Study Desk

For I want you to know how great a ^(C1)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at ^(C2)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^(F1)personally seen my face,

that their ^(C1)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(C2)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all ^(C3)the wealth ^(F1)that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(C4)true knowledge of ^(C5)God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

in whom are hidden all ^(C1)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

^(C1)I say this so that no one will deceive you with ^(C2)persuasive arguments.

For even though I am ^(C1)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing ^(F1)to see ^(F2)your ^(C2)orderly manner and the ^(C3)stability of your faith in Christ.

Therefore, as you have received ^(C1)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^(F1)(C2)walk in Him,

having been firmly ^(C1)rooted and now being ^(C2)built up in Him and ^(C3)established ^(F1)in ^(F2)your faith, just as you ^(C4)were instructed, and overflowing ^(F3)with gratitude.

^(C1)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through ^(C2)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the ^(C3)elementary principles of the world, ^(F1)rather than in accordance with Christ.

For in Him all the ^(C1)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

and in Him you have been ^(C1)made ^(F1)complete, and ^(C2)He is the head ^(F2)over every ^(C3)ruler and authority;

and in Him ^(C1)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of ^(C2)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,

having been ^(C1)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also ^(C2)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who ^(C3)raised Him from the dead.

And ^(F1)when you were ^(C1)dead ^(F2)in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He ^(C2)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,

having canceled ^(C1)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and ^(C2)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

When He had ^(F1)(C1)disarmed the ^(C2)rulers and authorities, He ^(C1)made a public display of them, having ^(C3)triumphed over them through ^(F2)Him.

Therefore, no one is to ^(F1)(C1)act as your judge in regard to ^(C2)food and ^(C2)drink, or in respect to a ^(C3)festival or a ^(C4)new moon, or a ^(C5)Sabbath ^(F2)day—

things which are only a ^(C1)shadow of what is to come; but the ^(F1)substance ^(F2)belongs to Christ.

Take care that no one keeps ^(F1)(C1)defrauding you of your prize by ^(C2)delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, ^(F2)taking his stand on visions he has seen, ^(F3)(C3)inflated without cause by his ^(C4)fleshly mind,

and not holding firmly to ^(C1)the head, from whom ^(C2)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ^(F1)ligaments, grows with a growth ^(F2)which is from God.

^(C1)If you have died with Christ ^(F1)to the ^(C2)elementary principles of the world, ^(C3)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to ^(C4)decrees, such as,

"Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"

(which all refer ^(C1)to things destined to perish ^(F1)with use)—in accordance with the ^(C2)commandments and teachings of man?

These are matters which do have the ^(F1)appearance of wisdom in ^(F2)(C1)self-made religion and humility and ^(C2)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against ^(C3)fleshly indulgence.

Therefore, if you have been ^(C1)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(C2)seated at the right hand of God.

^(F1)(C1)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have ^(C1)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, ^(C1)who is our life, is revealed, ^(C2)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

^(C1)Therefore, ^(F1)treat ^(C2)the parts of your earthly body as dead to ^(C3)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which ^(F2)amounts to idolatry.

For it is because of these things that ^(C1)the wrath of God is coming ^(F1)upon the ^(F2)sons of disobedience,

and ^(C1)in them you also once walked, when you were living ^(F1)in them.

But now you also, ^(C1)rid yourselves of all of them: ^(C2)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and ^(C3)obscene speech from your mouth.

^(F1)(C1)Do not lie to one another, since you ^(C2)stripped off the old ^(F2)self with its evil practices,

and have ^(C1)put on the new self, which is being ^(F1)(C2)renewed to a true knowledge ^(C3)according to the image of the One who ^(C4)created it—

a renewal in which ^(C1)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, ^(C2)circumcised and uncircumcised, ^(F1)(C3)barbarian, ^(F2)Scythian, ^(C4)slave, and free, but ^(C5)Christ is all, and in all.

So, as those who have been ^(C1)chosen of God, holy and beloved, ^(C2)put on a ^(C3)heart of compassion, kindness, ^(C4)humility, gentleness, and ^(F1)(C5)patience;

^(C1)bearing with one another, and ^(C2)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; ^(C2)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also.

In addition to all these things put on love, which is ^(F1)(C1)the perfect bond of ^(C2)unity.

Let ^(C1)the peace of Christ, to which you were ^(F1)indeed called in ^(C2)one body, ^(F2)rule in your hearts; and ^(F3)be thankful.

Let ^(C1)the word of ^(F1)Christ richly dwell within you, ^(F2)with all wisdom ^(C2)teaching and admonishing ^(F3)one another ^(C3)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, ^(C4)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

^(C1)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(C2)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

^(C1)Wives, ^(C2)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

^(C1)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them.

^(C1)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing ^(F1)to the Lord.

^(C1)Fathers, do not ^(F1)antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

^(F1)(C1)Slaves, obey those who are your ^(F2)human masters in everything, ^(C2)not with ^(F3)eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Whatever you do, do your work ^(F1)heartily, ^(C1)as for the Lord and not for people,

^(C1)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward ^(F1)of ^(C2)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you ^(C3)serve.

For ^(C1)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and ^(F1)(C2)that without partiality.

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, ^(C1)knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

^(C1)Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

praying at the same time ^(C1)for us as well, that God will open up to us a ^(C2)door for ^(C3)the word, so that we may proclaim ^(C4)the mystery of Christ, for which I have also ^(C5)been imprisoned;

that I may make it clear ^(C1)in the way that I ought to proclaim it.

^(F1)(C1)Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward ^(C2)outsiders, ^(F2)(C3)making the most of the opportunity.

^(C1)Your speech must always be ^(F1)with grace, as though seasoned with ^(C2)salt, so that you will know how you should ^(C3)respond to each person.

^(C1)As to all my affairs, ^(C2)Tychicus, our ^(C3)beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.

^(C1)For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may ^(C2)encourage your hearts;

^(F1)and with him is ^(C1)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(C2)beloved brother, ^(C3)who is one of your own. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

^(C1)Aristarchus, my ^(C2)fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also ^(C3)Barnabas' cousin Mark (about whom you received ^(F1)instructions; ^(C4)if he comes to you, welcome him);

and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only ^(C1)fellow workers for the kingdom of God ^(C2)who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.

^(C1)Epaphras, ^(C2)who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always ^(C3)striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may ^(F1)stand ^(F2)(C4)mature and ^(F3)fully assured in all the will of God.

For I testify for him that he has ^(F1)a deep concern for you and for those who are in ^(C1)Laodicea and Hierapolis.

^(C1)Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and ^(C2)Demas does also.

Greet the brothers and sisters who are in ^(C1)Laodicea and also ^(F1)Nympha and ^(C2)the church that is in ^(F2)her house.

^(C1)When ^(F1)this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, ^(C1)read ^(F1)my letter that is coming from ^(C2)Laodicea.

Tell ^(C1)Archippus, "See to the ^(C2)ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may ^(F1)fulfill it."

^(F1)I, Paul, ^(C1)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(C2)Remember my ^(F2)(C3)imprisonment. ^(C4)Grace be with you.