Chapter One
Paul, Jesus Christ's apostle through God's will and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colosse. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying continually for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love towards all the saints, through the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, which you heard of before in the word of truth of the joyful news, which has come to you, even as also to all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, even as also among you, from the day in which you heard and knew the grace of God in truth: even as also you have learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is Christ's faithful servant for you, who has also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Because of this we also, from the day in which we heard it, haven't stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so you may walk worthily of the Lord, pleasing to all, bringing forth fruit in every good work and growing into the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, to all endurance and long-suffering with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has made us fit for the share of the inheritance of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption by means of his blood, the remission of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. Because by him everything was created, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers: all things have been created by him and for him.
And he is before all, and all things subsist in him. And he is the head of the body - the assembly - who is the beginning, first born from the dead, so that he might be holding the first place in all things. Because in him all the fulness was pleased to dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself having made peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
And you being once alienated and enemies in mind, in wicked deeds, yet he has now reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and not indictable before him, if indeed you continue in the faith founded and firm, and not being moved away from the hope of the joyful news which you heard, which was proclaimed to all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, have become a minister.
Now I'm rejoicing in my sufferings for you and I'm fulfilling that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly, of which I've become a minister according to the administration of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from generations, but has now been made evident to his saints, to whom God wanted to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we announce, warning every person and teaching every person in all wisdom so that we may present every person perfect in Christ Jesus. To which I too am labouring, striving according to his working which works in me powerfully.
Chapter Two
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have about you and those in Laodicea, and as many as haven't seen my face in the flesh, so that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, in the knowledge of the mystery of God: both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. And I'm saying this so that no one may beguile you with persuasive talking. For even if I'm absent in the flesh, yet I'm with you in the Spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. So as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, having been rooted and being edified in him and being confirmed in the faith, even as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Look out in case there is anyone who makes a prey of you by means of philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ. For in him all the fulness of the Godhead is dwelling bodily, and you are fulfilled in him who is the head of all power and authority. In whom also you've been circumcised with a circumcision not performed by hand, in the putting off from the body the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism in which also you were raised together, through the faith of the performance of God who raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, having forgiven us all the offences, having blotted out the handwriting in the decrees against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the midst, having nailed it to the cross, having stripped the powers and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by it.
So don't let anyone judge you in respect of food or drink, or in respect of a feast or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is Christ's. Don't let anyone defraud you of the prize, choosing humility and a worship of angels, intruding into things which he hasn't seen, vainly puffed up in his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom all the body by the joints and bands, being supplied and knit together, increases with the increase of God.
So if you've died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as if living in the world do you subject yourself to dogmas? 'Don't touch, don't taste, don't handle' - which things are all to perish in the using according to the commandments and teachings of men, which have an appearance indeed of wisdom in voluntary worship and humility and severity of the body, not in any honour to the satisfaction of the flesh.
Chapter Three
So if you have been raised with Christ seek the things above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Care for the things above, not for the things on the earth. For you have died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, our life, appears, then you too will appear in glory with him.
So then mortify your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry - because of which things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience, among whom you too walked once when you were living in these things. But now you too put off all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, foul language out of your mouth. Don't lie to each other, having put off the old man together with his deeds, and having put on the new which is being renewed into knowledge according to the image of his creator, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, servant nor free, but Christ is all things and in all.
Put on then, as elect ones of God, holy and beloved, inner feelings of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with each other and forgiving each other, if anyone should have a complaint against anyone, even as Christ forgave you, so too do you.
And with all these things, love - which is the bond of fulfilment. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which you too are called in one body, and be thankful!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and warning each other, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. And every thing - whatever you do in word or in deed - do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the God and Father through him.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love the wives and don't be bitter towards them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, don't provoke your children - in case they are discouraged. Servants, obey in everything your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service like pleasers of men, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you'll receive the reward of the inheritance, for you're serving the Lord Christ! But the one doing wrong will be recompensed for what he did wrong, and there is no respect of persons.
Chapter Four
Masters give what is just and equal to servants, knowing that you have a master in heaven.
Continue steadfast in prayer watching in it with thanksgiving, praying at the same time also for us so that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, on account of which I have even been bound, so that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time. Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt so you may know how to answer each one.
Everything about me Tychicus will make known to you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, whom I sent to you for this very thing, so that he might know the things about you and might encourage your hearts, with Onesimus the faithful and beloved brother who is from you. They'll make known to you everything from here.
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you; and Mark, Barnabas's nephew - about whom you've received instructions - if he comes to you, receive him, and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only, fellow workers for the kingdom of God, who've been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is from you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always striving for you in prayers so that you may stand perfect and complete in every wish of God. For I bear witness for him that he has much zeal for you and for the ones in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Greet the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the assembly in his house. And when the letter is read among you, cause that it may also be read in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and the one from Laodicea you may read too. And say to Archippus, 'Look to the ministry which you've received in the Lord so that you fulfil it.'
The greeting of Paul by my own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you, truly.
To the Colossians, written from Rome by Tychicus and Onesimus
This translation,
from the Greek Text used for the 'Authorized' or 'King James' Version
Copyright © David Lawrie 1998
