The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians

1:1Paul, an apostle of JesusChrist by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 1:2To the saints and faithfulbrethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, andpeace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:3We give thanks to God and theFather of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 1:4Since we heard of your faith inChrist Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 1:5For the hope which is laidup for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth ofthe gospel; 1:6Which is comeunto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, asit doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knewthe grace of God in truth: 1:7As ye also learned of Epaphras ourdear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 1:8Who also declared unto us yourlove in the Spirit. 1:9Forthis cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to prayfor you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of hiswill in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 1:10That ye might walk worthy of theLord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasingin the knowledge of God; 1:11Strengthened with all might,according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering withjoyfulness; 1:12Giving thanksunto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of theinheritance of the saints in light: 1:13Who hath delivered us from thepower of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of hisdear Son: 1:14In whom we haveredemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 1:15Who is the image of the invisibleGod, the firstborn of every creature: 1:16For by him were all thingscreated, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, orpowers: all things were created by him, and for him: 1:17And he is before all things, andby him all things consist. 1:18And he is the head of the body,the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in allthings he might have the preeminence. 1:19For it pleased the Fatherthat in him should all fulness dwell; 1:20And, having made peace throughthe blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; byhim, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things inheaven. 1:21And you, thatwere sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,yet now hath he reconciled 1:22In the body of his flesh throughdeath, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 1:23If ye continue in thefaith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope ofthe gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to everycreature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 1:24Who now rejoice in my sufferingsfor you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ inmy flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 1:25Whereof I am made a minister,according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, tofulfil the word of God; 1:26Even the mystery whichhath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest tohis saints: 1:27To whom Godwould make known what is the riches of the glory of this mysteryamong the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 1:28Whom we preach, warning everyman, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every manperfect in Christ Jesus: 1:29Whereunto I also labour, strivingaccording to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

2:1For I would that yeknew 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; 2:2That their hearts might becomforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the fullassurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God,and of the Father, and of Christ; 2:3In whom are hid all the treasuresof wisdom and knowledge. 2:4And this I say, lest any manshould beguile you with enticing words. 2:5For though I be absent in theflesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order,and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

2:6As ye have thereforereceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 2:7Rooted and built up in him, andstablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein withthanksgiving. 2:8Beware lestany man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditionof men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 2:9For in him dwelleth all thefulness of the Godhead bodily. 2:10And ye are complete in him, whichis the head of all principality and power: 2:11In whom also ye are circumcisedwith the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of thesins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 2:12Buried with him in baptism,wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of theoperation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 2:13And you, being dead in your sinsand the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him,having forgiven you all trespasses; 2:14Blotting out the handwriting ofordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it outof the way, nailing it to his cross; 2:15And having spoiledprincipalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing overthem in it. 2:16Let no mantherefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, orof the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 2:17Which are a shadow of things tocome; but the body is of Christ. 2:18Let no man beguile you of yourreward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding intothose things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 2:19And 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.

2:20Wherefore if ye bedead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living inthe world, are ye subject to ordinances, 2:21(Touch not; taste not; handlenot; 2:22Which all are toperish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 2:23Which things have indeeda shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of thebody; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

3:1If ye then be risenwith Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth onthe right hand of God. 3:2Setyour affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3:3For ye are dead, and your life ishid with Christ in God. 3:4When Christ, who is ourlife, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

3:5Mortify therefore yourmembers which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinateaffection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 3:6For which things’ sakethe wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 3:7In the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them. 3:8But now ye also put off all these;anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 3:9Lie not one to another,seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 3:10And have put on the newman, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him thatcreated him: 3:11Where thereis neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian,Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 3:12Put on therefore, as theelect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness ofmind, meekness, longsuffering; 3:13Forbearing one another, andforgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even asChrist forgave you, so also do ye. 3:14And above all these things puton charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 3:15And let the peace of God rule inyour hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be yethankful. 3:16Let the word ofChrist dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing oneanother in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace inyour hearts to the Lord. 3:17And whatsoever ye do in word ordeed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to Godand the Father by him.

3:18Wives, submityourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 3:19Husbands, love your wives,and be not bitter against them. 3:20Children, obey yourparents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 3:21Fathers, provoke not yourchildren to anger, lest they be discouraged. 3:22Servants, obey in all thingsyour masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, asmenpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 3:23And whatsoever ye do, doit heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 3:24Knowing that of the Lord ye shallreceive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 3:25But he that doeth wrongshall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect ofpersons.

4:1Masters, give untoyour servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye alsohave a Master in heaven.

4:2Continue in prayer, andwatch in the same with thanksgiving; 4:3Withal praying also for us, thatGod would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery ofChrist, for which I am also in bonds: 4:4That I may make it manifest, as Iought to speak. 4:5Walk inwisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 4:6Let your speech be alwaywith grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answerevery man.

4:7All my state shallTychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithfulminister and fellowservant in the Lord: 4:8Whom I have sent unto you for thesame purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 4:9With Onesimus, a faithfuland beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known untoyou all things which are done here.

4:10Aristarchus myfellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas,(touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receivehim;) 4:11And Jesus, which iscalled Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are myfellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 4:12Epaphras, who isone of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouringfervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete inall the will of God. 4:13ForI bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them thatare in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 4:14Luke, the beloved physician, andDemas, greet you. 4:15Salutethe brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which isin his house. 4:16And whenthis epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the churchof the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle fromLaodicea. 4:17And say toArchippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,that thou fulfil it.

4:18The salutation by thehand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Authorized King James Version, originally published by Oxford Press, Oxford, 1769