I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.

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

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

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

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

so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,

bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.

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.

At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

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.

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.

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

Pray that I may make it known as I should.

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully

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

Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you.

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

My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him –

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 –