The pistel of S. Paul to the Collossians

The first Chapter.

    Paul an apostle of Iesu Christ by the will of God, and brother Timotheus.

    To the saints which are at Colossa, and brethren that believe in Christ.

    Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the lord Iesu Christ.

    We give thanks to God the father of our lord Iesus Christ always praying for you in our prayers, since we heard of your faith which ye have in Christ Iesu: and of the love which ye bear to all saints for the hope's sake which is laid up in store for you in heaven, of which hope ye have heard by the true word of the gospell, which is come unto you, even as it is into all the world, and is fruitful as it is among you, from the first day in the which ye heard of it, and had experience in the grace of God in the truth, as ye learned of Epaphra our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister in Christ, which also declared unto us your love, which ye have in the spirit.

    For this cause we also, since the day we heard of it have not ceased praying for you, and desiring that ye might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the lord in all things that please, being fruitful in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthed with all might, thorow his glorious power, unto all patience, and long suffering, with joyfulness, giving thanks into the father which hath made us meet to be part takers of the inheritance of saints in light.

    Which hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, in whom we have redemption thorow his blood, that is to say, forgiveness of sins, which is the image of the invisible God, first begotten before all creatures: for by him were all things created, things that are in heaven, and things that are in earth: things visible, and things invisible: whether they be majesty or lordship, either rule or power. All things are created by him, and in him, and he is before all things, and in him all things have their being.

    And he is the head of the body, that is to wit of the congregation, he is the beginning and first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell, and by him to reconcile all thinge unto himself, and to set at peace by him thorow the blood of his cross both things in heaven and things in earth.

    And you (which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your minds were set in evil works) hath he now reconciled in the body of his flesh thorow death, to make you holy, and such as no man could complain on, and without fault in his own sight, if ye continue grounded and stablished in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospell, whereof ye have heard, how that it is preached among all creatures, which are under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.

    Now joy I in my passions which I suffer for you, and fulfil that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the congregation, whereof am I made a minister according to the ordinance of God, which ordinance was given me unto you ward, to fulfil the word of God, that mystery hid since the world began, and since the beginning of generations: But now is opened to his saints, to whom God would make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach warning all men, and teaching all men in all wisdom, to make all men perfect in Christ Iesu: Wherein I also labour and strive, even as far forth as his working worketh in me mightily.

The second Chapter.

    I would ye knew what fighting I have for your sakes and for them of Laodicia, and for as many as have not seen my person in the flesh, that their hearts might be comforted and knit together in love, and in all riches of full understanding, for to know the mystery of God the father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. This I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the spirit joying and beholding the order that ye keep, and your steadfast faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Iesu the lord, even so walk rooted and built in him, and steadfast in the faith, as ye have learned: and therin be plenteous in giving thanks.

    Beware lest any man come and spoil you thorow philosophy and deceitful vanity, thorow the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are full in him, which is the head of all rule and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body off the flesh, thorow the circumcision that is in Christ, in that ye are buried with him thorow baptism, in whom ye are also risen again thorow faith, that is wrought by the operation of God which raised him from death.

    And hath with him quickened you also which were dead in sin in the uncircumcision of your flesh, and hath forgiven our trespasses, and hath put out the obligation that was against us, made in the law written, and that hath he taken out of the way, and hath fastened it on his cross, and hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a shew of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.

    Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink: or for a piece of an holyday, as the holyday of the new moon or of the saboth daye, which are nothing but shadows of things to come: but the body is in Christ. Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless puffed up with his fleshly mind, and holdeth not the head, whereof all the body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment, and is knit together, and increaseth with the increasing that cometh of God.

    Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from doctrine of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say? Touch not, Taste not, Handle not: which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men: which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body, and do the flesh no worship unto his need.

The .iij. Chapter.

    If ye be then risen again with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things that are above, and not on things which are on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ which is our life shall shew himself, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

    Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is worshipping of idols: for which thing's sakes the wrath of God falleth on the children of unbelief. In which things ye walked once, when ye lived in them.

    But now put ye also away from you all things, wrath, fierceness, maliciousness, cursed speaking, filthy speaking out of your mouths. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his works, and have put on the new, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that made him, where is neither greek nor jewe, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarous or Sithian, bond or free: But Christe is all in all things.

    Now therefore as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of minde, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another (if any man have a quarrel to another) even as Christ forgave you, even so do ye. Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness, and the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which peace ye are called in one body: and see that ye be thankful.

    Let the word of God dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom. Teach and exhort your own selves, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs which have favour with them, singing in your hearts to the lord. And all things (whatsoever ye do in word or deed) do in the name of the lord Iesu, giving thanks to God the father by him.

    Wives submit your own selves unto your own husbands, as it is comely in the lord. Husbands love your wives and be not bitter unto them. Children obey your fathers and mothers, in all things, for that is well pleasing unto the lord. Fathers rate not your children, lest they be of a desperate mind. Servants be obedient unto your bodily masters in all things: not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as though ye did it to the lord, and not unto men, remembering that of the lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance, for ye serve the lord Christ. But he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done: for there is no respect of persons.

The .iiij. Chapter.

Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and egal, remembering that ye have also a master in heaven.

    Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving, praying also for us that God open unto us the door of utterance, that we may speak the mystery of Christ (wherefore I am also in bonds) that I may utter it, as it becometh me to speak. Walk wisely to them that are without, and redeem the time. Let your speech alwaye have faveoure with it and be salted, that ye may know how to answer every man.

    The dear brother Tichicos shall tell you of all my business, which is a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the lord, whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know how ye do, and might comfort your hearts, with one Onesimus a faithful, and a beloved brother, which is one of you. They shall shew you of all things which are a doing here.

    Aristarchus my prison fellow saluteth you, And Marcus Barnabas' sister's son: touching whom, ye received commandments. If he come unto you receive him: and Iesus which is called Iustus, which are of the circumcision. These only are my workfellows unto the kingdom of God, which were unto my consolation. Epaphras the servant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, and always laboureth fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect, and full in all that is the will of God. I bear him record that he hath a fervent mind toward you, and toward them of Laodicia and them of Hierapolis. Dear Lucas the physician greeteth you, and Demas. Salute the brethren which are of Laodicia, and salute Nymphas, and the congregation which is in his house. And when the pistel is read of you, make that it be read in the congregation of the Laodicians also: and that ye likewise read the pistel of Laodicia. And say to Archippus: Take heed to thine office that thou hast received in the lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds Grace be with you, Amen. 

Sent from Rome by Tichicus, and Onesimus.