\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Colossians}
{\MT Paul’s Letter to the Colossians

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Paul,
an
apostle
of
Christ\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:1 }
“Christ” means “Anointed One”.}
Jesus
through
the
will
of
God,
and
Timothy
our
brother,
\VS{2}to
the
saints
and
faithful
brothers\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:2 }
The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”}
in
Christ
at
Colossae:
Grace
to
you
and
peace
from
God
our
Father
and
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}We
give
thanks
to
God
the
Father
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
praying
always
for
you,
\VS{4}having
heard
of
your
faith
in
Christ
Jesus
and
of
the
love
which
you
have
toward
all
the
saints,
\VS{5}because
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
Good
News
\VS{6}which
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,
\VS{7}even
as
you
learned
from
Epaphras
our
beloved
fellow
servant,
who
is
a
faithful
servant
of
Christ
on
your\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:7 }
NU reads
our}
behalf,
\VS{8}who
also declared
to
us
your
love
in
the
Spirit.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}For
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,
\VS{10}that
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,
\VS{11}strengthened
with
all
power,
according
to
the
might
of
his
glory,
for
all
endurance
and
perseverance
with
joy,
\VS{12}giving
thanks
to
the
Father,
who
made
us fit
to
be partakers
of
the
inheritance
of
the
saints
in
light,
\VS{13}who
delivered
us
out
of
the
power
of
darkness,
and translated
us
into
the
Kingdom
of
the
Son
of
his
love,
\VS{14}in
whom
we
have
our
redemption,\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:14 }
TR adds “through his blood,”
}
the
forgiveness
of
our
sins.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}He
is
the
image
of
the
invisible
God,
the
firstborn
of
all
creation.
\VS{16}For
by
him
all
things
were
created
in
the
heavens
and
on
the
earth,
visible
things
and
invisible
things,
whether
thrones
or
dominions
or
principalities
or
powers.
All
things
have
been
created
through
him
and
for
him.
\VS{17}He
is
before
all
things,
and
in
him
all
things
are held
together.
\VS{18}He
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.
\VS{19}For
all
the
fullness
was
pleased
to
dwell
in
him,
\VS{20}and
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.
\par }{\PP \VS{21}You,
being
in past
times
alienated
and
enemies
in
your
mind
in
your
evil
deeds,
\VS{22}yet
now
he
has
reconciled
in
the
body
of
his
flesh
through
death,
to
present
you
holy
and
without defect
and
blameless
before
him,
\VS{23}if
it
is
so
that
you
continue
in
the
faith,
grounded
and
steadfast,
and
not
moved
away
from
the
hope
of
the
Good
News
which
you
heard,
which
is
being
proclaimed
in
all
creation
under
heaven,
of
which
I,
Paul,
was
made
a
servant.
\par }{\PP \VS{24}Now
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,
\VS{25}of
which
I
was
made
a
servant
according
to
the
stewardship
of
God
which
was
given
me
toward
you
to
fulfill
the
word
of
God,
\VS{26}the
mystery
which
has
been
hidden
for
ages
and
generations.
But
now
it
has
been
revealed
to
his
saints,
\VS{27}to
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.
\VS{28}We
proclaim
him,
admonishing
every
man
and
teaching
every
man
in
all
wisdom,
that
we
may
present
every
man
perfect
in
Christ
Jesus;
\VS{29}for
which
I
also
labor,
striving
according
to
his
working,
which
works
in
me
mightily.

\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}For
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;
\VS{2}that
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,
\VS{3}in
whom
all
the
treasures
of
wisdom
and
knowledge
are
hidden.
\VS{4}Now
I
say
this
that
no
one
may
delude
you
with persuasiveness
of speech.
\VS{5}For
though
I
am
absent
in
the
flesh,
yet
I
am
with
you
in
the
spirit,
rejoicing
and
seeing
your
order,
and
the steadfastness
of
your
faith
in
Christ.
\par }{\PP \VS{6}As
therefore
you
received
Christ
Jesus
the
Lord,
walk
in
him,
\VS{7}rooted
and
built
up
in
him
and
established
in
the
faith,
even
as
you
were
taught,
abounding
in
it
in
thanksgiving.
\par }{\PP \VS{8}Be
careful
that
you
don’t
let
anyone rob
you
through
his
philosophy
and
vain
deceit,
after
the
tradition
of
men,
after
the
elemental
spirits
of
the
world,
and
not
after
Christ.
\VS{9}For
in
him
all
the
fullness
of
the
Deity
dwells
bodily,
\VS{10}and
in
him
you
are
made
full,
who
is
the
head
of
all principality
and
power.
\VS{11}In
him
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,
\VS{12}having
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.
\VS{13}You
were
dead
through
your
trespasses
and
the
uncircumcision
of
your
flesh.
He
made
you
alive
together
with
him, having
forgiven
us
all
our
trespasses,
\VS{14}wiping
out
the handwriting
in
ordinances
which
was
against
us.
He
has
taken
it
out
of
the
way, nailing
it
to
the
cross.
\VS{15}Having stripped
the
principalities
and
the
powers,
he
made
a show
of
them
openly, triumphing
over
them
in
it.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}Let
no
one
therefore
judge
you
in
eating
or
drinking,
or
with
respect
to
a
feast
day
or
a new moon
or
a
Sabbath
day,
\VS{17}which
are
a
shadow
of
the
things
to
come;
but
the
body
is
Christ’s.
\VS{18}Let
no
one rob
you
of
your
prize
by self-abasement
and worshiping
of
the
angels, dwelling
in
the
things
which
he
has
not
seen, vainly puffed up
by
his
fleshly
mind,
\VS{19}and
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.
\par }{\PP \VS{20}If
you
died
with
Christ
from
the
elemental
spirits
of
the
world,
why,
as
though
living
in
the
world,
do
you subject
yourselves
to ordinances,
\VS{21}“Don’t
handle,
nor
taste,
nor
touch”
\VS{22}(all
of
which
perish
with
use),
according
to
the
precepts
and
doctrines
of
men?
\VS{23}These
things
indeed appear
like
wisdom
in self-imposed worship,
humility,
and severity
to
the
body,
but
aren’t
of
any
value
against
the
indulgence
of
the
flesh.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}If
then
you
were
raised
together
with
Christ,
seek
the
things
that
are
above,
where
Christ
is,
seated
on
the
right
hand
of
God.
\VS{2}Set
your
mind
on
the
things
that
are
above,
not
on
the
things
that
are
on
the
earth.
\VS{3}For
you
died,
and
your
life
is
hidden
with
Christ
in
God.
\VS{4}When
Christ,
our
life,
is
revealed,
then
you
will
also
be
revealed
with
him
in
glory.
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Put
to death
therefore
your
members
which
are
on
the
earth:
sexual
immorality,
uncleanness, depraved
passion,
evil
desire,
and
covetousness,
which
is
idolatry.
\VS{6}For
these things’
sake
the
wrath
of
God
comes
on
the children
of
disobedience.
\VS{7}You
also
once
walked
in
those,
when
you
lived
in
them,
\VS{8}but
now
you
must
put
them
all away:
anger,
wrath,
malice,
slander,
and shameful speaking
out
of
your
mouth.
\VS{9}Don’t
lie
to
one
another, seeing
that
you
have put off
the
old
man
with
his doings,
\VS{10}and
have
put
on
the
new man,
who
is being
renewed
in
knowledge
after
the
image
of
his
Creator,
\VS{11}where
there
can’t
be
Greek
and
Jew,
circumcision
and
uncircumcision,
barbarian,
Scythian, bondservant,
or
free person;
but
Christ
is
all,
and
in
all.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Put
on
therefore,
as
God’s
chosen
ones,
holy
and
beloved,
a
heart
of
compassion,
kindness, lowliness,
humility,
and
perseverance;
\VS{13}bearing
with
one
another,
and
forgiving
each
other,
if
any
man
has
a
complaint
against
any;
even
as
Christ
forgave
you,
so
you
also
do.
\par }{\PP \VS{14}Above
all
these
things, walk
in
love,
which
is
the
bond
of perfection.
\VS{15}And
let
the
peace
of God
rule
in
your
hearts,
to
which
also
you
were
called
in
one
body,
and
be
thankful.
\VS{16}Let
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.
\par }{\PP \VS{17}Whatever
you
do,
in
word
or
in
deed,
do
all
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
Jesus,
giving
thanks
to
God
the
Father
through
him.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Wives,
be
in
subjection
to
your
husbands,
as
is
fitting
in
the
Lord.
\par }{\PP \VS{19}Husbands,
love
your
wives,
and
don’t
be
bitter
against
them.
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Children,
obey
your
parents
in
all
things,
for
this pleases
the
Lord.
\par }{\PP \VS{21}Fathers,
don’t
provoke
your
children,
so
that
they
won’t
be discouraged.
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Servants,
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.
\VS{23}And
whatever
you
do,
work
heartily,
as
for
the
Lord
and
not
for
men,
\VS{24}knowing
that
from
the
Lord
you
will
receive
the
reward
of
the
inheritance;
for
you
serve
the
Lord
Christ.
\VS{25}But
he
who
does
wrong
will
receive
again
for
the
wrong
that
he
has
done,
and
there
is
no
partiality.

\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Masters,
give
to
your
servants
that
which
is
just
and equal,
knowing
that
you
also
have
a
Master
in
heaven.
\par }{\PP \VS{2}Continue steadfastly
in
prayer,
watching
in
it
with
thanksgiving,
\VS{3}praying
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,
\VS{4}that
I
may
reveal
it
as
I
ought
to
speak.
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Walk
in
wisdom
toward
those
who
are
outside, redeeming
the
time.
\VS{6}Let
your
speech
always
be
with
grace,
seasoned
with
salt,
that
you
may
know
how
you
ought
to
answer
each
one.
\par }{\PP \VS{7}All
my affairs
will
be
made
known
to
you
by
Tychicus,
the
beloved
brother,
faithful
servant,
and
fellow bondservant
in
the
Lord.
\VS{8}I
am
sending
him
to
you
for
this
very
purpose,
that
he
may
know
your circumstances
and
comfort
your
hearts,
\VS{9}together
with
Onesimus,
the
faithful
and
beloved
brother,
who
is
one
of
you.
They
will
make
known
to
you
everything
that
is going
on
here.
\par }{\PP \VS{10}Aristarchus,
my
fellow
prisoner,
greets
you,
and
Mark
the
cousin
of
Barnabas (concerning
whom
you
received
instructions, “if
he
comes
to
you,
receive
him”),
\VS{11}and
Jesus
who
is
called
Justus.
These
are
my
only
fellow
workers
for
God’s
Kingdom
who
are
of
the
circumcision,
men
who
have
been
a comfort
to
me.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Epaphras,
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.
\VS{13}For
I
testify
about
him
that
he
has
great zeal
for
you,
and
for
those
in
Laodicea,
and
for
those
in
Hierapolis.
\VS{14}Luke
the
beloved
physician
and
Demas
greet
you.
\VS{15}Greet
the
brothers
who
are
in
Laodicea,
with Nymphas
and
the
assembly
that
is
in
his
house.
\VS{16}When
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.
\VS{17}Tell
Archippus, “Take
heed
to
the
ministry
which
you
have
received
in
the
Lord,
that
you
fulfill
it.”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}I,
Paul, write
this
greeting
with
my
own
hand.
Remember
my
chains.
Grace
be
with
you. Amen.
\par }