\v 2 to God's holy people and faithful brothers in Christ who are at Colossae. May grace be to you, and peace from God our Father. \f + \ft Some important and ancient Greek copies add, \fqa and the Lord Jesus Christ \fqa* . \f*
\v 6 which has come to you. In the same way this gospel is bearing fruit and is growing in all the world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
\v 7 This is the gospel as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf. \f + \ft Some important and ancient Greek copies read, \fqa on your behalf \fqa* . \f*
\v 9 Because of this love, from the day we heard this we have not stopped praying for you. We pray that you will be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
\v 10 so that you will walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord and that pleases him in every way: by bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God,
\v 11 by being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, and by joyfully
\v 12 giving thanks to the Father, who made you able \f + \ft Some ancient Greek copies read, \fqa who made us able \fqa* . \f* to have a share in the inheritance of God's holy people in light.
\v 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. \f + \ft Some ancient Greek copies read, \fqa in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins \fqa* , it may be a reference to Ephesians 1:7. \f*
\v 16 For in him all things were created, those in the heavens and those on the earth, the visible and the invisible things. Whether thrones or dominions or governments or authorities, all things were created through him and for him.
\v 19 For God was pleased that all his fullness should live in him,
\v 20 and to reconcile through the Son all things to himself. God made peace through the blood of his cross. God reconciled all things to himself, whether the things on the earth or the things in heaven.
\v 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death. He did this in order to present you holy, blameless and above accusation—
\v 23 if you continue in the faith, established and firm, not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which was proclaimed to every person created under heaven. This is the gospel of which I, Paul, became a servant.
\v 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body, which is the church.
\v 25 It is of this church that I am a servant, according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.
\v 26 This is the mystery that was hidden for ages and for generations but now has been revealed to God's holy people.
\v 27 It is to them that God wanted to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
\v 2 I work so that their hearts may be encouraged by being brought together in love and into all the riches of full assurance of understanding, into the knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ.
\v 8 See that no one captures you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, conforming to the elemental spirits of the world, and not conforming to Christ.
\v 13 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him and forgave us all of our trespasses. \f + \ft Some ancient Greek copies read, \fqa and forgave you all of your trespasses \fqa* . \f*
\v 18 Let no one who wants humility and the worship of angels judge you out of your prize. Such a person enters into the things he has seen and becomes puffed up for no reason by his fleshly thinking.
\v 19 He does not hold on to the head. It is from the head that the whole body throughout its joints and ligaments is supplied and held together; it grows with the growth given by God.
\v 23 These rules have the appearance of wisdom, with their self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body. But they have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
\v 4 When Christ appears, who is your life, then you will also appear with him in glory. \f + \ft Some ancient Greek copies, and some ancient translations read, \fqa When Christ appears, who is our life, then you will also appear with him in glory \fqa* . \f*
\v 6 It is for these things that the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. \f + \ft Some ancient Greek copies read, \fqa It is for these things that the wrath of God is coming \fqa* . \f*
\v 13 Bear with one another. Be gracious to each other. If someone has a complaint against someone else, forgive in the same way that the Lord has forgiven you.
\v 14 Above all these things, have love, which is the bond of perfection.
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\v 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. It was for this peace that you were called in one body. And be thankful.
\v 16 Let the word of Christ live in you richly, teaching and instructing one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
\v 22 Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh in all things, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with a sincere heart. Fear the Lord.
\v 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, staying alert in it in thanksgiving,
\v 3 praying together for us also, that God would open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I have been in chains.
\v 7 As for all the things concerning me, Tychicus will make them known to you. He is a beloved brother, a faithful servant, and fellow slave in the Lord.
\v 8 I have sent him to you for this, that you might know the matters about us, and so that he may encourage your hearts. \f + \ft There are some important and ancient Greek copies, along with some ancient translations of the Greek that read, \fqa I sent him to you for this, that he might know the matters about you, and that he may encourage your hearts \fqa* . \f*
\v 9 I have sent him together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that has happened here.
\v 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, as well as Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received orders; if he comes to you, receive him),
\v 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcision are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me.
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\v 12 Epaphras greets you. He is one of you and a slave of Christ Jesus. He always strives for you in prayer, so that you may stand complete and fully assured in all the will of God.
\v 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
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\v 15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nympha, and the church that is in her house.
\v 16 When this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
\v 17 Say to Archippus, "Look to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, that you should fulfill it."
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\v 18 This greeting is with my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. May grace be with you.
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