For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, ¹  have not ceased praying for you and asking God ²  to fill ³  you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

You learned the gospel ¹  from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave ²  – a ³  faithful minister of Christ on our ⁴  behalf –

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your ¹  minds ²  as expressed through ³  your evil deeds,

I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. ¹  Remember my chains. ²  Grace be with you. ³ 

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship ¹  from God – given to me for you – in order to complete ²  the word of God,

rooted ¹  and built up in him and firm ²  in your ³  faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits ¹  of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, ¹  kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him).

Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you ¹  through an empty, deceitful philosophy ²  that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits ³  of the world, and not according to Christ.

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths ¹  about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. ² 

And after ¹  you have read this letter, have it read ²  to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea ³  as well.