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,

giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share ¹  in the saints’ ²  inheritance in the light.

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.

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

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters ¹  who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her ²  house. ³ 

to the saints, the faithful ¹  brothers and sisters ²  in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you ³  from God our Father! ⁴ 

God wanted to make known to them the glorious ¹  riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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.

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?

Wives, submit to your ¹  husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

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

and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, ¹  whether things on earth or things in heaven.

these are only ¹  the shadow of the things to come, but the reality ²  is Christ! ³ 

So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: ¹  sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, ²  evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.

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

These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are ¹  on human commands and teachings. ² 

Toward this goal ¹  I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully ²  works in me.

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, ¹  continue to live your lives ²  in him,

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

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of ¹  all patience and steadfastness, joyfully