CHAPTER 1
<<THE EPISTLE OF PA᷍UL THE APOSTLE TO THE CŎ‑LŎS‑́S̅I̅ĂNS>> Pa᷍ul, an apostle of Jē‑́ṡŭs C͟hrīst by the will of God, and Tī‑mŏth‑́ĕ‑ŭs [our] brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in C͟hrīst which are at Cŏ‑lŏs‑́sē: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jē‑́ṡŭs C͟hrīst.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jē‑́ṡŭs C͟hrīst, praying always for you,
4 Since we heard of your faith in C͟hrīst Jē‑́ṡŭs, and of the love [which ye have] to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 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:
7 As ye also learned of Ĕp‑́ă‑phrăs our dear fellow­servant, who is for you a faithful minister of C͟hrīst;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 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;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long­suffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the first­born of every creature:
16 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:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 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.
19 For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 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.
21 And you, that were some­time alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 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 Pa᷍ul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of C͟hrīst in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
25 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;
26 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Ġĕn‑́tīleṡ; which is C͟hrīst in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in C͟hrīst Jē‑́ṡŭs:
29 Where­unto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
CHAPTER 2
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Lā‑ŏ‑dĭ‑c̣ē‑́ă, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 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 C͟hrīst;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 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 C͟hrīst.
6 As ye have therefore received C͟hrīst Jē‑́ṡŭs the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanks­giving.
8 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 C͟hrīst.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God­head bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 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 C͟hrīst:
12 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.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 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;
15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 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]:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of C͟hrīst.
18 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,
19 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.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with C͟hrīst from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 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.
CHAPTER 3
If ye then be risen with C͟hrīst, seek those things which are above, where C͟hrīst sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with C͟hrīst in God.
4 When C͟hrīst, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Gre᷍ek nor Je̅w̅, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Sc̣y̆th‑́ĭ‑ăn, bond [nor] free: but C͟hrīst [is] all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long­suffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as C͟hrīst forgave you, so also [do] ye.
14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of C͟hrīst 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.
17 And what­soever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jē‑́ṡŭs, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit your­selves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey [your] parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children [to anger], lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eye­service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23 And what­soever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord C͟hrīst.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
CHAPTER 4
Masters, give unto [your] servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanks­giving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of C͟hrīst, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are with­out, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 All my state shall Ty̆c͟h‑́ĭ‑cŭs declare unto you, [who is] a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow­servant in the Lord:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9 With Ō‑nĕs‑́ĭ‑mŭs, a faithful and beloved brother, who is [one] of you. They shall make known unto you all things which [are done] here.
10 Ăr‑ĭs‑tär‑́c͟hŭs my fellow­prisoner saluteth you, and Mär‑́cŭs, sister’s son to Bär‑́nă‑băs, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
11 And Jē‑́ṡŭs, which is called Jŭs‑́tŭs, who are of the circumcision. These only [are my] fellow­workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
12 Ĕp‑́ă‑phrăs, who is [one] of you, a servant of C͟hrīst, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them [that are] in Lā‑ŏ‑dĭ‑c̣ē‑́ă, and them in Hī‑ĕr‑ā‑́pŏ‑lĭs.
14 Lûke, the beloved physician, and Dē‑́măs, greet you.
15 Salute the brethren which are in Lā‑ŏ‑dĭ‑c̣ē‑́ă, and Ny̆m‑́phăs, and the church which is in his house.
16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Lā‑ŏ‑dĭ‑c̣ē‑́ăns; and that ye likewise read the [epistle] from Lā‑ŏ‑dĭ‑c̣ē‑́ă.
17 And say to Är‑chĭp‑́pŭs, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
18 The salutation by the hand of me Pa᷍ul. Remember my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Ä‑́mĕn. <¶ Written from Rōme to the Cŏ‑lŏs‑́s̅i̅ăns by Ty̆c͟h‑́ĭ‑cŭs and Ō‑nĕs‑́ĭ‑mŭs.>