Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”

You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.

speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight

The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ,

For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him,

for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.

But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.

– though mine too are significant. If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more:

So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

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

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

giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

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

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

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