Pray that I may make it known as I should. ¹ 

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

He has destroyed ¹  what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness ²  expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

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

Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices

Whatever you are doing, ¹  work at it with enthusiasm, ²  as to the Lord and not for people, ³ 

that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel ¹  is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing ²  among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

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.

and have been clothed with the new man ¹  that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

He has not held fast ¹  to the head from whom the whole body, supported ²  and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God. ³ 

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, ¹  without shifting ²  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.

For God ¹  was pleased to have all his ²  fullness dwell ³  in the Son ⁴ 

Disarming ¹  the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ² 

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

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,

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,

because you know that you will receive your ¹  inheritance ²  from the Lord as the reward. Serve ³  the Lord Christ.

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.

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom ¹  with their self-imposed worship and false humility ²  achieved by an ³  unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence. ⁴