rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days –

You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

In him you also were circumcised – not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.

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

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.

to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!

Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.

Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

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.

Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel

We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.

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.

Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.