A New Translation of Paul’s Letter to the Church of The

Colossians

Based on the Westcott and Hort Text of 1881 with references to the Papyrus fragments of the Chester Beatty collections, c. 3^rd Century A.D. and the Sinaitic Manuscript of the 4^th Century.

Some notes on this translation:

Thou vs. You: Many people today have a hard time understanding the Elizabethan usage of thou, thee, thy, etc. For this reason, we have chosen to avoid this archaic language. At the same time, we need to be able to fulfill the purpose of those words, which was to distinguish between a singular you and a plural you. Following the example of other translations, we have used all capital letters to indicate plural (more than one person addressed), and small letters to indicate singular (one person addressed).

Words in italics: Following the example of other translations, we have used italics for words that are not in the original text, but which are essential to the sense of the original when translated into English. Unlike other translations, however, we have NOT added words which alter the meaning of the original.

Words in (parentheses): These are not part of the biblical text, but are notes of explanation from the translator.

Man and Woman vs. Husband and Wife: Greek has no specific words for husband or wife, but uses the words man and woman, as do many other languages. We have translated the words man and woman as such, but in proper context, the readers should understand them to mean husband and wife.

Colossians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Brother Timothy,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for YOU,

4 having heard of YOUR faith in Christ Jesus and the love which YOU have toward all the saints,

5 because of the hope which is laid up for YOU in the heavens, of which YOU heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

6 which is come to YOU; just as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it does in YOU also, since the day YOU heard and knew well the grace of God in truth;

7 as YOU learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

8 who also made clear to us YOUR love in the Spirit.

9 Therefore we also, since the day we heard, do not cease praying and making request for YOU, that YOU might be filled with the true knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 to walk worthily of the Lord into all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the true knowledge of God;

11 being empowered with all power, according to the might of his glory, into all endurance and patience with joy;

12 giving thanks to the Father, who made YOU sufficient to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light;

13 who delivered us to himself out of the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins:

15 who is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation,

16 because in him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or governments or authorities; all things have been created through him, and for him;

17 and he is before all things, and in him all things exist (literally “have stood together”).

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might be foremost (literally “hold first place”).

19 For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;

20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens.

21 And YOU, being at one time alienated and enemies in YOUR mind in YOUR evil works,

22 now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present YOU holy and unblemished and unaccusable in his sight:

23 if in fact YOU remain in the faith, having been grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which YOU heard, which is being preached in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, became a minister.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for YOUR sake, and I am filling up instead that which is lacking of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh for the sake of his body, which is the church;

25 of which I became a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given to me for YOU, to fulfill the word of God,

26 the mystery which has been hidden away from the ages and from the generations: but now it was manifested to his saints,

27 to whom God wanted to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28 whom we are announcing, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we might present every man perfect in Christ;

29 for which I labor also, striving according to his working, which works in me in power.

Colossians 2

1 For I am willing for YOU to know the great struggle I am having for YOU, and for them in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being joined together in love, and into all riches of the full assurance of understanding, into true knowledge of the mystery of God, of Christ,

3 in whom are all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I am saying this so that no one may delude YOU with persuasive speech.

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with YOU in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing YOUR order, and the firmness of YOUR faith in Christ.

6 As therefore YOU received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,

7 having been rooted and built up in him, and being established in faith, just as YOU were taught, abounding in it (i.e., faith) in thanksgiving.

8 Look out, so that no one that carries YOU off as prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, after the basic things of the world, and not after Christ:

9 because in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,

10 and YOU have been filled with him, who is the head of all government and authority:

11 in whom also YOU were circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand by stripping off of flesh from the body, but in the circumcision of Christ,

12 having been buried together with him in baptism, by whom also YOU were raised up together with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 And YOU, being dead to trespasses and to the uncircumcision of YOUR flesh, he made YOU alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;

14 having erased the written warrant of decrees against us, which was opposing us: and he has taken it out of our midst, having nailed it to the cross;

15 having stripped the governments and the authorities, he boldly made a show of them, having triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no man therefore judge YOU in eating or in drinking, or in respect to a holiday or a new moon or sabbaths:

17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

18 Let no one deprive YOU of YOUR prize, being willing in humility and worship of the angels, standing on things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,

19 and not holding firm the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and joined together through the joints and ligaments, is growing with the growth of God.

20 If together with Christ YOU died to the basic things of the world, why, as if living in the world, do YOU subject YOURSELVES to decrees:

21 Don’t handle! And Don’t taste! And  Don’t touch!

22 --all things which would perish being used up anyway--, according to the commands and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed an appearance of wisdom in a self-willed worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but are not of any value against fulfilling the flesh.

Colossians 3

1 If then YOU were raised up with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God.

2 Set YOUR mind on the things that are above, not the things on the earth.

3 For YOU died, and YOUR life has been hidden together with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, our life, shall be made manifest, then YOU also will be made manifest together with  him in glory.

5 Therefore mortify (i.e., deaden or make dead) the members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

6 through which things the wrath of God is coming (some manuscripts add: “upon the sons of disobedience”):

7 in which things YOU also once walked, when YOU were living in these things;

8 but now also put them all away: wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, disgraceful speech out of YOUR mouth:

9 Do not lie to one another; having taken off the old man together with his actions,

10 and having put on the new man, that is being renewed into true knowledge in the image of him that created him:

11 where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ all and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, mildness, patience;

13 forbearing one another, and forgiving others and selves, if anyone may ever have a complaint against someone; just as the Lord forgave YOU, so also do YOU:

14 and upon all these things, love, which is the bond of perfection.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule (literally “act as referee”) in YOUR hearts, into which YOU also were called in one body; and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in YOU richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing (literally: “putting in mind”) others and selves with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in YOUR hearts to God.

17 And everything YOU do, in word or in action, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Women, subject YOURSELVES to YOUR men, as was fitting in the Lord.

19 Men, love YOUR women, and do not be bitter toward them.

20 Children, obey YOUR parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not exasperate YOUR children, so they don’t become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey in all things them that are YOUR masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

23 Whatever YOU may do, work from YOUR soul, as to the Lord, and not to men;

24 knowing that from the Lord YOU will receive the reward of the inheritance: serve the Lord Christ!

25 For the one who does wrong will receive back the wrong that he did: and there is no respect of persons.

Colossians 4

1 Masters, give to YOUR slaves righteousness and equality; knowing that YOU also have a Master in heaven.

2 Persevere in prayer, staying awake in it with thanksgiving;

3 at the same time praying for us also, that God might open up to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I have been bound;

4 in order that I may manifest it, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time.

6 Let YOUR word be always with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how YOU ought to answer each one.

7 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, will make known to you all my affairs:

8 whom I sent to YOU for this very purpose, that YOU might know about our situation, and that he might comfort YOUR hearts;

9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of YOU. They will make known to YOU all that is happening here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, greets YOU, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas --about whom YOU received commands: if he ever comes to YOU, receive him--

11 and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these are my only fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, who have become a consolation to me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of YOU, servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always striving for YOU in his prayers, that YOU may stand perfect and fully borne in all the will of God.

13 For I bear witness to him, that he has much pain for YOU, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet YOU.

15 Greet the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church that is in her house.

16 And when this letter has been read among YOU, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and YOU also read the one from Laodicea.

17 And tell Archippus: “Look at the ministry which you received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

18 The greeting of Paul with my own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with YOU.