Colossians
Colossians 1 (The Message)
1
I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God's master
plan. Together with my friend Timothy, 2 I greet the Christians and stalwart
followers of Christ who live in Colosse. May everything good from God our
Father be yours! 3 Our prayers for you are always spilling over into
thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for
you! 4 We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and
the love you continuously extend to all Christians. 5 The lines of purpose in
your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven,
kept taut by hope. 6 It's the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit
and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day
you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you've been hungry for
more. 7 It's as vigorous in you now as when you learned it from our friend and
close associate Epaphras. He is one reliable worker for Christ! I could always
depend on him. 8 He's the one who told us how thoroughly love had been worked
into your lives by the Spirit. 9 Be assured that from the first day we heard of
you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and
spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the
ways in which God works. 10 We pray that you'll live well for the Master,
making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and
more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. 11 We pray that you'll
have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of
gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that
endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, 12 thanking the Father who
makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he
has for us. 13 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set
us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, 14 the Son who got us out of
the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. 15 We
look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and
see God's original purpose in everything created. 16 For everything, absolutely
everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank
of angels - everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. 17 He
was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right
up to this moment. 18 And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds
it together, like a head does a body. 19 So spacious is he, so roomy, that
everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. 20 Not only
that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe - people and
things, animals and atoms - get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant
harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.
21 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had
your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him
trouble every chance you got. 22 But now, by giving himself completely at the
Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put
your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. 23 You don't walk away
from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust,
constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted.
There is no other Message - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets
this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message. 24 I want you to
know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's
a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world - the kind of suffering
Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of
that suffering. 25 When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this
suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole
truth. 26 This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's
out in the open. 27 God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and
glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of
their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in
you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that
simple. That is the substance of our Message. 28 We preach Christ, warning
people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense
so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic.
Christ! No more, no less. 29 That's what I'm working so hard at day after day,
year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.
Colossians 2 (The Message)
1
I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you,
and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Not many of you have met me
face-to-face, but that doesn't make any difference. Know that I'm on your side,
right alongside you. You're not in this alone. 2 I want you woven into a
tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you
will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery.
3 All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that
mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery! 4 I'm telling you
this because I don't want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase,
after other so-called mysteries, or "the Secret." 5 I'm a long way
off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I'm on your side,
right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you
conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.
6 My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what
you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. 7
You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your
way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit
studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into
thanksgiving. 8 Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and
intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that
never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions
of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not
the way of Christ. 9 Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see
and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope
to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without
him. 10 When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His
power extends over everything. 11 Entering into this fullness is not something
you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a
long list of laws. No, you're already in - insiders - not through some
secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone
through for you, destroying the power of sin. 12 If it's an initiation ritual
you're after, you've already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going
under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a
resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. 13 When you were
stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God
brought you alive - right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, 14
the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's
Cross. 15 He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham
authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets. 16 So don't
put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy
days. 17 All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the
substance is Christ. 18 Don't tolerate people who try to run your life,
ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with
angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they
are. 19 They're completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who
puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He
is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he
nourishes us. 20 So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and
infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? 21
"Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" 22 Do you
think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of
attention? 23 Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They
even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just
another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
Colossians 3 (The Message)
1
So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act
like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2 Don't shuffle along,
eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up,
and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is.
See things from his perspective. 3 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which
is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in
God. He is your life. 4 When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again
on this earth, you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile,
be content with obscurity, like Christ. 5 And that means killing off everything
connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing
whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever
attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by
God. 6 It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in
anger. 7 It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing
any better. 8 But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad
temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. 9 Don't lie to one
another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting
clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. 10 Now you're dressed in a new
wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator,
with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. 11 Words like
Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider,
uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is
defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. 12 So, chosen by God for
this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:
compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 13 Be
even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive
as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 14 And regardless of what
else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be
without it. 15 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in
step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And
cultivate thankfulness. 16 Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run
of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one
another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17 Let
every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of
the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. 18 Wives,
understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor
the Master. 19 Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don't take
advantage of them. 20 Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights
the Master no end. 21 Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or
you'll crush their spirits. 22 Servants, do what you're told by your earthly
masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. 23
Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, 24 confident that you'll get
paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the
ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. 25 The sullen servant who does shoddy
work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work.
Colossians 4 (The Message)
1
And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don't forget
for a minute that you, too, serve a Master - God in heaven. 2 Pray diligently.
Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. 3 Don't forget to pray for
us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm
locked up in this jail. 4 Pray that every time I open my mouth I'll be able to
make Christ plain as day to them. 5 Use your heads as you live and work among
outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. 6 Be
gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a
conversation, not put them down, not cut them out. 7 My good friend Tychicus
will tell you all about me. He's a trusted minister and companion in the
service of the Master. 8 I've sent him to you so that you would know how things
are with us, and so he could encourage you in your faith. 9 And I've sent
Onesimus with him. Onesimus is one of you, and has become such a trusted and
dear brother! Together they'll bring you up-to-date on everything that has been
going on here. 10 Aristarchus, who is in jail here with me, sends greetings;
also Mark, cousin of Barnabas (you received a letter regarding him; if he shows
up, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus, the one they call Justus. These are the
only ones left from the old crowd who have stuck with me in working for God's
kingdom. Don't think they haven't been a big help! 12 Epaphras, who is one of
you, says hello. What a trooper he has been! He's been tireless in his prayers
for you, praying that you'll stand firm, mature and confident in everything God
wants you to do. 13 I've watched him closely, and can report on how hard he has
worked for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, good friend and
physician, and Demas both send greetings. 15 Say hello to our friends in
Laodicea; also to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After this
letter has been read to you, make sure it gets read also in Laodicea. And get
the letter that went to Laodicea and have it read to you. 17 And, oh, yes, tell
Archippus, "Do your best in the job you received from the Master. Do your
very best." 18 I'm signing off in my own handwriting - Paul. Remember to
pray for me in this jail. Grace be with you.
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