and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,

He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.

For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.

He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave – a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf –

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds,

These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

I sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.

And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.