Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

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

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

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.

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.

He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

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,

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

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.

And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea as well.

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.

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.

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

You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave – a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf –

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