Colossians

Colossians exalts Christ's supremacy over all creation and warns against false teaching that diminishes His sufficiency for salvation and spiritual life. Paul gives thanks for the Colossians' faith in Christ Jesus and love for all the saints, based on the hope laid up for them in heaven, which they heard about in the word of truth, the gospel bearing fruit and growing throughout the world. Paul prays they may be filled with knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work, increasing in knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might for endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father who qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He delivered believers from the domain of darkness and transferred them to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom they have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. By Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, making peace by the blood of His cross. The Colossians were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, but now He has reconciled them in His body of flesh by His death, to present them holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed they continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel. Paul became a minister of this gospel to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints—Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Paul warns and teaches everyone with all wisdom that he may present everyone mature in Christ, toiling and struggling with all His energy that powerfully works within Paul. Paul wants them to know how great a struggle he has for them and for those at Laodicea and for all who haven't seen him face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Paul says this so that no one may delude them with plausible arguments. Though absent in body, he's with them in spirit, rejoicing to see their good order and the firmness of their faith in Christ.

Therefore, as they received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, abounding in thanksgiving. See that no one takes them captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and they have been filled in Him who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him they were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, putting off the body of flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which they were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God who raised Him from the dead.

God made them alive together with Him, having forgiven all their trespasses, canceling the record of debt that stood against them with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities, putting them to open shame, triumphing over them in Him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on them in questions of food and drink, or regarding a festival or new moon or Sabbath.

These are a shadow of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify them, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by a sensuous mind, not holding fast to the Head from whom the whole body grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ they died to the elemental spirits of the world, why do they submit to regulations—do not handle, do not taste, do not touch—referring to things that perish as they are used, according to human precepts and teachings? These have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

If then they have been raised with Christ, seek the things above where Christ is, seated at God's right hand. Set minds on things above, not on earthly things. For they have died, and their life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is their life appears, they also will appear with Him in glory.

Put to death what is earthly—sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these they once walked when living in them. But now put them all away—anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk from mouth, not lying to one another, seeing that they've put off the old self with its practices and put on the new self, being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all. Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other as the Lord forgave you. Above all put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of Christ rule in hearts.

Be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives submit to husbands as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands love wives and don't be harsh with them. Children obey parents in everything. Fathers don't provoke children. Bondservants obey earthly masters in everything with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord, working heartily as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

You are serving the Lord Christ. The wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters treat bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Pray that God may open a door for the word. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person. Paul sends greetings through Tychicus and Onesimus, along with greetings from various companions including Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus called Justus, Epaphras, Luke, and Demas.

He instructs that after this letter has been read among them, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and read the letter from Laodicea. Paul concludes reminding them to remember his chains and extends grace to them.