who also told us of your love in the Spirit.p>

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

Fathers,<n id="1" /> do not provoke<n id="2" /> your children, so they will not become disheartened.

For though<n id="1" /> I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see<n id="2" /> your morale<n id="3" /> and the firmness of your faith in Christ.p>

Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave<n id="1" /> of Christ,<n id="2" /> greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured<n id="3" /> in all the will of God.

<t /><p class="bodytext">We always<n id="1" /> give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

since<n id="1" /> 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<n id="1" /> 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.p>

I sent him<n id="1" /> with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.<n id="2" /> They will tell<n id="3" /> you about everything here.p>

For I can testify that he has worked hard<n id="1" /> for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

<p class="bodytext">I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand.<n id="1" /> Remember my chains.<n id="2" /> Grace be with you.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you,<n id="1" /> and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.<n id="2" />

And even though you were dead in your<n id="1" /> transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless<n id="2" /> 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<n id="1" /> to this peace), and be thankful.

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing<n id="1" /> and that he may encourage your hearts.

<t /><p class="bodytext">For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you,<n id="1" /> have not ceased praying for you and asking God<n id="2" /> to fill<n id="3" /> you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

<p class="bodytext">Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body &#8211; for the sake of his body, the church &#8211; what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

Let the word of Christ<n id="1" /> dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace<n id="2" /> in your hearts to God.