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COLOSSIANS
Colossians 1:1-2
I, Paul, am sending this letter to you, who are God’s people in Colossae. We pray that God will bless you.
We thank God for you very often that you believe in Christ Jesus and that you love all God’s people.
We have also been praying very often to God for you. We pray that you will know truly all that he wants you to do, in order that you will conduct yourselves as the Lord’s people should.
God our Father has caused you to be ruled by his Son, who existed before and ranks above everything that has been created.
An alternative arrangement ofthe sentences of Colossians 1:13-19
As for you, God our Father has now reconciled you to himself.
I am completing what Christ appointed me to do, that I should suffer physically for the benefit of the church. And I proclaim the previously unrevealed message about Christ to every class of persons.
I am exerting myself very greatly on your behalf in order that you might truly know the message about Christ, in order that no one might delude you.
Conduct yourselves as those who are united to Christ Jesus our Lord should conduct themselves.
Make sure that no one makes you become his disciples by teaching you a false religious philosophy, since you are spiritually complete because you are united to Christ.
Disregard those who condemn you because you do not obey certain regulations and because you do not worship God as they insist that you should.
Do not submit to elementary regulations, which are concerned merely with what is external.
Be constantly wanting what is associated with heaven.
Do not do what is evil.
Do what is good; in particular, love one another.
Continue to be at peace with one another, be constantly thanking God, and continue getting to know thoroughly the message about Christ.
Do everything in the manner that those who are the people of the Lord Jesus should do.
Wives, be subject to your husbands; husbands, love your wives.
Children, obey your parents in every circumstance; parents, do not over-correct your children.
Slaves, obey your masters in every circumstance sincerely and wholeheartedly; masters, provide for your slaves justly and fairly.
Pray to God persistently. And pray that God will give me opportunities to declare the message about Christ.
Always speak wisely and graciously to those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus.
Tychicus will tell you all that has been happening to me.
My fellow workers here greet you.
Obey these instructions.
I, Paul, am penning this myself in order that you may know that this letter was sent by me. Remember to pray about the fact that I am in prison.

© 2008-2017 Ellis W. Deibler, Jr.