who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened.

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

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

since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

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

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

I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

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.

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.

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.

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body – for the sake of his body, the church – what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

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.