Greeting

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

² To the saints ^(B)and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:

^(C)Grace to you and peace from God our Father ^[a]and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Faith in Christ

^3 (D)We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ^4 (E)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of ^(F)your love for all the saints; ⁵ because of the hope ^(G)which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, ^(H)as it has also in all the world, and ^(I)is bringing forth ^[b]fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew ^(J)the grace of God in truth; ⁷ as you also learned from ^(K)Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is ^(L)a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, ⁸ who also declared to us your ^(M)love in the Spirit.

Preeminence of Christ

^9 (N)For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask ^(O)that you may be filled with ^(P)the knowledge of His will ^(Q)in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ^10 (R)that you may walk worthy of the Lord, ^(S)fully pleasing Him, ^(T)being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the ^(U)knowledge of God; ^11 (V)strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, ^(W)for all patience and longsuffering ^(X)with joy; ^12 (Y)giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of ^(Z)the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Character of the New Man

¹² Therefore, ^(A)as the elect of God, holy and beloved, ^(B)put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ^13 (C)bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ^14 (D)But above all these things ^(E)put on love, which is the ^(F)bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let ^(G)the peace of God rule in your hearts, ^(H)to which also you were called ^(I)in one body; and ^(J)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another ^(K)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And ^(L)whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home^(M)

^18 (N)Wives, submit to your own husbands, ^(O)as is fitting in the Lord.

^19 (P)Husbands, love your wives and do not be ^(Q)bitter toward them.

^20 (R)Children, obey your parents ^(S)in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

^21 (T)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

^22 (U)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ^23 (V)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ^24 (W)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; ^(X)for^[a] you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and ^(Y)there is no partiality.

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

4 Masters,^(Z) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

⁵ So I said:

Murder Begins in the Heart^(A)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those ^[a]of old, ^(B)‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that ^(C)whoever is angry with his brother ^[b]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ^(D)‘Raca!’^[c] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ^[d]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of ^[e]hell fire.

Adultery in the Heart

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said ^[a]to those of old, ^(A)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that whoever ^(B)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Qualities Needed in Trials

^19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, ^(A)slow to speak, ^(B)slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

A Word to Husbands

^7 (A)Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, ^(B)as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, ^(C)that your prayers may not be hindered.