[Colossians 1]
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timotheus [our] brother,
1:2 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.
1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, praying always for you,
1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the
love [which ye have] to all the saints,
1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof
ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
1:6 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:
1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant,
who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
1:9 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;
1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God;
1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious
power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and
hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the
forgiveness of sins:
1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
every creature:
1:16 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:
1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.
1:18 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.
1:19 For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all
fulness dwell;
1:20 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.
1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in
[your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you
holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
1:23 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 Paul am made a minister;
1:24 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:
1:25 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;
1:26 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and
from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
1:27 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:
1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every
man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus:
1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his
working, which worketh in me mightily.
[Colossians 2]
2:1 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;
2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together
in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and
of the Father, and of Christ;
2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge.
2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with
enticing words.
2:5 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 Christ.
2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so]
walk ye in him:
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith,
as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
2:8 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 Christ.
2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily.
2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power:
2:11 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 Christ:
2:12 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.
2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having
forgiven you all trespasses;
2:14 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;
2:15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made
a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
2:16 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]:
2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is]
of Christ.
2:18 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,
2:19 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.
2:20 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,
2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the
commandments and doctrines of men?
2:23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will
worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any
honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
[Colossians 3]
3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the
earth.
3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
3:4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall
ye also appear with him in glory.
3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the
children of disobedience:
3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in
them.
3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the
old man with his deeds;
3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him that created him:
3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but
Christ [is] all, and in all.
3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering;
3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if
any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you,
so also [do] ye.
3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is
the bond of perfectness.
3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the
which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
3:16 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.
3:17 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.
3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it
is fit in the Lord.
3:19 Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against
them.
3:20 Children, obey [your] parents in all things: for this is
well pleasing unto the Lord.
3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children [to anger], lest they
be discouraged.
3:22 Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to
the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in
singleness of heart, fearing God:
3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men;
3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong
which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
[Colossians 4]
4:1 Masters, give unto [your] servants that which is just and
equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with
thanksgiving;
4:3 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:
4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming
the time.
4:6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with
salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, [who is] a
beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in
the Lord:
4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he
might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is
[one] of you. They shall make known unto you all things which
[are done] here.
4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus,
sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received
commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
4:11 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.
4:12 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.
4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for
you, and them [that are] in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis.
4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas,
and the church which is in his house.
4:16 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.
4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which
thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my
bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen.