CHAPTER ONE: 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, 2 Grace and peace from God our Father to you, the righteous people of God at Colossae, who are also my devoted brothers and sisters in Christ. 3 When we pray for you, we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all God's people—5 faith and love that originate from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. Similarly, the gospel is producing fruit and increasing all throughout the world, just as it has been happening among you since the day you heard it and genuinely comprehended God's grace. 7 Epaphras, our cherished co-worker, taught you about the Good News. He is assisting us on your behalf and is Christ's obedient servant. 8 The love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you has been described to us by him. 9 Therefore, since the moment we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We humbly pray that God will provide you with full awareness of his will as well as spiritual insight and comprehension. 10 Your life will then bear all kinds of excellent fruit and will constantly honour and please the Lord. You will continue to advance as you get a deeper understanding of God. 11 We also pray that you will be fortified with all of God's magnificent power so that you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May your heart be filled with joy,12 and may you sincerely thank the father. He has given you the opportunity to partake in the heritage of his people who live in the light. 13 For he has freed us from the realm of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his loving Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.15 God is invisible, yet the Son is exactly like God. Everything that has been made is subject to his dominion. 16 All things, both visible and invisible, including all spiritual lords, forces, and authorities, were created through his might. Through and for him, everything was created. 17 The Son existed before all things were created. And he is the reason why everything keeps going. 18 He is the head of the body, which is the church. He is the starting point for everything else. And among everyone who will be raised from the dead, he is the first. Therefore, he is paramount in everything. 19 In fact, God was pleased to live in Christ in all of his fullness, 20 and it was through him that God made peace with everything. Through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, he established peace with everything in heaven and on earth. 21 This includes those of you who used to be far from God. You were his enemies because of the bad things that you thought and did. 22 But now, by the death of Christ in his human person, he has made peace with you. You are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault because he has brought you into his presence. 23 But you must proudly stand in this reality and maintain faith in it. Keep your focus on the confidence you were given when you heard the Good News. Paul has been chosen by God to serve as His steward in spreading the Good News, which has already been preached all across the world. 24 I rejoice when I suffer for you in my body because I am sharing in Christ's sufferings for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the obligation of serving his church by delivering his full message to you. 26 This message was kept hidden for decades and generations, but it has finally been disclosed to God's people. 27 God wants them to realize that Christ's riches and glory are also available to the Gentiles. And here's the deal: Christ lives within you. This assures you of sharing his glory. 28 So we inform people about Christ, warning and instructing them with all the knowledge God has given us. We want to present them to God as complete in their relationship with Christ. 29 That is why I work and battle so hard, relying on Christ's strong force that works inside me.
CHAPTER FOUR: 4 Be a good master to your servants by treating them appropriately. You are aware that your master is also in heaven. 2 Invest time in prayer every day. Focus your thoughts on what you are saying. Also, give thanks to God for his actions. 3 Talk to God about us as well. Ask him to make it possible for us to spread his message to the public. We desire to share the gospel of Christ according to God's design. My involvement in that plan is what put me in bars. 4 Please pray that I will communicate this message with the appropriate clarity. 5 Make the most of every chance and act properly while interacting with non-believers. 6 Maintain a polite and appealing tone in your discussion so that you may respond to everyone in the best way possible. 7 Tychicus will offer you an in-depth report on how I'm doing. He is a cherished brother and devoted helper who works with me in the Lord's service. 8 I sent him to you specifically to inform you of our progress and to encourage you. 9 I'm also sending Onesimus, a loyal and valued brother from your own people. He and Tychicus will inform you of everything going on here. 10 Aristarchus, who is jailed with me, as well as Mark, Barnabas's cousin, convey their sincere regards to you. Make Mark feel welcome if he comes your way, as previously instructed. 11 Jesus, also known as Justus, extends his greetings. They are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers, and we are both labouring here for the Kingdom of God. They have been such a comfort, too! 12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, offers you his warmest greetings. He constantly prays passionately for you, trusting that you are doing everything that God has commanded. He asks God to make you strong and excellent. 13 I can assure you that he is passionately praying for you and the believers at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the respected doctor, offers his greetings, as does Demas. 15 Please convey my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, as well as to Nympha and the church that meets in her home. 16 After you have read this letter, send it to the church in Laodicea so they can read it as well. You should also read the letter I sent them. 17 And tell Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the ministry that the Lord has given you." 18 Paul is my personal signature as I sign off. Keep me in your prayers while I'm in this prison. God's grace be with you.
CHAPTER TWO: 2 I want you to know how much I have suffered for you, the church at Laodicea, and many other Christians who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and bound together by strong love bonds. I want them to be completely certain that they have grasped God's enigmatic plan, which is Christ himself. 3 All the treasures of wisdom and understanding are hidden inside him. 4 I'm telling you this so that no one may trick you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For even though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living your life as you should and that you have a strong trust in Christ. 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow into him, and your lives be founded on him. Then your confidence in the truth you were taught will become strong, and your joy will overflow. 8 Don't be taken in by hollow theories and high-sounding drivel that originate from human thought and the spiritual powers of this world rather than Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human form. 10 As a result of your union with Christ, who is the head of all rulers and authorities, you are also complete. 11 You were "circumcised" when you came to Christ, but not by a physical procedure. The removal of your sinful nature was accomplished by Christ via a spiritual circumcision. 12 Because when you were baptized, you died with Christ. You were given new life together with him because you put your faith in the omnipotent God who resurrected Christ from the grave. 13 Your sins and the fact that your sinful nature had not yet been removed caused you to be dead. As a result of Christ's atoning for all of our sins, God then made you alive with him. 14 He removed the record of the accusations made against us by nailing it on the cross. 15 He disarmed the spiritual authority in this manner. With his triumph over them on the cross, Christ publicly shamed them. 16 Therefore, don't let anybody criticize you for what you consume or for skipping particular holy days, new moon celebrations, or Sabbaths. 17 Because of the reality that has not yet come, these rules are but shadows. And that reality is Christ. 18 Don't allow somebody to cast you in a negative light by insisting on religious self-denial or the worship of angels while claiming to have seen visions of these things. They have become arrogant due to their wicked mentality, and they are not united with Christ, the body's head. Since the joints and ligaments that make up the entire body hold it together, and since God feeds it, the body expands. 20 You died with Christ, and in doing so, he has set you free from the demonic forces of this world. Why do you continue to follow the rules of the world, such as 21, "Don't handle! Taste not! "Don't touch!" Such rules are only human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 Because they demand fervent commitment, holy self-denial, and strict physical restraint, these rules may appear to be smart. But they provide no assistance in overcoming a person's wicked inclinations.
CHAPTER THREE: 3 Now that you have been raised to new life with Christ, fix your minds on the reality of heaven, where Christ sits in the position of honour at God's right hand. 2 Consider the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you have died to this life, and your true life is hidden in God with Christ. 4 Our life is Christ. When he returns and is seen, you will be seen with him. And you'll do marvellously well. 5 So, put to dead the things of this world that are in you. I'm talking about inappropriate sex, dirty things, a heart that is itching to do bad things, wanting what is wrong, and wanting what other people have. This final one is similar to worshiping an idol. 6 God's wrath is coming because of these transgressions. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still a part of this world. 8 But now is the time to let go of anger, malice, slander, and foul words. 9 Don't tell each other lies because you've shed your old sinful nature and all its bad acts. 10 Put on your new nature and be rejuvenated as you grow to know your Creator and become like him. 11 It makes no difference whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, primitive, uncivilized, slave or free in this new life. Christ is everything, and he dwells within every one of us. 12 Because God chose you to be his holy people, you must clothe yourself in kind-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Forgive those who upset you and make room for each other's shortcomings. Remember that just as the Lord forgave you, you must also forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourself in love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ reign in your hearts. You are called to live in harmony as members of one body. And be grateful at all times. 16 Let the richness of the gospel of Christ penetrate every aspect of your life. Use all the knowledge he gives to instruct and guide one another. Sing to God with thankful hearts as you sing hymns, spiritual songs, and psalms. 17 And in everything you say and do, speak, and act in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands as is suitable for individuals who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, cherish your wives and never treat them harshly. 20 Children, always obey your parents because it pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers do not offend your children, or they will grow frustrated. 22 Slaves, obey your worldly masters in whatever you do. Make an effort to please them all of the time, not just when they are looking. Because of your respectful fear of the Lord, serve them truly. 23 Work gladly at whatever you do as if you were doing it for the Lord rather than for humans. 24 Remember that the Lord will reward you with inheritance and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you act improperly, you will receive compensation for your wrongdoing. God is not a favouritism.