Colossians

Paul’s Thankfulness For Faithfulness

Paul, an emissary of Yĕshūa̒, the Mĕssiah by the will of the Al­mĭgh­ty, and Timothy our brother, ^1:2to the holy and faithful brothers in Mĕssiah in Colossae. Loving kindness to you and shalōm from the Al­mĭgh­ty our Fă­ther.

^3We give thanks to the Al­mĭgh­ty, the Fă­ther of our Adŏ­nai Yĕ­shua the Mĕssiah, praying always for you, ^4since we heard of your faithfulness in Mĕssiah Yĕ­shua and the love which you have for all the holy ones, ^5because of the hope laid up for you in the heavens, of which you pre­viously heard in the word of truth, the good news, ^6which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and in­creas­ing, even as in you also since the day you heard and understood the loving kindness of the Al­mĭgh­ty in truth, ^7just as you learned it from Epa­phras, our be­loved fellow ser­vant, who is a faith­ful servant of Mĕssiah on our behalf, ^8and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

^9For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the know­ledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ^10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of Yăhwēh, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of the Al­mĭgh­ty, ^11strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience, joyously ^12giving thanks to the Fă­ther, who has authorized us to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

Mĕssiah, Creator And Sustainer Of All

^13Because he delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Sŏn, ^14in whom we have re­demp­tion, the forgiveness of sins.

^15And he is the image of the invisible Al­mĭgh­ty, the one first-born in rank, over all creation, ^16because by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or do­min­ions or rulers or authorities. All things have been created by him and for him. ^17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold to­gether.

^18He is also head of the body, the Assembly of Yisra’ēl, and he is the beginning, the first in rank, born from the dead, so that he himself might come to have first place in every­thing, ^19because it was the Fă­ther’s good pleasure for all the complement to dwell in him, ^20and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made shalōm through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in the heavens.

^21And although you were form­erly alienated and hostile in mind, indulging in evil deeds, ^22yet he has now reconciled you by his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach, ^23if indeed you remain in faithfulness, firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the good news that you have heard, which is proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

^24Now I rejoice in my suf­fer­ings for you, and fill up what lacks in the sufferings of Mĕssiah in my flesh, on behalf of his body, which is the Assembly of Yisra’ēl, ^25for which I became a servant according to the stewardship from the Al­mĭgh­ty that was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of the Al­mĭgh­ty, ^26the mys­tery which has been hidden from time most immemorial and gen­er­a­tions, but has now been man­i­fested to his holy ones, ^27to whom the Al­mĭgh­ty willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Mĕssiah in you, the hope of glory. ^28And we proclaim him, ad­monish­ing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Mĕs­siah. ^29And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to his pow­er, which might­ily works within me.

Warning Against False Philosophy

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, ^2:2that their hearts may be encouraged, so as to be made to join together in love, and in all the wealth of full assurance of understanding, into the full knowledge of the mystery of the Al­mĭgh­ty of Mĕssiah, ^3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

^4I say this in order that no one may deceive you with persuasive sounding arguments. ^5For even though I am absent in body, never­theless I am with you in heart, re­joic­ing to see your good discipline and the firmness of your faithfulness in Mĕssiah. ^6As you therefore have re­ceived the Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒, Yăhwēh, in him you must walk, ^7being made to be well rooted and being built up in him and being con­firmed in the faith, just as you were instructed, letting your­selves over­flow in thanks­giving.

^8Watch out that no one cap­tivates you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tra­dition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world system, and which are not according to Mĕssiah, ^9seeing that in him all the complement of the divine nature dwells bodily, ^10and by him you are being completed, who is the head over every ruler and au­thor­i­ty, ^11by whom you also are being cir­­cised by a cir­­ci­sion made without hands, by putting off the sinful body, by the circumcision of the heart being done by Mes­si­ah, ^12so as to be buried with him in immersion, by whom also you are being raised up through faith­ful­ness, which is the working of the Al­mĭgh­ty, which raised him from the dead.

^13And you, who were dead in trans­gressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, granting loving-kindness to us concerning all the trans­gressions, ^14wiping out the record of debt, the judgments against us, which were hostile to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross, ^15disarming the rulers and authorities. He boldly disgraced them, celebrating victory over them with it.

^16Therefore let no one judge you in eating and in drinking, either when partaking of a feast or new moon or Sabbaths, ^17which are a reflection of the things to come. And the Mĕssiah is the reflection source.

^18Let no one defraud you, de­light­ing in self-abasement and the wor­ship of the messengers, taking his stand on what he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, ^19and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and liga­ments, grows with a growth which is from the Al­mĭgh­ty. ^20If you have died with Mĕssiah to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ^21“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”, ^22which all refer to things destined to perish with the using, in accordance with the com­mandments and teachings of men? ^23These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abase­ment and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly in­dul­gence.

Dying to Sin

IFthen you are raised up with Mĕssiah, keep seeking the things above, where Mĕssiah is, seated at the right hand of the Al­mĭgh­ty. ^3:2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ^3Because you die, and your life is hidden with Mĕssiah in the Al­mĭgh­ty. ^4When Mĕssiah, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

^5Therefore consider the mem­bers of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry, ^6because it is on account of these things that the wrath of the Al­mĭgh­ty will come, ^7and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. ^8But now you also, put them all aside, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. ^9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its practices, ^10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it, ^11a renewal which does not depend on being Greek or Yehūdi̱, circumcised or un­cir­­cised, bar­barian, Scythian, slave or freeman, but on Mĕssiah who is all, and in all.

^12And so, as those chosen of the Al­mĭgh­ty, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, ^13bearing with one another, and for­giv­ing each other, whoever has grudge against anyone. Just as Yăhwēh forgave you, so also should you.

^14And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ^15And let the shalōm of Mĕssiah rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.

^16Let the word of Mĕssiah richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thank­ful­ness in your hearts to the Al­mĭgh­ty. ^17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of ’Adŏ­nai̱ Yĕshūa̒, giving thanks through him to the Al­mĭgh­ty, the Fă­ther.

Family Relations

^18Wives, be subject to your hus­bands, as is fitting in Yăhwēh.

^19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them. ^20Children, be obedient to your par­ents in all things, because this is well-pleas­ing to Yăhwēh.

^21Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.

^22Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing Yăhwēh. ^23Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for Yăhwēh rather than for men, ^24knowing that from Yăhwēh you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is Yăhwēh, Mĕs­siah whom you serve, ^25because he who does wrong will receive the con­se­quences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Fellow Workers

Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

^4:2Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving, ^3praying at the same time for us as well, that the Al­mĭgh­ty may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Mĕssiah, for which I have also been imprisoned, ^4in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

^5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. ^6Let your speech always be with loving-kind­ness, seasoned, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.

^7As to all my affairs, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful deputy and fellow servant in Yăhwēh, will bring you information, ^8because I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts, ^9and with him Onesimus, a faithful and be­loved brother, who is one of you. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

^10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings, and Mark, the cousin of Bar-Nav̱i̱, about whom you received instructions. If he comes to you, welcome him, ^11and Yēshūa̒ who is called Iūstōs. These are the only fellow wor­kers for the kingdom of the Al­mĭgh­ty who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an en­courage­ment to me.

^12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of the Al­mĭgh­ty, ^13because I bear him witness that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

^14Luke, the beloved doctor, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.

^15Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and also Nympha and the assembly that is in her house. ^16And when this letter is read among you, have it also read in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and you, for your part read my letter from Laodicea. ^17And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the minis­try which you have received in Yăhwēh, that you may fulfill it.”

^18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Loving kindness be with you.