GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:51urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:51Paul , an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God , and Timotheus our brother , To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse : Grace be unto you , and peace , from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , praying always for you , Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus , and of the love which ye have to all the saints , For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven , whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel ; Which is come unto you , as it is in all the world ; and bringeth forth fruit , as it doth also in you , since the day ye heard of it , and knew the grace of God in truth : As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant , who is for you a faithful minister of Christ ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit . For this cause we also , since the day we heard it , do not cease to pray for you , and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing , being fruitful in every good work , and increasing in the knowledge of God ; Strengthened with all might , according to his glorious power , unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness ; Giving thanks unto the Father , which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light : Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness , and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son : In whom we have redemption through his blood , even the forgiveness of sins : Who is the image of the invisible God , the firstborn of every creature : For by him were all things created , that are in heaven , and that are in earth , visible and invisible , whether they be thrones , or dominions , or principalities , or powers : all things were created by him , and for him : And he is before all things , and by him all things consist . And he is the head of the body , the church : who is the beginning , the firstborn from the dead ; that in all things he might have the preeminence . For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell ; And , having made peace through the blood of his cross , by him to reconcile all things unto himself ; by him , I say , whether they be things in earth , or things in heaven . And you , that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works , yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death , to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight : If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled , and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel , which ye have heard , and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven ; whereof I Paul am made a minister ; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you , and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake , which is the church : Whereof I am made a minister , according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you , to fulfil the word of God ; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations , but now is made manifest to his saints : To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles ; which is Christ in you , the hope of glory : Whom we preach , warning every man , and teaching every man in all wisdom ; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus : Whereunto I also labour , striving according to his working , which worketh in me mightily . For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you , and for them at Laodicea , and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh ; That their hearts might be comforted , being knit together in love , and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding , to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God , and of the Father , and of Christ ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge . And this I say , lest any man should beguile you with enticing words . For though I be absent in the flesh , yet am I with you in the spirit , joying and beholding your order , and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ . As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord , so walk ye in him : Rooted and built up in him , and stablished in the faith , as ye have been taught , abounding therein with thanksgiving . Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit , after the tradition of men , after the rudiments of the world , and not after Christ . For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily . And ye are complete in him , which is the head of all principality and power : In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands , in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ : Buried with him in baptism , wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God , who hath raised him from the dead . And you , being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh , hath he quickened together with him , having forgiven you all trespasses ; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us , which was contrary to us , and took it out of the way , nailing it to his cross ; And having spoiled principalities and powers , he made a shew of them openly , triumphing over them in it . Let no man therefore judge you in meat , or in drink , or in respect of an holyday , or of the new moon , or of the sabbath days : Which are a shadow of things to come ; but the body is of Christ . Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels , intruding into those things which he hath not seen , vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind , And not holding the Head , from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered , and knit together , increaseth with the increase of God . Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world , why , as though living in the world , are ye subject to ordinances , ( Touch not ; taste not ; handle not ; Which all are to perish with the using ; ) after the commandments and doctrines of men ? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship , and humility , and neglecting of the body ; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh . If ye then be risen with Christ , seek those things which are above , where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God . Set your affection on things above , not on things on the earth . For ye are dead , and your life is hid with Christ in God . When Christ , who is our life , shall appear , then shall ye also appear with him in glory . Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth ; fornication , uncleanness , inordinate affection , evil concupiscence , and covetousness , which is idolatry : For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience : In the which ye also walked some time , when ye lived in them . But now ye also put off all these ; anger , wrath , malice , blasphemy , filthy communication out of your mouth . Lie not one to another , seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds ; And have put on the new man , which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him : Where there is neither Greek nor Jew , circumcision nor uncircumcision , Barbarian , Scythian , bond nor free : but Christ is all , and in all . Put on therefore , as the elect of God , holy and beloved , bowels of mercies , kindness , humbleness of mind , meekness , longsuffering ; Forbearing one another , and forgiving one another , if any man have a quarrel against any : even as Christ forgave you , so also do ye . And above all these things put on charity , which is the bond of perfectness . And let the peace of God rule in your hearts , to the which also ye are called in one body ; and be ye thankful . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord . And whatsoever ye do in word or deed , do all in the name of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks to God and the Father by him . Wives , submit yourselves unto your own husbands , as it is fit 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 unto the Lord . Fathers , provoke not your children to anger , lest they be discouraged . Servants , obey in all things your masters according to the flesh ; not with eyeservice , as menpleasers ; but in singleness of heart , fearing God : And whatsoever ye do , do it heartily , as to the Lord , and not unto men ; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance : for ye serve the Lord Christ . But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done : and there is no respect of persons . Masters , give unto your servants that which is just and equal ; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven . Continue in prayer , and watch in the same with thanksgiving ; Withal praying also for us , that God would open unto us a door of utterance , to speak the mystery of Christ , for which I am also in bonds : That I may make it manifest , as I ought to speak . Walk in wisdom toward them that are without , redeeming the time . Let your speech be alway with grace , seasoned with salt , that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man . All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you , who is a beloved brother , and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord : Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose , that he might know your estate , and comfort your hearts ; With Onesimus , a faithful and beloved brother , who is one of you . They shall make known unto you all things which are done here . Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you , and Marcus , sister's son to Barnabas , ( touching whom ye received commandments : if he come unto you , receive him ; ) And Jesus , which is called Justus , who are of the circumcision . These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God , which have been a comfort unto me . Epaphras , who is one of you , a servant of Christ , saluteth you , always labouring fervently for you in prayers , that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God . For I bear him record , that he hath a great zeal for you , and them that are in Laodicea , and them in Hierapolis . Luke , the beloved physician , and Demas , greet you . Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea , and Nymphas , and the church which is in his house . And when this epistle is read among you , cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans ; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea . And say to Archippus , Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord , that thou fulfil it . The salutation by the hand of me Paul . Remember my bonds . Grace be with you . Amen .