1 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother,

² To those who are at Colosse, saints and faithful brothers in Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you,

⁴ having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love toward all saints,

⁵ because of the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven; of which you have heard before by the Word of Truth, which is the Gospel.

⁶ It has come to you even as it has to all the world and is fruitful, as it was also among you from the day that you heard and truly knew the grace of God;

⁷ as you also learned from Epaphras (our dear fellow servant), who is for you a faithful minister of Christ.

⁸ He has also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this reason, we also (since the day we heard of it) do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be fulfilled with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

¹⁰ so that you might walk worthily of the Lord and please Him in all things, being fruitful in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of God;

¹¹ strengthened with all might through His glorious power, leading to all patience and endurance with joy;

¹² giving thanks to the Father Who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;

¹³ Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son

¹⁴ (in Whom we have redemption through His blood; that is, the forgiveness of sins).

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creation.

¹⁶ For by Him were all things created which are in Heaven and which are on Earth—things visible and invisible —whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

¹⁷ And He is before all things. And in Him all things consist.

¹⁸ And He is the Head of the body of the Church. He is the Beginning; Firstborn from the dead; so that in all things He might have preeminence.

¹⁹ For in Him was all fullness pleased to dwell.

²⁰ And through Him were all things reconciled to Himself, having made peace by the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on Earth or things in Heaven.

²¹ And you also - who were in times past estranged and hostile because your minds were set on evil works - He has now reconciled

²² in the body of His flesh through death; to present you as holy and blameless and beyond reproach in His sight

²³ if you continue to be grounded and established in the faith and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you have heard (having been preached to all creation under Heaven, and to which I, Paul, am a minister).

²⁴ Now, I rejoice in my sufferings for you and fulfill in my flesh the rest of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake (which is the Church

²⁵ and whereof I am a minister) according to the dispensation of God which has been given me toward you to fulfill the Word of God;

²⁶ and which is the mystery hidden from all ages and generations and now made visible to his saints;

²⁷ to whom God would make known the riches of His glorious mystery among the Gentiles – which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory;

²⁸ Whom we preach, admonishing everyone, and teaching everyone in all wisdom, that we may present everyone complete in Christ Jesus.

²⁹ Toward this I also toil, striving according to His miraculous power working in me.

3 If you, then, are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.

² Set your mind on things which are above, not on things which are on the Earth.

³ For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.

⁴ When Christ (Who is your life) is revealed, then you shall also be revealed with Him in Glory.

⁵ Therefore, mortify those parts of your body which are of the Earth: fornication, impurity, depraved passions, lust, and covetousness (which is idolatry),

⁶ for the sake of which things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience;

⁷ and wherein also you once walked when you lived in them.

⁸ But now, however, take all these things out of your mouth also: anger, wrath, malice, slander, foul language.

⁹ Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds

¹⁰ and having put on the new (who is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created him).

¹¹ There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but all, and in all, is Christ.

¹² Now, therefore, as the Elect of God, holy and beloved, put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a quarrel with another, even as Christ forgave, so do you.

¹⁴ And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of complete unity.

¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body. And be thankful.

¹⁶ Let the Word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with a grace in your hearts to God.

¹⁷ And whatever you shall do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as it is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered toward them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for that is well-pleasing to the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

²² Servants, in all things, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service as man-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

²³ And whatever you do, work from your soul, as to the Lord, and not to man,

²⁴ knowing that you shall receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

²⁵ But the one who does wrong shall be repaid for the wrong that he has done. And there is no respect of persons.

2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and affection,

² fulfill my joy; so that you are like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one judgment.

³ So that nothing is done through self-interest or empty pride. But that in humility, everyone thinks others better than himself.

⁴ Do not be preoccupied with your own things, but rather with the things of others.

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus;

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, did not eagerly desire equality with God as a prize.

⁷ But He emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant (and the likeness of a man, having been made).

⁸ He humbled Himself and became obedient to the death - even the death of the cross.

⁹ Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name above every name,

¹⁰ so that at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow—in Heaven, and on Earth, and under the Earth—

¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me - not only in my presence, but now much more so in my absence - work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

¹³ For it is God who works in you - both in your will and in your works - according to His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and pure children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a perverted and crooked nation (among whom you shine as lights in the world).

¹⁶ Hold forth the Word of life, so that I may rejoice on the day of Christ that I have not run for nothing or labored for nothing.

¹⁷ Indeed, and though I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all!

¹⁸ And likewise also, you be glad and rejoice with me!

¹⁹ And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.

²⁰ For I have no one of like mind who will faithfully care for your matters.

²¹ For all seek their own, and not that which is Jesus Christ’s.

²² But you know the proof of him who, as a child with his father, has served with me in the Gospel.

²³ Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I know how it will go with me.

²⁴ And I trust in the Lord that I, myself, shall also come shortly.

²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you my brother, fellow laborer, and fellow soldier, Epaphroditus (who is now your messenger and minister to my needs).

²⁶ For he longed after all of you, and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick.

²⁷ And no doubt he was sick, very near to death. But God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, so that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow.

²⁸ Therefore, I sent him all the more speedily, so that when you would see him again you might rejoice and I might be the less sorrowful.

²⁹ Therefore, receive him in the Lord with all joy. And value such men highly.

³⁰ Because he was near death for the work of Christ and did not regard his life, to fulfill that service which was lacking on your part toward me.

4 Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and my crown, so continue in the Lord, beloved.

² I encourage Euodia and I encourage Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

³ Indeed and I ask you also, faithful colleague, to help these women who labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other of my fellow laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again, rejoice!

⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is near!

⁶ Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, let your requests be made known to God in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.

⁷ And the peace of God - which surpasses all understanding - shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever things are true; whatever things are noble; whatever things are right; whatever things are pure; whatever things are lovely; whatever things are admirable; if there is any excellence or if there is any praise, think on these things.

⁹ That, also, which you have learned and received, and have heard and understood in me, those things do. And the God of Peace shall be with you.

¹⁰ But, I also rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last your care for me springs afresh. Though you did care before, you lacked opportunity.

¹¹ I do not speak because of need. For I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.

¹² Also, I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. Everywhere, and in all things, I have learned the secret of being full and of being hungry; of abounding and of having need.

¹³ I have strength for all things through Christ Who empowers me.

¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.

¹⁵ And you, Philippians, also know that in the beginning of the Gospel (when I departed from Macedonia) no church partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you.

¹⁶ For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent once and then again for my needs.

¹⁷ Not that I desire a gift. But I desire the fruit which overflows to your account.

¹⁸ However, I have received all and have plenty. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus that which came from you - a sweet-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and well-pleasing to God.

¹⁹ And my God will fulfill all your needs through His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ Now, to God our Father be praise for ever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet all the Saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.

²² All the saints greet you, and most of all those who are of Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

(written to the Philippians from Rome and sent by Epaphroditus.)