Colossians

Introduction

1:1From Paul,1 an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy my brother, 1:2 to the saints, the faithful2 brothers and sisters3 in Christ at Colosse. Grace and peace to you4 from God our Father!

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Church

1:3 We always5 give thanks to God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 1:4 since6 we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. 1:5 Your faith and love have arisen7 from the hope laid up8 for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel9 1:6 that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel10 is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing11 among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. 1:7 You learned the gospel12 from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave13--a14 faithful minister of Christ on our15 behalf-- 1:8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Paul's Prayer for the Growth of the Church

1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard, have not ceased praying for you and asking God16 to fill17 you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 1:10 so that you may live18 worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects:19 1:11 bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of20 all patience and steadfastness, with joy 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share21 in the saints'22 inheritance in the light. 1:13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,23 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Supremacy of Christ

Paul's Goal in Ministry

1:21 And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your35 minds36 as expressed through37 your evil deeds, 1:22 but now he has reconciled you38 by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him--1:23 if indeed you remain firm39 in the faith, without shifting40 from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you and I fill up--for the sake of his body, the church--what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. 1:25 I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship41 from God--given to me for you--in order to complete42 the word of God, 1:26 that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. 1:27 God wanted to make known to them the glorious43 riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 1:28 We proclaim him by instructing44 and teaching45 all people46 with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature47 in Christ. 1:29 Toward this goal48 I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully49 works in me.

2:1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you,1 and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.2 2:2 My goal is that3 their hearts, having been knit together4 in love, may be encouraged, and that5 they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments6 that sound reasonable.7 2:5 For though8 I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see9 your morale10 and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Warnings Against the Adoption of False Philosophies

2:6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,11 continue to live your lives12 in him, 2:7 rooted13 and built up in him and firm14 in your15 faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 2:8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you16 through an empty, deceitful philosophy17 that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits18 of the world, and not according to Christ. 2:9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives19 in bodily form 2:10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 2:11 In him you also were circumcised--not, however,20 with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal21 of the fleshy body,22 that is,23 through the circumcision done by Christ. 2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your24 faith in the power25 of God who raised him from the dead. 2:13 And even though you were dead in your26 transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless27 made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 2:14 He has destroyed28 what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness29 expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 2:15 Disarming30 the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.31

2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days 2:17 that are only32 the shadow of the things to come, but the reality33 is Christ.34 2:18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths35 about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.36 2:19 He has not held fast37 to the head from whom the whole body, supported38 and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.39

2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits40 of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? 2:21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!" 2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are41 on human commands and teachings.42 2:23 They have the appearance of wisdom43 with their self-imposed worship and false humility,44 by an45 unsparing treatment of the body, but they are thoroughly useless when it comes to restraining the indulgences of the flesh.46

Exhortations To Seek the Things Above

3:1Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your1 life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. 3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth:2 sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion,3 evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 3:7 You too lived your lives4 in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things5 as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man6 that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave7 or free, but Christ is all and in all.

Exhortation to Unity and Love

3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy,8 kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving9 one another, if someone happens to have10 a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you too forgive others.11 3:14 And to all these12 virtues13 add14 love, which is the perfect bond.15 3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart, for you were in fact called to this peace, and be thankful. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace16 in your hearts17 to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Exhortation to Households

3:18 Wives, submit to your1 husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 3:21 Fathers,2 do not exasperate your children, so they will not become disheartened. 3:22 Slaves,3 obey your earthly4 masters in every respect, not only when they are watching--like those who are strictly people-pleasers--but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 3:23 Whatever you are doing,5 work at it with enthusiasm,6 as to the Lord and not for people,7 3:24 because you know that you will receive your8 inheritance9 from the Lord as the reward. Serve10 the Lord Christ. 3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong,11 and there are no exceptions.12 4:1Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

Exhortation to Pray for the Success of Paul's Mission

4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. 4:3 At the same time pray13 for us too, that14 God may open a door for the message15 so that we may proclaim16 the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.17 4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should.18 4:5 Conduct yourselves19 with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

Personal Greetings and Instructions

4:7 Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave20 in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.21 4:8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing22 and that he may encourage your hearts. 4:9 I sent him23 with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.24 They will tell25 you about everything here.

4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him). 4:11 And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts,26 these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave27 of Christ,28 greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured29 in all the will of God. 4:13 For I can testify that he has worked hard30 for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 4:14 Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you. 4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters31 who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.32 4:16 And after33 you have read this letter, have it read34 to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea35 as well. 4:17 And tell Archippus, "See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord."

4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand.36 Remember my chains.37 Grace be with you.