Chapter 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by (lit. through) the will of God, and Timothius the brother, To the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for (toward) all the holy ones; because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, (of) the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is bearing fruit and increasing (spreading abroad), even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard it and understood (came to fully know) the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the (real) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects (lit. unto all pleasing), bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the (growing by the) (real) knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might (lit. the might of His glory), for the attaining of all (lit. unto all) perseverance and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of (lit. unto the portion of) the holy ones in light. For He rescued (lit. Who rescued) us from the domain (lit. authority) of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (lit. the Son of His love), in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He (lit. Who) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by (in) Him all things were created, both in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold (endure) together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place (supremacy) in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness (I.e., fullness of deity) to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in (the) faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was (lit. became) a minister (servant). Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in (lit. of) Christ's afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church. I was made (lit. became) a minister (servant) of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God (lit. make full the word of God), that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His holy ones, to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with (lit. in) all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete (perfect) in Christ. For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power (lit. working) which works (lit. in power) mightily within me.

Chapter 2

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally (lit. in the flesh) seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from (lit. of) the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. For even though I am absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your orderly manner (good order) and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk (lead your life) in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in (by) your (the) faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with (one early ms; in it with) gratitude. See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles (Gr stoichea) of the world, rather than (lit. and not) in accordance with Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete (lit. full), and He is the head over (lit. of) every ruler and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 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. And when (although) you were dead in (by reason of) your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed (divested Himself of) the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him (it; i.e., the cross). Therefore, no one is to act (lit. judge you) as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day—things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance (lit. body) belongs to Christ (lit. of Christ). Take care that no one keeps defrauding you (deciding against you) of your prize by delighting in false$^{NIV}$ humility and the worship of angels, taking his stand on (going into detail about) visions he has seen, inflated (conceited) without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments (lit. bonds), grows with a growth which is from God (lit. of God). If you have died with Christ, to (lit. from) the elementary principles (Gr stoichea) of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use (by being consumed))—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of man? These are matters which do have the appearance (lit. report; Gr logos) of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence (the flesh).

Chapter 3

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on (be intent on) the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore, treat (lit. put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth) the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which amounts to (lit. is) idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming (upon the sons of disobedience (people opposed to God)), and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them (among these). But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander and obscene speech from your mouth. Do not lie (stop lying) to one another, since you stripped off the old self (lit. person; Heb equiv. adam) with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed (lit. renovated) to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian (i.e., uncultured), Scythian (i.e., a member of an ancient people near the Black Sea, often considered unrefined), slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (i.e., forbearance toward others); bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity (lit. the uniting bond of perfection). Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed (also) called in one body, rule in (be in control in) your hearts; and be thankful (show yourselves thankful). Let the word of Christ (one early ms; the Lord) richly dwell within you, with (in) all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to (lit. in) the Lord. Fathers, do not antagonize (provoke to anger) your children, so that they will not become discouraged. Slaves (i.e., slaves in first-century Roman culture), obey those who are your human masters (lit. masters according to the flesh) in everything, not with eye-service (i.e., working only when watched), as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily (lit. from the soul), as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of (i.e., consisting of) the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality (lit. there is no partiality).

Chapter 4

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you have a Master in heaven. Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it. Conduct yourselves (lit. Walk) with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity (lit. redeeming the time). Your speech must always be with grace (gracious), as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant (Gr doulos) in the Lord, will bring you information. For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; and with him is Onesimus (lit. along with Onesimus), our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your own. They will inform you about the whole situation here. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas' cousin Mark (about hom you received instructions (orders); if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant (Gr doulos) of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand (stand firm) mature (fully developed; Gr telos) and fully assured (made complete) in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern (much toil; or great pain) for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and Demas does also. Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also Nympha (or Nymphas (masc)) and the church that is in her (one early ms; their) house. When this (lit. the) letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, read my (lit. the) letter that is coming from Laodicea. Tell Archippus, "See to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may fulfill (continually fulfill) it." I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand (lit. The greeting of my hand of Paul). Remember my imprisonment (lit. bonds). Grace be with you.