One
“1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus
[our] brother, 2 To 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.”
“3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,
and of the love [which ye have] to all the saints, 5 For the hope which
is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the
truth of the gospel; 6 Which 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: 7 As ye also
learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful
minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the
Spirit.”
“9 For 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; 10 That
ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in
every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened
with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and
longsuffering with joyfulness;”
“12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into
the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his
blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For 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: 17 And he is
before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And 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. 19 For it
pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And,
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. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and
enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In
the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable
and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If 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; 24 Who 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: 25
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which
is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 [Even] the mystery
which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made
manifest to his saints: 27 To 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: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and
teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect
in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his
working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:1-29 AV)
Two
“1 For 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; 2 That 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; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
“4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing
words. 5 For 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. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
[so] walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the
faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8
Beware 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. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and
power: 11 In 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: 12 Buried 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.”
“13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses; 14 Blotting 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; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and
powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
“16 Let 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]: 17 Which
are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ. 18 Let 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, 19 And 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. 20 Wherefore if ye be
dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living
in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not;
handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the
commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which 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.” (Colossians 2:1-23 AV)