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.

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

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

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

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.

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

And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”

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

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

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

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.

When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

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.

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,

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

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

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 –

Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.