GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:51urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:51Paul , apostle of Christ Jesus , by God's will , and Timotheus the brother , to the holy and faithful brethren in Christ which [ are ] in Colosse . Grace to you and peace from God our Father [ and Lord Jesus Christ ] . We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ continually [ when ] praying for you , having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus , and the love which ye have towards all the saints , on account of the hope which [ is ] laid up for you in the heavens ; of which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the glad tidings , which are come to you , as [ they are ] in all the world , [ and ] are bearing fruit and growing , even as also among you , from the day ye heard [ them ] and knew indeed the grace of God , in truth : even as ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-bondman , who is a faithful minister of Christ for you , who has also manifested to us your love in [ the ] Spirit . For this reason * we * also , from the day we heard [ of your faith and love ] , do not cease praying and asking for you , to the end that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of his will , in all wisdom and spiritual understanding , [ so as ] to walk worthily of the Lord unto all well-pleasing , bearing fruit in every good work , and growing by the true knowledge of God ; strengthened with all power according to the might of his glory unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy ; giving thanks to the Father , who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light , who has delivered us from the authority of darkness , and translated [ us ] into the kingdom of the Son of his love : in whom we have redemption , the forgiveness of sins ; who is image of the invisible God , firstborn of all creation ; because by him were created all things , the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth , the visible and the invisible , whether thrones , or lordships , or principalities , or authorities : all things have been created by him and for him . And * he * is before all , and all things subsist together by him . And * he * is the head of the body , the assembly ; who is [ the ] beginning , firstborn from among the dead , that * he * might have the first place in all things : for in him all the fulness [ of the Godhead ] was pleased to dwell , and by him to reconcile all things to itself , having made peace by the blood of his cross -- by him , whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens . And you , who once were alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works , yet now has it reconciled in the body of his flesh through death ; to present you holy and unblamable and irreproachable before it , if indeed ye abide in the faith founded and firm , and not moved away from the hope of the glad tidings , which ye have heard , which have been proclaimed in the whole creation which [ is ] under heaven , of which * I * Paul became minister . Now , I rejoice in sufferings for you , and I fill up that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh , for his body , which is the assembly ; of which * I * became minister , according to the dispensation of God which [ is ] given me towards you to complete the word of God , the mystery which [ has been ] hidden from ages and from generations , but has now been made manifest to his saints ; to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations , which is Christ in you the hope of glory : whom * we * announce , admonishing every man , and teaching every man , in all wisdom , to the end that we may present every man perfect in Christ . Whereunto also I toil , combating according to his working , which works in me in power . For I would have you know what combat I have for you , and those in Laodicea , and as many as have not seen my face in flesh ; to the end that their hearts may be encouraged , being united together in love , and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding , to [ the ] full knowledge of the mystery of God ; in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge . And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech . For if indeed in the flesh I am absent , yet I am with you in spirit , rejoicing and seeing your order , and the firmness of your faith in Christ . As therefore ye have received the Christ , Jesus the Lord , walk in him , rooted and built up in him , and assured in the faith , even as ye have been taught , abounding in it with thanksgiving . See that there be no one who shall lead * you * away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit , according to the teaching of men , according to the elements of the world , and not according to Christ . For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily ; and ye are complete in him , who is the head of all principality and authority , in whom also ye have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand , in the putting off of the body of the flesh , in the circumcision of the Christ ; buried with him in baptism , in which ye have been also raised with [ him ] through faith of the working of God who raised him from among the dead . And you , being dead in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh , he has quickened together with him , having forgiven us all the offences ; having effaced the handwriting in ordinances which [ stood out ] against us , which was contrary to us , he has taken it also out of the way , having nailed it to the cross ; having spoiled principalities and authorities , he made a show of them publicly , leading them in triumph by it . Let none therefore judge you in meat or in drink , or in matter of feast , or new moon , or sabbaths , which are a shadow of things to come ; but the body [ is ] of Christ . Let no one fraudulently deprive you of your prize , doing his own will in humility and worship of angels , entering into things which he has not seen , vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh , and not holding fast the head , from whom all the body , ministered to and united together by the joints and bands , increases with the increase of God . If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world , why as [ if ] alive in [ the ] world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances ? Do not handle , do not taste , do not touch , ( things which are all for destruction in the using [ of them ] : ) according to the injunctions and teachings of men , ( which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship , and humility , and harsh treatment of the body , not in a certain honour , ) to [ the ] satisfaction of the flesh . If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ , seek the things [ which are ] above , where the Christ is , sitting at [ the ] right hand of God : have your mind on the things [ that are ] above , not on the things [ that are ] on the earth ; for ye have died , and your life is hid with the Christ in God . When the Christ is manifested who [ is ] our life , then shall * ye * also be manifested with him in glory . Put to death therefore your members which [ are ] upon the earth , fornication , uncleanness , vile passions , evil lust , and unbridled desire , which is idolatry . On account of which things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience . In which * ye * also once walked when ye lived in these things . But now , put off , * ye * also , all [ these ] things , wrath , anger , malice , blasphemy , vile language out of your mouth . Do not lie to one another , having put off the old man with his deeds , and having put on the new , renewed into full knowledge according to [ the ] image of him that has created him ; wherein there is not Greek and Jew , circumcision and uncircumcision , barbarian , Scythian , bondman , freeman ; but Christ [ is ] everything , and in all . Put on therefore , as [ the ] elect of God , holy and beloved , bowels of compassion , kindness , lowliness , meekness , longsuffering ; forbearing one another , and forgiving one another , if any should have a complaint against any ; even as the Christ has forgiven you , so also [ do ] * ye * . And to all these [ add ] love , which is the bond of perfectness . And let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts , to which also ye have been called in one body , and be thankful . Let the word of the Christ dwell in you richly , in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another , in psalms , hymns , spiritual songs , singing with grace in your hearts to God . And everything , whatever ye may do in word or in deed , [ do ] all things in [ the ] name of [ the ] Lord Jesus , giving thanks to God the Father by him . Wives , be subject to [ your ] husbands , as is fitting in [ the ] Lord . Husbands , love your wives , and be not bitter against them . Children , obey your parents in all things , for this is well-pleasing in [ the ] Lord . Fathers , do not vex your children , to the end that they be not disheartened . Bondmen , obey in all things your masters according to flesh ; not with eye-services , as men-pleasers , but in simplicity of heart , fearing the Lord . Whatsoever ye do , labour at it heartily , as [ doing it ] to the Lord , and not to men ; knowing that of [ the ] Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance ; ye serve the Lord Christ . For he that does a wrong shall receive the wrong he has done , and there is no respect of persons . Masters , give to bondmen what is just and fair , knowing that * ye * also have a Master in [ the ] heavens . Persevere in prayer , watching in it with thanksgiving ; praying at the same time for us also , that God may open to us a door of the word to speak the mystery of Christ , on account of which also I am bound , to the end that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak . Walk in wisdom towards those without , redeeming opportunities . [ Let ] your word [ be ] always with grace , seasoned with salt , [ so as ] to know how ye ought to answer each one . Tychicus , the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-bondman in [ the ] Lord , will make known to you all that concerns me ; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose , that he might know your state , and that he might encourage your hearts : with Onesimus , the faithful and beloved brother , who is [ one ] of you . They shall make known to you everything here . Aristarchus my fellow-captive salutes you , and Mark , Barnabas's cousin , concerning whom ye have received orders , ( if he come to you , receive him , ) and Jesus called Justus , who are of the circumcision . These [ are the ] only fellow-workers for the kingdom of God who have been a consolation to me . Epaphras , who is [ one ] of you , [ the ] bondman of Christ Jesus , salutes you , always combating earnestly for you in prayers , to the end that ye may stand perfect and complete in all [ the ] will of God . For I bear him witness that he labours much for you , and them in Laodicea , and them in Hierapolis . Luke , the beloved physician , salutes you , and Demas . Salute the brethren in Laodicea , and Nymphas , and the assembly which [ is ] in his house . And when the letter has been read among you , cause that it be read also in the assembly of Laodiceans , and that * ye * also read that from Laodicea . And say to Archippus , Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in [ the ] Lord , to the end that thou fulfil it . The salutation by the hand of me Paul . Remember my bonds . Grace [ be ] with you .