Colossians 2–4

2For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling^e for you, for those in Laodicea,^f and for all who have not seen me in person. ²I want their hearts to be encouraged^g and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery^h—Christ.^{Bi 3}In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom^j and knowledge.^k

CHRIST VERSUS THE COLOSSIAN HERESY

⁴I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. ⁵For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit,^l rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

⁶So then, just as you have received^m Christ Jesus as Lord,ⁿ continue to walk in him, ⁷being rooted and built up in him^o and established in the faith, just as you were taught,^p and overflowing with gratitude.

⁸Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition,^q based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.^{r 9}For the entire fullness^s of God’s nature dwells bodily^C in Christ, ¹⁰and you have been filled by him, who is the head^t over every ruler and authority. ¹¹You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh,^u in the circumcision of Christ,^{v 12}when you were buried with him^w in baptism, in which you were also raised with him^x through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^{y 13}And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. ¹⁴He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.^{z 15}He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.^Aaa

¹⁶Therefore, don’t let anyone judge^ab you in regard to food and drink^ac or in the matter of a festival or a new moon^ad or a Sabbath day.^{B 17}These are a shadow^ae of what was to come;^af the substance is^C Christ.^{ag 18}Let no one condemn^D you^ah by delighting in ascetic practices^ai and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated^aj by empty notions of their unspiritual^E mind. ¹⁹They don’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body,^ak nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

²⁰If you died with Christ^al to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: ²¹“Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? ²²All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. ²³Although these have a reputation for wisdom^am by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.^Fan

THE LIFE OF THE NEW MAN

3So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^{ao 2}Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.^{ap 3}For you died,^aq and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your^G life, appears,^ar then you also will appear with him in glory.^as

⁵Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,^at lust,^au evil desire, and greed,^av which is idolatry.^{aw 6}Because of these, God’s wrath^ax is coming upon the disobedient,^{H 7}and you once walked in these things when you were living^ay in them. ⁸But now, put away^az all the following: anger,^ba wrath,^bb malice,^bc slander,^bd and filthy language from your mouth.^{be 9}Do not lie^bf to one another, since you have put off^bg the old self^bh with its practices ¹⁰and have put on^bi the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your^I Creator.^{bj 11}In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.^a

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,^b put on compassion, kindness,^c humility,^d gentleness,^e and patience,^{f 13}bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.^{g 14}Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called^h in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,^A singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the nameⁱ of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

CHRIST IN YOUR HOME

¹⁸Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.^{j 19}Husbands,^k love your wives^l and don’t be bitter^m toward them. ²⁰Children,ⁿ obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers,^o do not exasperate^p your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. ²²Slaves, obey your human^q masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.^{r 23}Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,^{s 24}knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵For the wrongdoer^t will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

4Masters,^u deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

SPEAKING TO GOD AND OTHERS

²Devote yourselves^v to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. ³At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door^w to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ,^x for which I am in chains,^{y 4}so that I may make it known as I should. ⁵Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.^{z 6}Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,^aa so that you may know how you should answer each person.^ab

FINAL GREETINGS

⁷Tychicus,^ac our dearly loved brother, faithful^ad minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ⁸I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are^B and so that he may encourage^ae your hearts.^{af 9}He is coming with Onesimus,^ag a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

¹⁰Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark,^ah Barnabas’s^ai cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. ¹²Epaphras,^aj who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling^ak for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured^C in everything God wills.^{al 13}For I testify about him that he works hard^Dam for you, for those in Laodicea,^an and for those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas^ao send you greetings. ¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home.^{ap 16}After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷And tell Archippus,^aq “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”^ar

¹⁸I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains.^as Grace be with you.^Aat