Colossians 1-4
New Living Translation
Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ.
May God our Father give you grace and peace.
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.[b] 8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,[c] 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom[d] and forgave our sins.
Christ Is Supreme
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,[e]
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.[f]
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Paul’s Work for the Church
24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect[g] in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
2 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.
Freedom from Rules and New Life 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 down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[h] of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[i] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.[j] 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed[k] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,[l] saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Living the New Life
3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[m] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[n] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[o] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[p] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Instructions for Christian Households
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.[q] 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.
4 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
An Encouragement for Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive[r] so that you will have the right response for everyone.
Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings
7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters[s] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
18 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
Remember my chains.
May God’s grace be with you.
Footnotes
- 1:2 Greek faithful brothers.
- 1:7 Or he is ministering on your behalf; some manuscripts read he is ministering on our behalf.
- 1:11 Or all the patience and endurance you need with joy.
- 1:14 Some manuscripts add with his blood.
- 1:15 Or He is the firstborn of all creation.
- 1:18 Or the firstborn from the dead.
- 1:28 Or mature.
- 2:8 Or the spiritual principles; also in 2:20.
- 2:9 Or in him dwells all the completeness of the Godhead bodily.
- 2:11 Greek the cutting away of the body of the flesh.
- 2:15 Or he stripped off.
- 2:18 Or or worshiping with angels.
- 3:4 Some manuscripts read our.
- 3:6 Some manuscripts read is coming on all who disobey him.
- 3:11a Greek a Greek.
- 3:11b Greek Barbarian, Scythian.
- 3:24 Or and serve Christ as your Master.
- 4:6 Greek and seasoned with salt.
- 4:15 Greek brothers.
Colossians 1-4
New American Standard Bible
Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments
1 (A)Paul, (B)an apostle of Christ Jesus [a](C)by the will of God, and (D)Timothy [b]our brother,
2 To the [c](E)saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: (F)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 (G)We [d]give thanks to God, (H)the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 (I)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the (J)love which you have [e]for (K)all the [f]saints; 5 because of the (L)hope (M)reserved for you in [g]heaven, of which you previously (N)heard in the word of truth, [h]the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as [i](O)in all the world also it is bearing (P)fruit and [j]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you (Q)heard it and [k]understood the grace of God in truth; 7 just as you learned it from (R)Epaphras, our (S)beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he also informed us of your (T)love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason we also, (U)since the day we heard about it, (V)have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the [l](W)knowledge of His will in all spiritual (X)wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will (Y)walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [m](Z)to please Him in all respects, (AA)bearing fruit in every good work and [n]increasing in the [o]knowledge of God; 11 (AB)strengthened with all power, according to [p]His glorious might, [q]for the attaining of all perseverance and [r]patience; (AC)joyously 12 giving thanks to (AD)the Father, who has qualified us [s]to share in (AE)the inheritance of the [t]saints in (AF)light.
The Incomparable Christ
13 [u]For He rescued us from the [v](AG)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [w](AH)His beloved Son, 14 (AI)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 [x]He is the (AJ)image of the (AK)invisible God, the (AL)firstborn of all creation: 16 for [y](AM)by Him all things were created, (AN)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (AO)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—(AP)all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [z](AQ)is before all things, and in Him all things [aa]hold together. 18 He is also the (AR)head of (AS)the body, the church; and He is (AT)the beginning, (AU)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [ab]it was (AV)the Father’s good pleasure for all (AW)the [ac]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to (AX)reconcile all things to Himself, (AY)whether things on earth or things in [ad]heaven, having made (AZ)peace through (BA)the blood of His cross.
21 And although you were (BB)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now (BC)reconciled you in His (BD)body of flesh through death, in order to (BE)present you before Him (BF)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in [ae]the faith firmly (BG)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the (BH)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed (BI)in all creation under heaven, (BJ)and of which I, Paul, [af]was made a [ag](BK)minister.
24 (BL)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh (BM)I am supplementing what is lacking [ah]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of (BN)His body, which is the church. 25 (BO)I [ai]was made a minister of this church according to the (BP)commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might [aj]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, (BQ)the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His [ak]saints, 27 to whom (BR)God willed to make known what (BS)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is (BT)Christ in you, the (BU)hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, (BV)admonishing every person and teaching every person [al]with all (BW)wisdom, so that we may (BX)present every person [am](BY)complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also (BZ)labor, (CA)striving (CB)according to His [an]power which [ao]works mightily within me.
You Are Built Up in Christ
2 For I want you to know how great a (CC)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at (CD)Laodicea, and for all those who have not [ap]personally seen my face, 2 that their (CE)hearts may be encouraged, having been (CF)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all (CG)the wealth [aq]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a (CH)true knowledge of (CI)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all (CJ)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 (CK)I say this so that no one will deceive you with (CL)persuasive arguments. 5 For even though I am (CM)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing [ar]to see [as]your (CN)orderly manner and the (CO)stability of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore, as you have received (CP)Christ Jesus the Lord, so [at](CQ)walk in Him, 7 having been firmly (CR)rooted and now being (CS)built up in Him and (CT)established [au]in [av]your faith, just as you (CU)were instructed, and overflowing [aw]with gratitude.
8 (CV)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through (CW)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the (CX)elementary principles of the world, [ax]rather than in accordance with Christ. 9 For in Him all the (CY)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been (CZ)made [ay]complete, and (DA)He is the head [az]over every (DB)ruler and authority; 11 and in Him (DC)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of (DD)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been (DE)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also (DF)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who (DG)raised Him from the dead. 13 And [ba]when you were (DH)dead [bb]in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He (DI)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled (DJ)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and (DK)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had [bc](DL)disarmed the (DM)rulers and authorities, He (DN)made a public display of them, having (DO)triumphed over them through [bd]Him.
16 Therefore, no one is to [be](DP)act as your judge in regard to (DQ)food and (DR)drink, or in respect to a (DS)festival or a (DT)new moon, or a (DU)Sabbath [bf]day— 17 things which are only a (DV)shadow of what is to come; but the [bg]substance [bh]belongs to Christ. 18 Take care that no one keeps [bi](DW)defrauding you of your prize by (DX)delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, [bj]taking his stand on visions he has seen, [bk](DY)inflated without cause by his (DZ)fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to (EA)the head, from whom (EB)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and [bl]ligaments, grows with a growth [bm]which is from God.
20 (EC)If you have died with Christ [bn]to the (ED)elementary principles of the world, (EE)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to (EF)decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer (EG)to things destined to perish [bo]with use)—in accordance with the (EH)commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the [bp]appearance of wisdom in [bq](EI)self-made religion and humility and (EJ)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against (EK)fleshly indulgence.
Put On the New Self
3 Therefore, if you have been (EL)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, (EM)seated at the right hand of God. 2 [br](EN)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have (EO)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, (EP)who is our life, is revealed, (EQ)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 (ER)Therefore, [bs]treat (ES)the parts of your earthly body as dead to (ET)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [bt]amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that (EU)the wrath of God is coming [bu]upon the [bv]sons of disobedience, 7 and (EV)in them you also once walked, when you were living [bw]in them. 8 But now you also, (EW)rid yourselves of all of them: (EX)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and (EY)obscene speech from your mouth. 9 [bx](EZ)Do not lie to one another, since you (FA)stripped off the old [by]self with its evil practices, 10 and have (FB)put on the new self, which is being [bz](FC)renewed to a true knowledge (FD)according to the image of the One who (FE)created it— 11 a renewal in which (FF)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, (FG)circumcised and uncircumcised, [ca](FH)barbarian, [cb]Scythian, (FI)slave, and free, but (FJ)Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been (FK)chosen of God, holy and beloved, (FL)put on a (FM)heart of compassion, kindness, (FN)humility, gentleness, and [cc](FO)patience; 13 (FP)bearing with one another, and (FQ)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; (FR)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is [cd](FS)the perfect bond of (FT)unity. 15 Let (FU)the peace of Christ, to which you were [ce]indeed called in (FV)one body, [cf]rule in your hearts; and [cg]be thankful. 16 Let (FW)the word of [ch]Christ richly dwell within you, [ci]with all wisdom (FX)teaching and admonishing [cj]one another (FY)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, (FZ)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 (GA)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (GB)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Family Relations
18 (GC)Wives, (GD)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 (GE)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 (GF)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing [ck]to the Lord. 21 (GG)Fathers, do not [cl]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.
22 [cm](GH)Slaves, obey those who are your [cn]human masters in everything, (GI)not with [co]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [cp]heartily, (GJ)as for the Lord and not for people, 24 (GK)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [cq]of (GL)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you (GM)serve. 25 For (GN)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [cr](GO)that without partiality.
4 Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, (GP)knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2 (GQ)Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time (GR)for us as well, that God will open up to us a (GS)door for (GT)the word, so that we may proclaim (GU)the mystery of Christ, for which I have also (GV)been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear (GW)in the way that I ought to proclaim it.
5 [cs](GX)Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward (GY)outsiders, [ct](GZ)making the most of the opportunity. 6 (HA)Your speech must always be [cu]with grace, as though seasoned with (HB)salt, so that you will know how you should (HC)respond to each person.
7 (HD)As to all my affairs, (HE)Tychicus, our (HF)beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. 8 (HG)For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may (HH)encourage your hearts; 9 [cv]and with him is (HI)Onesimus, our faithful and (HJ)beloved brother, (HK)who is one of your own. They will inform you about the whole situation here.
10 (HL)Aristarchus, my (HM)fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also (HN)Barnabas’ cousin Mark (about whom you received [cw]instructions; (HO)if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only (HP)fellow workers for the kingdom of God (HQ)who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12 (HR)Epaphras, (HS)who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always (HT)striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may [cx]stand [cy](HU)mature and [cz]fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has [da]a deep concern for you and for those who are in (HV)Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 (HW)Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and (HX)Demas does also. 15 Greet the brothers and sisters who are in (HY)Laodicea and also [db]Nympha and (HZ)the church that is in [dc]her house. 16 (IA)When [dd]this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, (IB)read [de]my letter that is coming from (IC)Laodicea. 17 Tell (ID)Archippus, “See to the (IE)ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may [df]fulfill it.”
18 [dg]I, Paul, (IF)write this greeting with my own hand. (IG)Remember my [dh](IH)imprisonment. (II)Grace be with you.
Footnotes
- Colossians 1:1 Lit through
- Colossians 1:1 Lit the
- Colossians 1:2 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Colossians 1:3 Or always give...praying for you
- Colossians 1:4 Or toward
- Colossians 1:4 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Colossians 1:5 Lit the heavens
- Colossians 1:5 Or of the gospel
- Colossians 1:6 Or it is in all the world also, bearing
- Colossians 1:6 Or spreading abroad
- Colossians 1:6 Or came to fully know
- Colossians 1:9 Or real knowledge
- Colossians 1:10 Lit unto all pleasing
- Colossians 1:10 Or growing by the knowledge
- Colossians 1:10 Or real knowledge
- Colossians 1:11 Lit the might of His glory
- Colossians 1:11 Lit unto all
- Colossians 1:11 Or patience with joy
- Colossians 1:12 Lit unto the portion of
- Colossians 1:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Colossians 1:13 Lit Who rescued
- Colossians 1:13 Lit authority
- Colossians 1:13 Lit the Son of His love
- Colossians 1:15 Lit Who is
- Colossians 1:16 Or in
- Colossians 1:17 Or has existed prior to
- Colossians 1:17 Or endure
- Colossians 1:19 Or all the fullness was pleased to dwell
- Colossians 1:19 I.e., fullness of deity
- Colossians 1:20 Lit the heavens
- Colossians 1:23 Or in faith
- Colossians 1:23 Lit became
- Colossians 1:23 Or servant
- Colossians 1:24 Lit of
- Colossians 1:25 Lit became
- Colossians 1:25 Lit make full the word of God
- Colossians 1:26 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Colossians 1:28 Lit in
- Colossians 1:28 Or perfect
- Colossians 1:29 Lit working
- Colossians 1:29 Lit in power
- Colossians 2:1 Lit in the flesh
- Colossians 2:2 Lit of the full assurance
- Colossians 2:5 Lit and seeing
- Colossians 2:5 Or your good order
- Colossians 2:6 Or lead your life
- Colossians 2:7 Or by
- Colossians 2:7 Or the faith
- Colossians 2:7 One early ms in it with
- Colossians 2:8 Lit and not
- Colossians 2:10 Lit full
- Colossians 2:10 Lit of
- Colossians 2:13 Or although
- Colossians 2:13 Or by reason of
- Colossians 2:15 Or divested Himself of
- Colossians 2:15 Or it; i.e., the cross
- Colossians 2:16 Lit judge you
- Colossians 2:16 Or days
- Colossians 2:17 Lit body
- Colossians 2:17 Lit of Christ
- Colossians 2:18 Or deciding against you
- Colossians 2:18 Or going into detail about
- Colossians 2:18 Or conceited
- Colossians 2:19 Lit bonds
- Colossians 2:19 Lit of God
- Colossians 2:20 Lit from
- Colossians 2:22 Or by being consumed
- Colossians 2:23 Lit report; Gr logos
- Colossians 2:23 Or would-be religion
- Colossians 3:2 Or Be intent on
- Colossians 3:5 Lit put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth
- Colossians 3:5 Lit is
- Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain upon the sons of disobedience
- Colossians 3:6 I.e., people opposed to God
- Colossians 3:7 Or among these
- Colossians 3:9 Or Stop lying
- Colossians 3:9 Lit person
- Colossians 3:10 Lit renovated
- Colossians 3:11 I.e., uncultured
- Colossians 3:11 I.e., a member of an ancient people near the Black Sea, often considered unrefined
- Colossians 3:12 I.e., forbearance toward others
- Colossians 3:14 Lit the uniting bond of perfection
- Colossians 3:15 Or also
- Colossians 3:15 Or be in control in
- Colossians 3:15 Or show yourselves thankful
- Colossians 3:16 One early ms the Lord
- Colossians 3:16 Or in
- Colossians 3:16 Or one another, singing with psalms...
- Colossians 3:20 Lit in
- Colossians 3:21 Or provoke to anger
- Colossians 3:22 I.e., slaves in first-century Roman culture
- Colossians 3:22 Lit masters according to flesh
- Colossians 3:22 I.e., working only when watched
- Colossians 3:23 Lit from the soul
- Colossians 3:24 I.e., consisting of
- Colossians 3:25 Lit there is no partiality
- Colossians 4:5 Lit Walk
- Colossians 4:5 Lit redeeming the time
- Colossians 4:6 Or gracious
- Colossians 4:9 Lit along with Onesimus
- Colossians 4:10 Or orders
- Colossians 4:12 Or stand firm
- Colossians 4:12 Or fully developed
- Colossians 4:12 Or made complete
- Colossians 4:13 Or much toil; or great pain
- Colossians 4:15 Or Nymphas (masc)
- Colossians 4:15 One early ms their
- Colossians 4:16 Lit the
- Colossians 4:16 Lit the
- Colossians 4:17 Or continually fulfill
- Colossians 4:18 Lit The greeting by my hand of Paul
- Colossians 4:18 Lit bonds
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
