Translation in British English
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the decree of God, alongside Timotheus, our brother,
1:2 To the devout and loyal brethren in Christ at Colosse: May grace and peace be bestowed upon you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 We express our gratitude to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, continually offering prayers for you,
1:4 Ever since we were apprised of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you extend to all the devout,
1:5 Stemming from the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you were previously informed through the genuine proclamation of the gospel;
1:6 A gospel that has reached you, just as it has the entire world, and is bearing fruit and proliferating, just as it has been among you from the day you comprehended it and recognised the veracity of God’s grace;
1:7 As you were also instructed by Epaphras, our cherished fellow servant, who is a trustworthy steward of Christ on your behalf;
1:8 He has also made known to us your spiritual love.
1:9 Hence, from the day we learnt of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be thoroughly endowed with the knowledge of His will, imbued with all wisdom and spiritual insight;
1:10 So that you may conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord, to His complete satisfaction, being productive in every good endeavour and growing in the knowledge of God;
1:11 Fortified with all strength, according to His magnificent might, for all endurance and patience, accompanied by joy;
1:12 Extending gratitude to the Father, who has qualified us to partake in the inheritance of the saints in light;
1:13 Who has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son;
1:14 In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, through His blood;
1:15 The one who is the representation of the unseen God, the firstborn over all creation;
1:16 For in Him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, visible and invisible, be they thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him;
1:17 And He exists before all things, and in Him all things cohere.
1:18 Moreover, He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might be preeminent.
1:19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure that in Him all fullness should dwell;
1:20 And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I repeat, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
1:21 And you, once estranged and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, He has now reconciled
1:22 In His fleshly body through death, to present you holy, faultless, and beyond reproach in His presence—
1:23 Provided you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith, not shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you have heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant;
1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church;
1:25 Of which I became a servant according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, to carry out the proclamation of God’s word;
1:26 The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints;
1:27 To whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
1:28 Him we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ;
1:29 For this purpose, I also labour, striving according to His energy, which powerfully works within me.
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh;
2:2 That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,
2:3 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2:4 I say this so that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
2:5 For even though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
2:7 Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
2:9 For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
2:10 And you have been made complete in Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority;
2:11 In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,
2:12 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.
2:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
2:14 By cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross;
2:15 And disarming the rulers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
2:16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
2:18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
2:19 And not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
2:20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
2:21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
2:22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?
2:23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.
3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
3:5 Therefore, put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry;
3:6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience;
3:7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
3:10 And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
3:18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
3:21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
3:24 Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
3:25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4:4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
4:7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
4:8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
4:9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
4:11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
4:13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
4:14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
4:15 Greet the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and Nympha and the church in her house.
4:16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
4:17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
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