Study Desk

I want you to know how hard I am contending^(a) for you and for those at Laodicea,^(b) and for all who have not met me personally.

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart^(c) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery^(d) of God, namely, Christ,

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

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.^(f)

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit^(g) and delight to see how disciplined^(h) you are and how firm⁽ⁱ⁾ your faith in Christ^(j) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,^(k) continue to live your lives in him,

rooted^(l) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,^(m) and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,⁽ⁿ⁾ which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world^(o) rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness^(p) of the Deity lives in bodily form,

and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head^(q) over every power and authority.^(r)

In him you were also circumcised^(s) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh^[b](t) was put off when you were circumcised by^[c] Christ,

having been buried with him in baptism,^(u) in which you were also raised with him^(v) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^(w)

When you were dead in your sins^(x) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[d] alive^(y) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,^(z)

having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,^(aa) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.^(ab)

And having disarmed the powers and authorities,^(ac) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them^(ad) by the cross.^[e]

Therefore do not let anyone judge you^(ae) by what you eat or drink,^(af) or with regard to a religious festival,^(ag) a New Moon celebration^(ah) or a Sabbath day.^(ai)

These are a shadow of the things that were to come;^(aj) the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility^(ak) and the worship of angels disqualify you.^(al) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.

They have lost connection with the head,^(am) from whom the whole body,^(an) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.^(ao)

Since you died with Christ^(ap) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,^(aq) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:^(ar)

"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?

These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish^(as) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.^(at)

Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility^(au) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,^(a) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^(b)

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.^(c)

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

When Christ, who is your^[a] life,^(e) appears,^(f) then you also will appear with him in glory.^(g)

Put to death,^(h) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:⁽ⁱ⁾ sexual immorality,^(j) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,^(k) which is idolatry.^(l)

Because of these, the wrath of God^(m) is coming.^[b]

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.⁽ⁿ⁾

But now you must also rid yourselves^(o) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,^(p) and filthy language from your lips.^(q)

Do not lie to each other,^(r) since you have taken off your old self^(s) with its practices

and have put on the new self,^(t) which is being renewed^(u) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.^(v)

Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(w) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(x) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(y) but Christ is all,^(z) and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves^(aa) with compassion, kindness, humility,^(ab) gentleness and patience.^(ac)

Bear with each other^(ad) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.^(ae)

And over all these virtues put on love,^(af) which binds them all together in perfect unity.^(ag)

Let the peace of Christ^(ah) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body^(ai) you were called to peace.^(aj) And be thankful.

Let the message of Christ^(ak) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom^(al) through psalms,^(am) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.^(an)

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

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,^(ar) as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers,^[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

since you know that you will receive an inheritance^(as) from the Lord as a reward.^(at) It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.^(au)

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,^(a) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

Devote yourselves to prayer,^(b) being watchful and thankful.

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door^(c) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery^(d) of Christ, for which I am in chains.^(e)

Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Be wise^(f) in the way you act toward outsiders;^(g) make the most of every opportunity.^(h)

Let your conversation be always full of grace,⁽ⁱ⁾ seasoned with salt,^(j) so that you may know how to answer everyone.^(k)

Tychicus^(l) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a](m) in the Lord.

I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.⁽ⁿ⁾

He is coming with Onesimus,^(o) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(p) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(q) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(r) the cousin of Barnabas.^(s) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews^[c] among my co-workers^(t) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.

Epaphras,^(u) who is one of you^(v) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(w) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(x) and fully assured.

I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(y) and Hierapolis.

Our dear friend Luke,^(z) the doctor, and Demas^(aa) send greetings.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(ab) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(ac)

After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read^(ad) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

Tell Archippus:^(ae) "See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord."^(af)

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(ag) Remember^(ah) my chains.^(ai) Grace be with you.^(aj)