Colossians 1-4 (English Standard Version)

Colossians 1

Greeting

 ¹Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus^(B) by the will of God, and Timothy^(C) our brother,

 ²To the^(D) saints and faithful brothers^[a] in Christ at Colossae:

   

   ^(E) Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

 ^3(F) We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴since we heard of^(G) your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵because of^(H) the hope^(I) laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in^(J) the word of the truth, the gospel, ⁶which has come to you, as indeed^(K) in the whole world it is^(L) bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you^(M) heard it and understood^(N) the grace of God in truth, ⁷just as you learned it from^(O) Epaphras our beloved^(P) fellow servant.^[b] He is a faithful minister of Christ on your^[c] behalf ⁸and has made known to us your^(Q) love in the Spirit.

 ⁹And so,^(R) from the day we heard,^(S) we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that^(T) you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all^(U) spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰so as^(V) to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,^(W) fully pleasing to him,^(X) bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ^11(Y) May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for^(Z) all endurance and patience^(AA) with joy, ^12(AB) giving thanks^[d] to the Father, who has qualified you^[e] to share in^(AC) the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³He^(AD) has delivered us from^(AE) the domain of darkness and transferred us to^(AF) the kingdom of^(AG) his beloved Son, ^14(AH) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

 ^15(AI) He is the image of^(AJ) the invisible God,^(AK) the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by^[f] him all things were created,^(AL) in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether^(AM) thrones or^(AN) dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created^(AO) through him and for him. ¹⁷And^(AP) he is before all things, and in him all things^(AQ) hold together. ¹⁸And^(AR) he is the head of the body, the church. He is^(AS) the beginning,^(AT) the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹For^(AU) in him all the^(AV) fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and^(AW) through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,^(AX) making peace^(AY) by the blood of his cross.

 ^21(AZ) And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind,^(BA) doing evil deeds, ²²he has now reconciled^(BB) in his body of flesh by his death,^(BC) in order to present you holy and blameless and^(BD) above reproach before him, ^23(BE) if indeed you continue in the faith,^(BF) stable and steadfast, not shifting from^(BG) the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed^(BH) in all creation^[g] under heaven,^(BI) and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul’s Ministry to the Church

 ²⁴Now^(BJ) I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh^(BK) I am filling up^(BL) what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions^(BM) for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ^25(BN) of which I became a minister according to^(BO) the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ^26(BP) the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ^27(BQ) To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are^(BR) the riches of the glory of^(BS) this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(BT) the hope of glory. ²⁸Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that^(BU) we may present everyone^(BV) mature in Christ. ²⁹For this^(BW) I toil,^(BX) struggling^(BY) with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Colossians 2

 ¹For I want you to know^(BZ) how great a^(CA) struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ²that^(CB) their hearts may be encouraged, being^(CC) knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of^(CD) God’s mystery, which is Christ, ^3(CE) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I say this in order^(CF) that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵For^(CG) though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your^(CH) good order and^(CI) the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

 ^6(CJ) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ^7(CK) rooted and^(CL) built up in him and^(CM) established in the faith, just^(CN) as you were taught, abounding^(CO) in thanksgiving.

 ⁸See to it that no one takes you captive by^(CP) philosophy and^(CQ) empty deceit, according to^(CR) human tradition, according to the^(CS) elemental spirits^[h] of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹For^(CT) in him the whole fullness of deity dwells^(CU) bodily, ¹⁰and^(CV) you have been filled in him, who is^(CW) the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹In him also^(CX) you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by^(CY) putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ^12(CZ) having been buried with him in baptism, in which^(DA) you were also raised with him through faith in^(DB) the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ^13(DC) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God^(DD) made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴by^(DE) canceling^(DF) the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ^15(DG) He disarmed the rulers and authorities^[i] and^(DH) put them to open shame, by^(DI) triumphing over them in him.^[j]

Let No One Disqualify You

 ¹⁶Therefore let no one^(DJ) pass judgment on you^(DK) in questions of food and drink, or with regard to^(DL) a festival or^(DM) a new moon or a Sabbath. ^17(DN) These are a shadow of the things to come, but^(DO) the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸Let no one^(DP) disqualify you,^(DQ) insisting on asceticism and worship of angels,^(DR) going on in detail about visions,^[k](DS) puffed up without reason by^(DT) his sensuous mind, ¹⁹and^(DU) not^(DV) holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

 ²⁰If with Christ^(DW) you died to the^(DX) elemental spirits of the world,^(DY) why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ^21(DZ) "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" ²²(^(EA) referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to^(EB) human precepts and teachings? ²³These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in^(EC) promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are^(ED) of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 3

Put On the New Self

 ^1(EE) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek^(EF) the things that are above, where Christ is,^(EG) seated at the right hand of God. ^2(EH) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³For^(EI) you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ^(EJ) who is your^[l] life^(EK) appears, then you also will appear with him^(EL) in glory.

 ^5(EM) Put to death therefore^(EN) what is earthly in you:^[m](EO) sexual immorality, impurity,^(EP) passion, evil desire, and covetousness,^(EQ) which is idolatry. ^6(ER) On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^{[n] 7(ES)} In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸But now^(ET) you must put them all away:^(EU) anger, wrath, malice,^(EV) slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ^9(EW) Do not lie to one another, seeing that^(EX) you have put off^(EY) the old self^[o] with its practices ¹⁰and^(EZ) have put on^(FA) the new self,^(FB) which is being renewed in knowledge^(FC) after the image of^(FD) its creator. ^11(FE) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^[p] free; but Christ is^(FF) all, and in all.

 ^12(FG) Put on then, as^(FH) God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,^(FI) compassionate hearts,^(FJ) kindness,^(FK) humility, meekness, and patience, ^13(FL) bearing with one another and,^(FM) if one has a complaint against another,^(FN) forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴And above all these put on^(FO) love, which^(FP) binds everything together in^(FQ) perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let^(FR) the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called^(FS) in one body. And^(FT) be thankful. ¹⁶Let^(FU) the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,^(FV) singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,^(FW) with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And^(FX) whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,^(FY) giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

 ^18(FZ) Wives, submit to your husbands, as^(GA) is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and^(GB) do not be harsh with them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents^(GC) in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²²Slaves,^[q] obey^(GD) in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[r] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ^23(GE) Whatever you do, work heartily,^(GF) as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴knowing that from the Lord^(GG) you will receive the inheritance as your reward.^(GH) You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Colossians 4

 ¹Masters, treat your slaves^[s] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

 ^2(GI) Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it^(GJ) with thanksgiving. ³At the same time, pray also for us, that God may^(GK) open to us a door for the word,^(GL) to declare the mystery of Christ,^(GM) on account of which I am in prison— ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

 ^5(GN) Walk in wisdom toward^(GO) outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶Let your speech always^(GP) be gracious,^(GQ) seasoned with salt,^(GR) so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

 ⁷Tychicus will tell you^(GS) all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant^[t] in the Lord. ⁸I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, ⁹and with him^(GT) Onesimus, our faithful and^(GU) beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

 ^10(GV) Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark^(GW) the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—^(GX) if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹and Jesus who is called^(GY) Justus.^(GZ) These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and^(HA) they have been a comfort to me. ^12(HB) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always^(HC) struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand^(HD) mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. ^14(HE) Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does^(HF) Demas. ¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers^[u] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and^(HG) the church in her house. ¹⁶And when^(HH) this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷And say to^(HI) Archippus, "See that you fulfill^(HJ) the ministry that you have received in the Lord."

 ¹⁸I, Paul,^(HK) write this greeting with my own hand.^(HL) Remember^(HM) my chains.^(HN) Grace be with you.