Colossians
CHAPTER1
1Paul,anapostleofJesusChristbythewillofGod,and Timotheusourbrother,
2TothesaintsandfaithfulbrethreninChristwhichareat Colosse:Gracebeuntoyou,andpeace,fromGodour FatherandtheLordJesusChrist
3WegivethankstoGodandtheFatherofourLordJesus Christ,prayingalwaysforyou,
4SinceweheardofyourfaithinChristJesus,andofthe lovewhichyehavetoallthesaints,
5Forthehopewhichislaidupforyouinheaven,whereof yeheardbeforeinthewordofthetruthofthegospel;
6Whichiscomeuntoyou,asitisinalltheworld;and bringethforthfruit,asitdothalsoinyou,sincethedayye heardofit,andknewthegraceofGodintruth:
7AsyealsolearnedofEpaphrasourdearfellowservant, whoisforyouafaithfulministerofChrist;
8WhoalsodeclareduntousyourloveintheSpirit
9Forthiscausewealso,sincethedayweheardit,donot ceasetoprayforyou,andtodesirethatyemightbefilled withtheknowledgeofhiswillinallwisdomandspiritual understanding;
10ThatyemightwalkworthyoftheLorduntoallpleasing, beingfruitfulineverygoodwork,andincreasinginthe knowledgeofGod;
11Strengthenedwithallmight,accordingtohisglorious power,untoallpatienceandlongsufferingwithjoyfulness;
12GivingthanksuntotheFather,whichhathmadeusmeet tobepartakersoftheinheritanceofthesaintsinlight:
13Whohathdeliveredusfromthepowerofdarkness,and hathtranslatedusintothekingdomofhisdearSon:
14Inwhomwehaveredemptionthroughhisblood,even theforgivenessofsins:
15WhoistheimageoftheinvisibleGod,thefirstbornof everycreature:
16Forbyhimwereallthingscreated,thatareinheaven, andthatareinearth,visibleandinvisible,whethertheybe thrones,ordominions,orprincipalities,orpowers:all thingswerecreatedbyhim,andforhim:
17Andheisbeforeallthings,andbyhimallthingsconsist.
18Andheistheheadofthebody,thechurch:whoisthe beginning,thefirstbornfromthedead;thatinallthingshe mighthavethepreeminence.
19ForitpleasedtheFatherthatinhimshouldallfulness dwell;
20And,havingmadepeacethroughthebloodofhiscross, byhimtoreconcileallthingsuntohimself;byhim,Isay, whethertheybethingsinearth,orthingsinheaven
21Andyou,thatweresometimealienatedandenemiesin yourmindbywickedworks,yetnowhathhereconciled 22Inthebodyofhisfleshthroughdeath,topresentyou holyandunblameableandunreproveableinhissight:
23Ifyecontinueinthefaithgroundedandsettled,andbe notmovedawayfromthehopeofthegospel,whichye haveheard,andwhichwaspreachedtoeverycreature whichisunderheaven;whereofIPaulammadeaminister;
24Whonowrejoiceinmysufferingsforyou,andfillup thatwhichisbehindoftheafflictionsofChristinmyflesh forhisbody'ssake,whichisthechurch: 25WhereofIammadeaminister,accordingtothe dispensationofGodwhichisgiventomeforyou,tofulfil thewordofGod;
26Eventhemysterywhichhathbeenhidfromagesand fromgenerations,butnowismademanifesttohissaints: 27TowhomGodwouldmakeknownwhatistherichesof thegloryofthismysteryamongtheGentiles;whichis Christinyou,thehopeofglory:
28Whomwepreach,warningeveryman,andteaching everymaninallwisdom;thatwemaypresenteveryman perfectinChristJesus:
29WhereuntoIalsolabour,strivingaccordingtohis working,whichworkethinmemightily
CHAPTER2
1ForIwouldthatyeknewwhatgreatconflictIhavefor you,andforthematLaodicea,andforasmanyashavenot seenmyfaceintheflesh;
2Thattheirheartsmightbecomforted,beingknittogether inlove,anduntoallrichesofthefullassuranceof understanding,totheacknowledgementofthemysteryof God,andoftheFather,andofChrist;
3Inwhomarehidallthetreasuresofwisdomand knowledge
4AndthisIsay,lestanymanshouldbeguileyouwith enticingwords
5ForthoughIbeabsentintheflesh,yetamIwithyouin thespirit,joyingandbeholdingyourorder,andthe stedfastnessofyourfaithinChrist
6AsyehavethereforereceivedChristJesustheLord,so walkyeinhim:
7Rootedandbuiltupinhim,andstablishedinthefaith,as yehavebeentaught,aboundingthereinwiththanksgiving
8Bewarelestanymanspoilyouthroughphilosophyand vaindeceit,afterthetraditionofmen,aftertherudiments oftheworld,andnotafterChrist
9ForinhimdwellethallthefulnessoftheGodheadbodily.
10Andyearecompleteinhim,whichistheheadofall principalityandpower:
11Inwhomalsoyearecircumcisedwiththecircumcision madewithouthands,inputtingoffthebodyofthesinsof thefleshbythecircumcisionofChrist:
12Buriedwithhiminbaptism,whereinalsoyearerisen withhimthroughthefaithoftheoperationofGod,who hathraisedhimfromthedead
13Andyou,beingdeadinyoursinsandthe uncircumcisionofyourflesh,hathhequickenedtogether withhim,havingforgivenyoualltrespasses;
14Blottingoutthehandwritingofordinancesthatwas againstus,whichwascontrarytous,andtookitoutofthe way,nailingittohiscross;
15Andhavingspoiledprincipalitiesandpowers,hemade ashewofthemopenly,triumphingovertheminit
16Letnomanthereforejudgeyouinmeat,orindrink,or inrespectofanholyday,orofthenewmoon,orofthe sabbathdays:
17Whichareashadowofthingstocome;butthebodyis ofChrist.
COLOSSIANS
18Letnomanbeguileyouofyourrewardinavoluntary humilityandworshippingofangels,intrudingintothose thingswhichhehathnotseen,vainlypuffedupbyhis fleshlymind,
19AndnotholdingtheHead,fromwhichallthebodyby jointsandbandshavingnourishmentministered,andknit together,increasethwiththeincreaseofGod
20WhereforeifyebedeadwithChristfromtherudiments oftheworld,why,asthoughlivingintheworld,areye subjecttoordinances,
21(Touchnot;tastenot;handlenot;
22Whichallaretoperishwiththeusing;)afterthe commandmentsanddoctrinesofmen?
23Whichthingshaveindeedashewofwisdominwill worship,andhumility,andneglectingofthebody;notin anyhonourtothesatisfyingoftheflesh.
CHAPTER3
1IfyethenberisenwithChrist,seekthosethingswhich areabove,whereChristsittethontherighthandofGod
2Setyouraffectiononthingsabove,notonthingsonthe earth
3Foryearedead,andyourlifeishidwithChristinGod
4WhenChrist,whoisourlife,shallappear,thenshallye alsoappearwithhiminglory
5Mortifythereforeyourmemberswhichareupontheearth; fornication,uncleanness,inordinateaffection,evil concupiscence,andcovetousness,whichisidolatry:
6Forwhichthings'sakethewrathofGodcomethonthe childrenofdisobedience:
7Inthewhichyealsowalkedsometime,whenyelivedin them
8Butnowyealsoputoffallthese;anger,wrath,malice, blasphemy,filthycommunicationoutofyourmouth
9Lienotonetoanother,seeingthatyehaveputofftheold manwithhisdeeds;
10Andhaveputonthenewman,whichisrenewedin knowledgeaftertheimageofhimthatcreatedhim:
11WherethereisneitherGreeknorJew,circumcisionnor uncircumcision,Barbarian,Scythian,bondnorfree:but Christisall,andinall
12Putontherefore,astheelectofGod,holyandbeloved, bowelsofmercies,kindness,humblenessofmind, meekness,longsuffering;
13Forbearingoneanother,andforgivingoneanother,if anymanhaveaquarrelagainstany:evenasChristforgave you,soalsodoye.
14Andaboveallthesethingsputoncharity,whichisthe bondofperfectness
15AndletthepeaceofGodruleinyourhearts,tothe whichalsoyearecalledinonebody;andbeyethankful.
16LetthewordofChristdwellinyourichlyinallwisdom; teachingandadmonishingoneanotherinpsalmsand hymnsandspiritualsongs,singingwithgraceinyour heartstotheLord
17Andwhatsoeveryedoinwordordeed,doallinthe nameoftheLordJesus,givingthankstoGodandthe Fatherbyhim
18Wives,submityourselvesuntoyourownhusbands,asit isfitintheLord
19Husbands,loveyourwives,andbenotbitteragainst them.
20Children,obeyyourparentsinallthings:forthisiswell pleasinguntotheLord.
21Fathers,provokenotyourchildrentoanger,lesttheybe discouraged
22Servants,obeyinallthingsyourmastersaccordingto theflesh;notwitheyeservice,asmenpleasers;butin singlenessofheart,fearingGod:
23Andwhatsoeveryedo,doitheartily,astotheLord,and notuntomen;
24KnowingthatoftheLordyeshallreceivetherewardof theinheritance:foryeservetheLordChrist.
25Buthethatdoethwrongshallreceiveforthewrong whichhehathdone:andthereisnorespectofpersons
CHAPTER4
1Masters,giveuntoyourservantsthatwhichisjustand equal;knowingthatyealsohaveaMasterinheaven
2Continueinprayer,andwatchinthesamewith thanksgiving;
3Withalprayingalsoforus,thatGodwouldopenuntous adoorofutterance,tospeakthemysteryofChrist,for whichIamalsoinbonds:
4ThatImaymakeitmanifest,asIoughttospeak 5Walkinwisdomtowardthemthatarewithout,redeeming thetime.
6Letyourspeechbealwaywithgrace,seasonedwithsalt, thatyemayknowhowyeoughttoanswereveryman
7AllmystateshallTychicusdeclareuntoyou,whoisa belovedbrother,andafaithfulministerandfellowservant intheLord:
8WhomIhavesentuntoyouforthesamepurpose,thathe mightknowyourestate,andcomfortyourhearts;
9WithOnesimus,afaithfulandbelovedbrother,whois oneofyou.Theyshallmakeknownuntoyouallthings whicharedonehere
10Aristarchusmyfellowprisonersalutethyou,andMarcus, sister'ssontoBarnabas,(touchingwhomyereceived commandments:ifhecomeuntoyou,receivehim;)
11AndJesus,whichiscalledJustus,whoareofthe circumcision.Theseonlyaremyfellowworkersuntothe kingdomofGod,whichhavebeenacomfortuntome
12Epaphras,whoisoneofyou,aservantofChrist, salutethyou,alwayslabouringferventlyforyouinprayers, thatyemaystandperfectandcompleteinallthewillof God.
13ForIbearhimrecord,thathehathagreatzealforyou, andthemthatareinLaodicea,andtheminHierapolis 14Luke,thebelovedphysician,andDemas,greetyou 15SalutethebrethrenwhichareinLaodicea,and Nymphas,andthechurchwhichisinhishouse 16Andwhenthisepistleisreadamongyou,causethatit bereadalsointhechurchoftheLaodiceans;andthatye likewisereadtheepistlefromLaodicea
17AndsaytoArchippus,Takeheedtotheministrywhich thouhastreceivedintheLord,thatthoufulfilit
18ThesalutationbythehandofmePaulRemembermy bonds.Gracebewithyou.Amen.(WrittenfromRometo ColossiansbyTychicusandOnesimus)