1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by [the] will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2  To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and YHWH Jesus Christ.

2  To those who are at Colosse, holy brethren and believers in Jesus Christ: Peace be with you, and grace from God our Father and our LORD Jesus Christ.

3  We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

3  Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying for you always.

3  Always we give thanks to God, the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, and always we pray for you,

4  when we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love which is towards all the saints;

4  having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,

4  Since we heard of your faith in Jesus Christ, and of your love for all the saints,

5  because of the hope being laid up for you in [the] heavens, in which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

5  For the hope which is preserved for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the true word of the gospel;

6  which has come to you, just as also in all the world, and is bearing fruit and growing, just as also among you, from the day which you heard and fully knew the grace of God in truth;

6  This has reached you, just as it is present in the whole world, where it grows and bears fruit, as it has also done in you, since the day when you first heard and knew the grace of God in truth,

7  just as also you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you,

7  even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

8  who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

8  And he has also manifested to us your love in the Spirit.

8  And who has made known to us your love for spiritual things.

9  On account of this we also, since the day we heard, do not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

9  Then, too, from the day when we first heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and requesting that you be filled with the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

10  that you should walk worthy of YHWH, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit and increasing in the full knowledge of God;

10  to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

10  so that you may walk in a manner worthy of God, being pleasing in all things, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God,

11  being strengthened with all power, according to the might of His glory, for all endurance and longsuffering with joy;

11  And be strengthened with all might, according to the greatness of his glory, in all patience and longsuffering,

11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

12  So that you may joyfully give thanks to God the Father, who has enlightened us and made us worthy partakers of the inheritance of the saints;

13  He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

13  And has delivered us from the power of darkness, and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son

14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

14  By whom we have obtained salvation and forgiveness of sins.

15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,

16  because by Him all things were created, those in the heavens and those on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.

16  For in him was created everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and in him.

16  And through him were created all things that are in heaven, and on earth, visible and invisible; whether imperial thrones, or lordships, or angelic orders, or dominions, all things were in his hand and were created by him

17  And He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together.

18  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things He may have the preeminence;

19  for it pleased [the Father that] in Him all the fullness should dwell,

19  For the Father is well-pleased that all fullness reside in him,

19  For it pleased God to complete all things in him;

20  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

20  And by his hand to reconcile everything to himself; and through his blood shed on the cross made peace both for those who dwell on earth and for those who dwell in heaven.

21  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

21  Even to you, who in times past were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil works, has been given peace,

22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach before Him-

22  yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him

22  Through the sacrifice of his body and his death, so that he may raise you before him, holy, and without reproach and blameless

23  if indeed you continue in the faith, having been founded and firm and not drifting away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was proclaimed to all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

23  So then, continue in the faith: well-founded and steadfast and immovable, by the hope of the Gospel that you have heard, which has been preached throughout all creation under heaven, the Gospel of which I, Paul, have become a minister.

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;

24  I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for His body, which is the church,

24  For now I rejoice in my passion on your behalf, and I complete in my flesh the things that are lacking in the Passion of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the Church.

24  And now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and make up that which is lacking of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh for his bodyÆs sake, which is the church

25  of which I became a minister according to the stewardship of God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

25  For I have become a minister of the Church, according to the dispensation of God that has been given to me among you, so that I may fulfill the Word of God,

26  the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from generations, but now was revealed to His saints.

26  [even] the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,

27  To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;

28  whom we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;

28  We are announcing him, correcting every man and teaching every man, with all wisdom, so that we may offer every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

28  Him we preach, and teach, and make known to every man in all wisdom, that we may bring up every man perfect through Jesus Christ;

29  for which I also labor, striving according to His working which is working in me with power.

29  And to this end, I labour and strive through the help of the power which is given to me.

2:1  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have concerning you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

1  I WOULD that you knew how I struggled for your sakes and for the sake of those who are at La-od-i-ceÆa, and for the rest who have not seen me personally;

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 may be encouraged, being joined together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to a full knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

2  May their hearts be consoled and instructed in charity, with all the riches of a plenitude of understanding, with knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus.

2:3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

2:4  Now this I say lest anyone may deceive you with persuasive words.

4  And I say this, so that no man may beguile you with enticing words.

2:5  For though indeed I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your orderliness and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

5  For though I may be absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit. And I rejoice as I gaze upon your order and its foundation, which is in Christ, your faith.

2:6  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus YHWH, so walk in Him,

6  Just as you have therefore accepted Jesus Christ our LORD, so you must be led by him

2:7  having been rooted and built up in Him and being established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

7  rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

7  Be rooted and continually built up in Christ. And be confirmed in the faith, just as you have also learned it, increasing in him with acts of thanksgiving.

2:8  Beware lest anyone captures you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

8  Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ

8  See to it that no one deceives you through philosophy and empty falsehoods, as found in the traditions of men, in accord with the influences of the world, and not in accord with Christ.

2:9  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

2:10  and you are completed in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

10  And in him, you have been filled; for he is the head of all principality and power.

10  And it is through him that you also have been made complete, for he is the head of all angelic orders and powers

2:11  In whom you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

11  In him also, you have been circumcised with a circumcision not made by hand, not by the despoiling of the body of flesh, but by the circumcision of Christ.

11  In whom also you are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in putting off the sinful body by the circumcision of Christ

2:12  having been buried together with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised together through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

12  You have been buried with him in baptism. In him also, you have risen again through faith, by the work of God, who raised him up from the dead.

2:13  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

13  And when you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he enlivened you, together with him, forgiving you of all transgressions,

13  And you, who once were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has granted to live with him, and he has forgiven you all your sins;

2:14  having blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross.

14  And by his commandments he cancelled the written bond of our sins, which stood against us; and he took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

2:15  [And h]aving disarmed principalities and powers, He mocked them in public, triumphing over them in it.

15  having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

2:16  Therefore do not let anyone judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or of a new moon or of sabbaths,

16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day

16  Let no man therefore create a disturbance among you about eating and drinking, or about the division of the feast days, the beginning of the months and the day of the sabbath

2:17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

17  For these are a shadow of the future, but the body is of Christ.

17  These are shadows of things to come; but the main objective is Christ.

2:18  Let no one rule against you, desiring [to do so] in [false] humility and in worship of the angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, in vain being puffed up by his carnal mind,

2:19  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, supported and joined together by joints and ligaments, grows with the growth of God.

19  That very person does not uphold the Head by which the whole body is constructed and stands with the joints and members; and grows through the discipline of God.

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  If you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you submit to regulations-

20  So then, if you have died with Christ to the influences of this world, why do you still make decisions as if you were living in the world?

20  Therefore, if you have died with Christ and are apart from the principles of the world why then should you be doomed as though living in the world?

2:21  "Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch,"

21  Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle these things,

21  Touch not; taste not; handle not;

2:22  which things are all for corruption with the using, according to the commands and teaching of men?

22  (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

22  For these things are customs which are changeable and they are the commandments and doctrines of men.

2:23  These things indeed have a reputation of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and severity [on the] body, but [are] not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

23  And it appears there is some word of wisdom in these things when presented by the humble person in fear of God; provided they disregard the things of the flesh, not those things which are honourable but only those things which satisfy the pleasure of the flesh.

3:1  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at [the] right [hand] of God.

1  Therefore, if you have risen together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

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 mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

2  Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.

3:3  For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.

3:4  Whenever Christ [who is] our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

4  When Christ, [who is] our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

4  When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

3:5  Therefore put to death your members on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.

5  Therefore, mortify your body, while it is upon the earth. For because of fornication, impurity, lust, evil desires, and avarice, which are a kind of service to idols,

5  Mortify therefore your earthly members: immorality, uncleanness, intemperate desires, evil lusts, and covetousness, for these are idolatry;

3:6  Because of which things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience,

6  the wrath of God has overwhelmed the sons of unbelief.

3:7  in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

7  You, too, walked in these things, in times past, when you were living among them.

3:8  But now you yourselves are to put off all [these]: wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

8  But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth.

8  But now put off from you all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, foul conversation.

3:9  Do not lie to one another, since you have stripped off the old man with his practices,

9  lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,

9  Do not lie one to another, but put away the old life with all its practices;

3:10  and have put on the new man who is renewed in full knowledge according to the image of Him who created it,

10  and clothe yourself with the new man, who has been renewed by knowledge, in accord with the image of the One who created him,

10  And put on the new life which is renewed in knowledge after the pattern in which it was originally created

3:11  where there is not Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

11  where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, servant nor free. Instead, Christ is everything, in everyone.

3:12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience;

12  Put on therefore, as God`s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

3:13  forbearing one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone should have a complaint against any; just as Christ forgave you, so you also [do].

13  Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do.

3:14  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

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 which also you were called in one body; and be 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 YHWH.

16  And let his word dwell in you abundantly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.

3:17  And whatever you may do in word or deed, do all things in the name of YHWH Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

17  Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

3:18  Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as is fitting in YHWH.

18  Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.

3:19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

3:20  Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing in YHWH.

3:21  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

3:22  Bondservants, obey your masters according to the flesh in all things, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

22  Servants, obey, in all things, your lords according to the flesh, not serving only when seen, as if to please men, but serving in simplicity of heart, fearing God.

3:23  And whatever you may do, work [it] from your soul, as to YHWH and not to men,

23  whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

3:24  knowing that from YHWH you will receive the reward of the inheritance. For you serve the Lord Christ.

24  For you know that you will receive from the Lord the repayment of an inheritance. Serve Christ the Lord.

3:25  But the [one] doing wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is not partiality.

25  For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

25  For whoever causes injury shall be repaid for what he has wrongfully done. And there no favoritism with God.

4:1  Masters, provide to your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in [the] heavens.

1  You masters, supply your servants with what is just and equitable, knowing that you, too, have a Master in heaven.

4:2  Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

2  Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;

2  Pursue prayer. Be watchful in prayer with acts of thanksgiving.

4:3  praying at the same time also for us, that God would open a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, because of which I am also in chains,

3  And pray for us also, that God may open unto us a door for preaching, to speak the mystery of Christ for whose sake I am a prisoner

4:4  that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

4  so that I may manifest it in the manner that I ought to speak.

4:5  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

5  Live wisely in peace with those who are outside the church, and avoid offending.

4:6  Let your word always be with grace, having been seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer each [one].

6  Let your speech be ever graceful, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to respond to each person.

6  Let your conversation be gracious, seasoned with salt, and you should know how to answer every man.

4:7  Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister, and fellow servant in YHWH, will tell you all things about me.

7  All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord

7  As for the things that concern me, Tychicus, a most beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you.

4:8  I am sending him to you for this very thing, that he may know your circumstances, and he may encourage your hearts,

8  whom I have sent you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts;

8  I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that he may know the things that concern you, and may console your hearts,

4:9  with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all the things[ happening] here.

9  together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that [are done] here.

4:10  Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, receive him),

4:11  and Jesus who is called Justus. These alone are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

11  and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only [are my] fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.

4:12  Epaphras greets you, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, always struggling for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and complete in all the will of God.

12  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

4:13  For I bear him witness that he has much zeal for you, and those in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

13  For I offer testimony to him, that he has labored greatly for you, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for those at Hierapolis.

13  For I can testify concerning him, that he has a great zeal for you, and for those who are in La-od-i-ceÆa and Hi-e-rapÆo-lis.

4:14  Luke the beloved physician greets you, also Demas.

14  Luke, a most beloved physician, greets you, as does Demas.

4:15  Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church in his house.

15  Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church that is in their house.

15  Salute the brethren in La-od-i-ceÆa, and salute Nym-phas and his family and the congregation that meets at his house.

4:16  And whenever this letter is read before you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the [one] from Laodicea.

4:17  And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you received in YHWH, that you fulfill it."

17  And tell Archippus: “See to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, in order to fulfill it.”

4:18  This greeting [is] by my [own] hand-Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

18  The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.