God

to the saints and faithful brethren in Christthat areat Colossæ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;

For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;

whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,

to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,

having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.

And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;

and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mentionof youin our prayers;