## Chapter 1

1

Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

Paul 3972, an apostle 652 of Jesus 2424 Christ 5547 by the will 2307 of God 2316, and Timothy 5095 our brother 80,
2 ¶ To the saints 40 and faithful 4103 brethren 80 in Christ 5547 {who are} at Colossae 2857: Grace 5485 to you and peace 1515 from God 2316 our Father 3962.
3 ¶ We give 2168 thanks 2168 to God 2316, the Father 3962 of our Lord 2962 Jesus 2424 Christ 5547, praying 4336 always 3842 for you,
4 since we heard 191 of your faith 4102 in Christ 5547 Jesus 2424 and the love 26 which 3739 you have 2192 for all 3956 the saints 40;
5 because 1223 of the hope 1680 laid 606 up for you in heaven 3772, of which 3739 you previously 4257 heard 4257 in the word 3056 of truth 225, the gospel 2098
6 which has come 3918 to you, just 2531 as in all 3956 the world 2889 also 2532 it is constantly bearing 2592 fruit 2592 and increasing 837, even 2531 as {it has been doing} in you also 2532 since 575 the day 2250 you heard 191 {of it} and understood 1921 the grace 5485 of God 2316 in truth 225;
7 just 2531 as you learned 3129 {it} from Epaphras 1889, our beloved 27 fellow 4889 bond-servant 4889, who 3739 is a faithful 4103 servant 1249 of Christ 5547 on our behalf 5228,
8 and he also 2532 informed 1213 us of your love 26 in the Spirit 4151.
9 ¶ For this 3778 reason 1223 also 2532, since 575 the day 2250 we heard 191 {of it,} we have not ceased 3973 to pray 4336 for you and to ask 154 that you may be filled 4137 with the knowledge 1922 of His will 2307 in all 3956 spiritual 4152 wisdom 4678 and understanding 4907,
10 so that you will walk 4043 in a manner 516 worthy 516 of the Lord 2962, to please 699 {Him} in all 3956 respects 3956, bearing 2592 fruit 2592 in every 3956 good 18 work 2041 and increasing 837 in the knowledge 1922 of God 2316;
11 strengthened 1412 with all 3956 power 1411, according 2596 to His glorious 1391 might 2904, for the attaining of all 3956 steadfastness 5281 and patience 3115; joyously 5479
12 giving 2168 thanks 2168 to the Father 3962, who has qualified 2427 us to share 3310 in the inheritance 2819 of the saints 40 in Light 5457.
13

The Incomparable Christ

For He rescued 4506 us from the domain 1849 of darkness 4655, and transferred 3179 us to the kingdom 932 of His beloved 26 Son 5207,
14 in whom 3739 we have 2192 redemption 629, the forgiveness 859 of sins 266.
15 ¶ He is the image 1504 of the invisible 517 God 2316, the firstborn 4416 of all 3956 creation 2937.
16 For by Him all 3956 things 3956 were created 2936, {both} in the heavens 3772 and on earth 1093, visible 3707 and invisible 517, whether 1535 thrones 2362 or 1535 dominions 2963 or 1535 rulers 746 or 1535 authorities 1849--all 3956 things 3956 have been created 2936 through 1223 Him and for Him.
17 He is before 4253 all 3956 things 3956, and in Him all 3956 things 3956 hold 4921 together 4921.
18 He is also 2532 head 2776 of the body 4983, the church 1577; and He is the beginning 746, the firstborn 4416 from the dead 3498, so 2443 that He Himself 846 will come 1096 to have 4409 first 4409 place 4409 in everything 3956.
19 For it was the {Father's} good 2106 pleasure 2106 for all 3956 the fullness 4138 to dwell 2730 in Him,
20 and through 1223 Him to reconcile 604 all 3956 things 3956 to Himself 846, having made 1517 peace 1517 through 1223 the blood 129 of His cross 4716; through 1223 Him, {I say,} whether 1535 things on earth 1093 or 1535 things in heaven 3772.
21 ¶ And although you were formerly 4218 alienated 526 and hostile 2190 in mind 1271, {engaged} in evil 4190 deeds 2041,
22 yet 1161 He has now 3570 reconciled 604 you in His fleshly 4561 body 4983 through 1223 death 2288, in order to present 3936 you before 2714 Him holy 40 and blameless 299 and beyond 410 reproach 410--
23 if 1487 indeed 1065 you continue 1961 in the faith 4102 firmly 2311 established 2311 and steadfast 1476, and not moved 3334 away 3334 from the hope 1680 of the gospel 2098 that you have heard 191, which was proclaimed 2784 in all 3956 creation 2937 under 5259 heaven 3772, and of which 3739 I, Paul 3972, was made 1096 a minister 1249.
24 ¶ Now 3568 I rejoice 5463 in my sufferings 3804 for your sake 5228, and in my flesh 4561 I do my share 466 on behalf 5228 of His body 4983, which 3739 is the church 1577, in filling 466 up what 3588 is lacking 5303 in Christ's 5547 afflictions 2347.
25 Of {this church} I was made 1096 a minister 1249 according 2596 to the stewardship 3622 from God 2316 bestowed 1325 on me for your benefit 1519, so that I might fully 4137 carry 4137 out the {preaching of} the word 3056 of God 2316,
26 {that is,} the mystery 3466 which has been hidden 613 from the {past} ages 165 and generations 1074, but has now 3568 been manifested 5319 to His saints 40,
27 to whom 3739 God 2316 willed 2309 to make 1107 known 1107 what 5101 is the riches 4149 of the glory 1391 of this 3778 mystery 3466 among 1722 the Gentiles 1484, which 3739 is Christ 5547 in you, the hope 1680 of glory 1391.
28 We proclaim 2605 Him, admonishing 3560 every 3956 man 444 and teaching 1321 every 3956 man 444 with all 3956 wisdom 4678, so 2443 that we may present 3936 every 3956 man 444 complete 5046 in Christ 5547.
29 For this 3739 purpose also 2532 I labor 2872, striving 75 according 2596 to His power 1411, which mightily 1411 works 1754 within 1722 me.

## Chapter 2

1

You Are Built Up in Christ

For I want 2309 you to know 3609 how 2245 great 2245 a struggle 73 I have 2192 on your behalf 5228 and for those 3588 who 3588 are at Laodicea 2993, and for all 3745 those who 3745 have not personally 4561 seen 3708 my face 4383,
2 that their hearts 2588 may be encouraged 3870, having been knit 4822 together 4822 in love 26, and {attaining} to all 3956 the wealth 4149 that comes from the full 4136 assurance 4136 of understanding 4907, {resulting} in a true 1922 knowledge 1922 of God's 2316 mystery 3466, {that is,} Christ 5547 {Himself,}
3 in whom 3739 are hidden 614 all 3956 the treasures 2344 of wisdom 4678 and knowledge 1108.
4 I say 3004 this 3778 so 2443 that no 3367 one 3367 will delude 3884 you with persuasive 4086 argument 4086.
5 For even 2532 though 1487 I am 548 absent 548 in body 4561, nevertheless 235 I am 1510 with you in spirit 4151, rejoicing 5463 to see 991 your good 5010 discipline 5010 and the stability 4733 of your faith 4102 in Christ 5547.
6 ¶ Therefore 3767 as you have received 3880 Christ 5547 Jesus 2424 the Lord 2962, {so} walk 4043 in Him,
7 having been firmly 4492 rooted 4492 {and now} being built 2026 up in Him and established 950 in your faith 4102, just 2531 as you were instructed 1321, {and} overflowing 4052 with gratitude 2169.
8 ¶ See 991 to it that no 3361 one 5100 takes 4812 you captive 4812 through 1223 philosophy 5385 and empty 2756 deception 539, according 2596 to the tradition 3862 of men 444, according 2596 to the elementary 4747 principles 4747 of the world 2889, rather 3756 than according 2596 to Christ 5547.
9 For in Him all 3956 the fullness 4138 of Deity 2320 dwells 2730 in bodily 4985 form 4985,
10 and in Him you have been 1510 made 4137 complete 4137, and He is the head 2776 over all 3956 rule 746 and authority 1849;
11 and in Him you were also 2532 circumcised 4059 with a circumcision 4061 made 886 without 886 hands 886, in the removal 555 of the body 4983 of the flesh 4561 by the circumcision 4061 of Christ 5547;
12 having been buried 4916 with Him in baptism 908, in which 3739 you were also 2532 raised 4891 up with Him through 1223 faith 4102 in the working 1753 of God 2316, who raised 1453 Him from the dead 3498.
13 When you were dead 3498 in your transgressions 3900 and the uncircumcision 203 of your flesh 4561, He made 4806 you alive 4806 together 4806 with Him, having forgiven 5483 us all 3956 our transgressions 3900,
14 having canceled 1813 out the certificate 5498 of debt 5498 consisting of decrees 1378 against 2596 us, which 3739 was hostile 5227 to us; and He has taken 142 it out of the way 3319, having nailed 4338 it to the cross 4716.
15 When He had disarmed 554 the rulers 746 and authorities 1849, He made 1165 a public 3954 display 1165 of them, having triumphed 2358 over 2358 them through 1722 Him.
16 ¶ Therefore 3767 no 3361 one 5100 is to act 2919 as your judge 2919 in regard to food 1035 or 2532 drink 4213 or 2228 in respect 3313 to a festival 1859 or 2228 a new 3501 moon 3501 or 2228 a Sabbath 4521 day--
17 things which 3739 are a {mere} shadow 4639 of what is to come 3195; but the substance 4983 belongs to Christ 5547.
18 Let no 3367 one 3367 keep defrauding 2603 you of your prize 2603 by delighting 2309 in self-abasement 5012 and the worship 2356 of the angels 32, taking 1687 his stand 1687 on {visions} he has seen 3708, inflated 5448 without 1500 cause 1500 by his fleshly 4561 mind 3563,
19 and not holding 2902 fast 2902 to the head 2776, from whom 3739 the entire 3956 body 4983, being supplied 2023 and held 4822 together 4822 by the joints 860 and ligaments 4886, grows 837 with a growth 838 which is from God 2316.
20 ¶ If 1487 you have died 599 with Christ 5547 to the elementary 4747 principles 4747 of the world 2889, why 5101, as if 5613 you were living 2198 in the world 2889, do you submit 1379 yourself to decrees 1379, such as,
21 "Do not handle 681, do not taste 1089, do not touch 2345!"
22 (which 3739 all 3956 {refer} {to} things destined to perish 5356 with use 671)--in accordance 2596 with the commandments 1778 and teachings 1319 of men 444?
23 These 3748 are matters 3056 which 3748 have 2192, to be sure 3303, the appearance 3056 of wisdom 4678 in self-made 1479 religion 1479 and self-abasement 5012 and severe 857 treatment 857 of the body 4983, {but are} of no value 5092 against 4314 fleshly 4561 indulgence 4140.

## Chapter 3

1

Put On the New Self

Therefore 3767 if 1487 you have been raised 4891 up with Christ 5547, keep seeking 2212 the things above 507, where 3757 Christ 5547 is, seated 2521 at the right 1188 hand 1188 of God 2316.
2 Set 5426 your mind 5426 on the things above 507, not on the things that are on earth 1093.
3 For you have died 599 and your life 2222 is hidden 2928 with Christ 5547 in God 2316.
4 When 3752 Christ 5547, who is our life 2222, is revealed 5319, then 5119 you also 2532 will be revealed 5319 with Him in glory 1391.
5 ¶ Therefore 3767 consider 3499 the members 3196 of your earthly 1093 body as dead 3499 to immorality 4202, impurity 167, passion 3806, evil 2556 desire 1939, and greed 4124, which 3748 amounts 1510 to idolatry 1495.
6 For it is because 1223 of these 3739 things 3739 that the wrath 3709 of God 2316 will come 2064 upon the sons 5207 of disobedience 545,
7 and in them you also 2532 once 4218 walked 4043, when 3753 you were living 2198 in them.
8 But now 3570 you also 2532, put 659 them all 3956 aside 659: anger 3709, wrath 2372, malice 2549, slander 988, {and} abusive 148 speech 148 from your mouth 4750.
9 Do not lie 5574 to one 240 another 240, since you laid 554 aside 554 the old 3820 self 444 with its {evil} practices 4234,
10 and have put 1746 on the new 3501 self 3501 who is being renewed 341 to a true 1922 knowledge 1922 according 2596 to the image 1504 of the One who created 2936 him--
11 {a renewal} in which 3699 there 1762 is no 3756 {distinction between} Greek 1672 and Jew 2453, circumcised 4061 and uncircumcised 203, barbarian 915, Scythian 4658, slave 1401 and freeman 1658, but Christ 5547 is all 3956, and in all 3956.
12 ¶ So 3767, as those who have been chosen 1588 of God 2316, holy 40 and beloved 25, put 1746 on a heart 4698 of compassion 3628, kindness 5544, humility 5012, gentleness 4240 and patience 3115;
13 bearing 430 with one 240 another 240, and forgiving 5483 each 1438 other 1438, whoever has 2192 a complaint 3437 against 4314 anyone 5100; just 2531 as the Lord 2962 forgave 5483 you, so 3779 also 2532 should you.
14 Beyond 1909 all 3956 these 3778 things 3778 {put on} love 26, which 3739 is the perfect 5047 bond 4886 of unity 4886.
15 Let the peace 1515 of Christ 5547 rule 1018 in your hearts 2588, to which 3739 indeed 2532 you were called 2564 in one 1520 body 4983; and be thankful 2170.
16 Let the word 3056 of Christ 5547 richly 4146 dwell 1774 within 1722 you, with all 3956 wisdom 4678 teaching 1321 and admonishing 3560 one 1438 another 1438 with psalms 5568 {and} hymns 5215 {and} spiritual 4152 songs 5603, singing 103 with thankfulness 5485 in your hearts 2588 to God 2316.
17 Whatever 3956 you do 4160 in word 3056 or 2228 deed 2041, {do} all 3956 in the name 3686 of the Lord 2962 Jesus 2424, giving 2168 thanks 2168 through 1223 Him to God 2316 the Father 3962.
18

Family Relations

¶ Wives 1135, be subject 5293 to your husbands 435, as is fitting 433 in the Lord 2962.
19 Husbands 435, love 25 your wives 1135 and do not be embittered 4087 against 4314 them.
20 Children 5043, be obedient 5219 to your parents 1118 in all 3956 things 3956, for this 3778 is well-pleasing 2101 to the Lord 2962.
21 Fathers 3962, do not exasperate 2042 your children 5043, so 2443 that they will not lose 120 heart 120.
22 ¶ Slaves 1401, in all 3956 things 3956 obey 5219 those 3588 who are your masters 2962 on earth 4561, not with external 3787 service 3787, as those who 441 {merely} please 441 men 441, but with sincerity 572 of heart 2588, fearing 5399 the Lord 2962.
23 Whatever you do 4160, do 2038 your work 2038 heartily 5590, as for the Lord 2962 rather 3756 than for men 444,
24 knowing 3609 that from the Lord 2962 you will receive 618 the reward 469 of the inheritance 2817. It is the Lord 2962 Christ 5547 whom you serve 1398.
25 For he who does 91 wrong 91 will receive 2865 the consequences of the wrong 91 which 3739 he has done 91, and that without 3756 partiality 4382.

## Chapter 4

1

Fellow Workers

Masters 2962, grant 3930 to your slaves 1401 justice 1342 and fairness 2471, knowing 3609 that you too 2532 have 2192 a Master 2962 in heaven 3772.
2 ¶ Devote 4342 yourselves 4342 to prayer 4335, keeping 1127 alert 1127 in it with {an attitude of} thanksgiving 2169;
3 praying 4336 at the same 260 time 260 for us as well 2532, that God 2316 will open 455 up to us a door 2374 for the word 3056, so that we may speak 2980 forth 2980 the mystery 3466 of Christ 5547, for which 3739 I have also 2532 been imprisoned 1210;
4 that I may make 5319 it clear 5319 in the way 5613 I ought 1163 to speak 2980.
5 ¶ Conduct 4043 yourselves 4043 with wisdom 4678 toward 4314 outsiders, making 1805 the most 1805 of the opportunity 2540.
6 Let your speech 3056 always 3842 be with grace 5485, {as though} seasoned 741 with salt 217, so that you will know 3609 how 4459 you should 1163 respond 611 to each 1538 person 1520.
7 ¶ As to all 3956 my affairs, Tychicus 5190, {our} beloved 27 brother 80 and faithful 4103 servant 1249 and fellow 4889 bond-servant 4889 in the Lord 2962, will bring 1107 you information 1107.
8 {For} I have sent 3992 him to you for this 3778 very 846 purpose, that you may know 1097 about 4012 our circumstances and that he may encourage 3870 your hearts 2588;
9 and with him Onesimus 3682, {our} faithful 4103 and beloved 27 brother 80, who 3739 is one of your {number.} They will inform 1107 you about the whole 3956 situation here 5602.
10 ¶ Aristarchus 708, my fellow 4869 prisoner 4869, sends 782 you his greetings 782; and {also} Barnabas's 921 cousin 431 Mark 3138 (about 4012 whom 3739 you received 2983 instructions 1785; if 1437 he comes 2064 to you, welcome 1209 him);
11 and {also} Jesus 2424 who is called 3004 Justus 2459; these 3778 are the only 3441 fellow 4904 workers 4904 for the kingdom 932 of God 2316 who are from the circumcision 4061, and they have proved 1096 to be an encouragement 3931 to me.
12 Epaphras 1889, who 3588 is one of your number 4771, a bondslave 1401 of Jesus 2424 Christ 5547, sends 782 you his greetings 782, always 3842 laboring 75 earnestly 75 for you in his prayers 4335, that you may stand 2476 perfect 5046 and fully 4135 assured 4135 in all 3956 the will 2307 of God 2316.
13 For I testify 3140 for him that he has 2192 a deep 4183 concern 4192 for you and for those 3588 who are in Laodicea 2993 and Hierapolis 2404.
14 Luke 3065, the beloved 27 physician 2395, sends 782 you his greetings 782, and {also} Demas 1214.
15 Greet 782 the brethren 80 who are in Laodicea 2993 and also Nympha 3564 and the church 1577 that is in her house 3624.
16 When 3752 this 3588 letter 1992 is read 314 among 3844 you, have 4160 it also 2532 read 314 in the church 1577 of the Laodiceans 2994; and you, for your part read 314 my letter {that is coming} from Laodicea 2993.
17 Say 3004 to Archippus 751, "Take 991 heed 991 to the ministry 1248 which 3739 you have received 3880 in the Lord 2962, that you may fulfill 4137 it."
18 ¶ I, Paul 3972, write this 3588 greeting 783 with my own 1699 hand 5495. Remember 3421 my imprisonment 1199. Grace 5485 be with you.