the life of _you _all, then also you _all will _be _being _revealed with him in glory.

3:5 The old and new lives

5 So put your earthly natures to death: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greediness which is idolatry, 6 because those things invoke God’s severe anger. 7 You all used to do those things when you lived in them.

8 But now, don’t let any of these things come out of your mouth: severe anger, rage, malice, slander, or profanity. 9 [ref]Don’t lie to each other, because you’ve gotten rid of the ‘old person’ and their habits. 10 [ref]So ‘dress’ in the ‘new person’ who’s renewed with the knowledge of being in the image of the creator, 11 where there’s no distinctions between ethnicities or religion, locals and foreigners, slaves or free, but Messiah is everything and in all of us.

12 [ref]So as holy people chosen and loved by God, ‘dress’ in: compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, 13 [ref]tolerating each other, and forgiving anyone who has a complaint about another person. The master forgave all of you, so you also should forgive others. 14 Then over all of those, ‘dress’ in love which is the perfect connection to others. 15 Let the peace of the messiah rule in your hearts. That’s what you were called to as parts of one body. Make sure that you’re thankful 16 [ref]and that the messiah’s message is a rich part of you with all its wisdom as you teach and give advice to each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankfulness in your hearts. 17 Then give thanks to God the father through the name of Messiah Yeshua in everything—whatever you’re all saying or doing.

5 Therefore make _dead your members which are on the earth:
sexual _immorality, impurity, passion, desire evil, and the greediness, which is idolatry, 6 because _of which things the severe _anger of_ the _god is _coming, 7 among whom you _all also walked once when you _all _were _living in these things.
8 But now you _all put _away also all the things:
severe _anger, rage, malice, slander, profanity out _of the mouth of _you _all.
9 Be_ not _lying to one _another, having _disarmed the old personal with the practices of _him, 10 and having _dressed _in the new man, which being _renewed in knowledge, according _to the_image of _the one having _created him, 11 where there _is not Hellaʸn and Youdaios, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Skuthaʸs, slave, free, but chosen _one /messiah is all things and in all things.
12 Therefore as the_chosen of_ the _god holy ones and having _been _loved, dress _in hearts of _compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, 13 tolerating of _one _another and forgiving to _yourselves, if anyone may _be _having a_complaint against anyone, as also the master forgave to _you _all, thus also you _all forgive.
14 And over all these things, the put _on love, which is the_bond of_ the _perfection.
15 And the peace of _the chosen _one /messiah let _be _deciding in the hearts of _you _all, to which also you _all _were _called in one body, and be _becoming thankful.
16 The message of _the chosen _one /messiah let _be _dwelling _in in you _all richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourselves in _psalms, hymns, songs spiritual, singing with the thankfulness in the hearts of _you _all to _the to_god.
17 And everything, whatever anything if you _all _may _be _doing in message or in work, all things in the_name of_the_master Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) do, giving _thanks to_ the _god the_father through him.

3:18 Advice by role

18 [ref]You wives should be subject to your husbands to the degree that it’s fitting in the master.

19 [ref]You husbands should love your wives—don’t become bitter towards them.

20 [ref]You children should obey your parents in everything, because that pleases the master.

21 [ref]You fathers shouldn’t be exasperating your children otherwise they may become discouraged.

22 [ref]You slaves should submit to your human masters in everything, not just when they’re watching like others do, but sincerely, and so honouring the master.

23 Whatever you all might be doing, consider in your hearts that you’re working for the master and not for people, 24 knowing that the master will repay you with an inheritance because you’ve been serving the master messiah. 25 [ref]Anyone who’s doing wrong will be repaid for that wrongness, and there won’t be any favouritism.

4 [ref]You masters, ensure that you’re treating your slaves with goodness and equality, knowing that you all also have a master of your own in heaven.

18 The wives, be _being _subjected to _your husbands, as was _fitting in the_master.
19 The Husbands, be _loving your wives, and be_ not _being _embittered toward them.
20 The Children, be _submitting to _your parents in all things, because/for this is well _pleasing in the_master.
21 The fathers, not be _provoking the children of _you _all, in _order _that they _may_ not _be _losing _heart.
22 The Slaves, be _submitting in all things to _your according _to flesh masters, not with eyeservice, as men _pleasing, but in sincerity of _heart, revering the master.
23 Whatever if you _all _may _be _doing, with ^your_heart be _working, as to _the master and not to _people, 24 having _known that from the_master you _all _will _be _taking _back the repaying of _your inheritance.
For/Because _the master chosen _one /messiah you _all _are _serving.
25 The one for doing _wrong, will _be _receiving _back what he _did _wrong, and not there _is favouritism.
4 The masters, what is righteous and the equality to _your slaves be _bringing _about, having _known that also you _all are _having a_Master in heaven.

4:2 Further teaching for believers

2 Persevere in prayer, keeping watch and being thankful. 3 Pray together for us as well that God would open a door for us to share the message—to tell about the mystery of the messiah. That’s also why I’m in chains—4 so that I can explain the mystery whenever I have an opportunity to speak.

5 [ref]Use wisdom as you all walk towards non-believers, using the time wisely. 6 Always show grace in your conversations, like a meal that’s seasoned with salt, so you’ll know how to answer each person in their situation.

2 The in _prayer be _persevering, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3 praying together also for us, in _order _that the god may _open _up to _us a_door for _the message, to _speak the mystery of _the chosen _one /messiah, because _of which also I _have _been _bound, 4 in _order _that I _may _reveal it, as it _is _fitting me to _speak.
5 In wisdom be _walking toward the ones outside, the time redeeming.
6 The speech of _you _all always in grace let _be, with _salt having _been _seasoned, to _have _known how it _is _fitting you _all to _one each to _be _answering.

4:7 Final greetings

7 [ref]My dear brother and faithful servant and fellow slave, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. 8 I’m sending him to all of you there so you’ll find out the news that concerns you all and so that he can comfort you there. 9 [ref]The faithful and dear brother, Onesimus, who’s from your place will also be with him.

10 [ref]My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends his greetings along with Barnabas’ cousin, Mark. You’ve already received instructions about that, so accept him if he arrives there. 11 Yeshua who’s nicknamed Yustus also sends his greetings. These guys are from strict Jewish backgrounds, but they’re my only fellow-workers for God’s kingdom who became an encouragement to me.

12 [ref]Epaphras sends his greetings. He’s another one from your place and a slave of messiah Yeshua who always prays for you that you will stand mature and fully confident in all of God’s will. 13 I can assure you that he has strong concerns for you all, as well as those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 [ref]The dear doctor Luke greets you all, as does Dermas.

15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the assembly that meets in her house, 16 and whenever my letter gets read to you all, make sure that it’s also read to those from the assembly in Laodicea, and that you all also read their letter. 17 [ref]Tell Archippus to make sure to fulfill the duties that the master gave him to do.