266000000THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.
266001000CHAPTER 1 Redemption comes through Christ--He created all things, is in the image of God, and is the Firstborn of the Father.
266001001Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
266001002To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
266001003We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
266001004Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
266001005For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
266001006Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
266001007As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
266001008Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
266001009For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
266001010That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
266001011Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
266001012Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
266001013Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
266001014In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
266001015Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
266001016For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
266001017And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
266001018And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
266001019For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
266001020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
266001021And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
266001022In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
266001023If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
266001024Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
266001025Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
266001026Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
266001027To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
266001028Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
266001029Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
266002000CHAPTER 2 Fulness of Godhead dwells in Christ--Beware of deceit by traditions of men--The handwriting against us was nailed to cross of Christ.
266002001For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
266002002That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
266002003In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
266002004And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
266002005For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
266002006As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
266002007Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
266002008Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
266002009For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
266002010And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
266002011In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
266002012Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
266002013And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
266002014Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
266002015And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
266002016Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
266002017Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
266002018Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
266002019And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
266002020Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
266002021(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
266002022Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
266002023Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
266003000CHAPTER 3 Some lives are hid with God in Christ--Saints exhorted to be holy and to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
266003001If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
266003002Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
266003003For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
266003004When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
266003005Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
266003006For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
266003007In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
266003008But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
266003009Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
266003010And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
266003011Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
266003012Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
266003013Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
266003014And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
266003015And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
266003016Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
266003017And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
266003018Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
266003019Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
266003020Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
266003021Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
266003022Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
266003023And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
266003024Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
266003025But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
266004000CHAPTER 4 Saints exhorted to be wise in all things--Luke and others salute the Colossians.
266004001Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
266004002Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
266004003Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
266004004That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
266004005Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
266004006Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
266004007All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
266004008Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
266004009With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
266004010Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
266004011And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
266004012Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
266004013For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
266004014Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
266004015Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
266004016And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
266004017And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
266004018The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.