To Christ's People at Colossae--the Brothers who are faithful to him: May God, our Father, bless you and give you peace.

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

Through the hope which is in store for you in heaven; knowledge of which was given to you before in the true word of the good news,

As it was given to you by Epaphras, our well-loved helper, who is a true servant of Christ for us,

That is why, from the day I first heard of it, I have never given up praying for you and asking God to fill you, through full spiritual wisdom and insight, with a clear knowledge of what his will is,

so that you may lead a life that is worthy of the Lord and give him entire satisfaction. May you be fruitful and increase in the doing of all good, as you thus know God!

and give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the inheritance of God's people in Light.

Who has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love;

Also, he is the head of the Body, that is, of the church, in virtue of his primacy as the first to be born from the dead ??that gives him pre-eminence over all.

If you keep yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

To whom God was pleased to give knowledge of the wealth of the glory of this secret among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

For it is my desire to give you news of the great fight I am making for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh;

And to you--dead as you once were in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your natural state--He has nevertheless given Life with Himself, having forgiven us all our transgressions.

And not joined to the Head, from whom all the body, being given strength and kept together through its joins and bands, has its growth with the increase of God.

If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Give your minds to the things that are above, not to the things that are on the earth.

and let the peace which Christ gives settle all questionings in your hearts, to which peace indeed you were called as belonging to His one Body; and be thankful.

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and let it be through Him that you give thanks to God the Father.

Being certain that the Lord will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the Lord Christ.

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Give yourselves to prayer at all times, keeping watch with praise;

And making prayer for us, that God may give us an open door for the preaching of the word, the secret of Christ, for which I am now in chains;

Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer.

As to all my affairs, Tychicus, who is a much-loved brother and faithful assistant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will give you all the information.

And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may have news of how we are, and so that he may give your hearts comfort;

And with him I have sent Onesimus, the true and well-loved brother, who is one of you. They will give you word of everything which is taking place here.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, wishes to be remembered to you; as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);

For I give witness of him that he has undergone much trouble for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

Say to Archippus, See that you do the work which the Lord has given you to do.

I, Paul, give you this word of love in my handwriting. Keep in memory that I am a prisoner. Grace be with you.