Paul, a shalach of Yeshuwah haMashiyach by the will of 'Elohiym, and Timothy our brother, to the qadoshiym and trustworthy brothers in the Messiah at Colosse:
Chen and shalom to you from 'Elohiym, our Father.
We always thank 'Elohiym, Father of our Lord, Yeshuwah haMashiyach, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your 'emuwnah in Yeshuwah haMashiyach and of the checed you have for all the qadoshiym – through the hope awaiting you in Shamayim that you have already heard about in the Word of 'Emeth, the Gospel that has come to you. All over the world it is bearing fruit, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood the checed of 'Elohiym in 'Emeth. You learned it also from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave, who is a trustworthy shepherd of the Messiah, and who also told us of your checed in haRuach.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you be filled with the da`ath of His will, through all chakmah and spiritual discernment, in order that you may live a life worthy of YHWH and may please Him in every way – bearing good fruit in every action, growing in the da`ath of 'Elohiym, being empowered with all miraculous power according to the might of His Kabowd, so that you may have great hope and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the qadoshiym in the light. For He has redeemed us from the dominion of Choshek and brought us into the Mamlahkah of the Son, His Beloved, in whom we have redemption through His blood for the forgiveness of chatta'ah.
He is the representation of 'Elohiym, the Invisible One, the Firstborn of all creation, for in Him all things were created – the things in Shamayim and on ha'arets, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or powers or first estate or superhuman; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He exists before all things, and in Him all things are held together. And, He is the Ro'sh of the Body, the Qahal; He is the 'Achad and the Firstborn from among the dead ones, so that in everything He will have preeminence. For it was well-pleasing to have all the fulfillment reside in Him, and through Him to fully reconcile all things to Himself, making shalom through the blood of His crucifixion, whether things on ha'arets or things in Shamayim.
Once you were alienated and were enemies in the mind, because of your evil behavior. But now He reconciled you fully in the body of His flesh, through His death, to present you qadoshiym, tamiym and tahowriym in His sight – if indeed you continue in 'emuwnah, established and firm, not moving from the hope of the Gospel, which you heard proclaimed to all the creation under Shamayim, and of which I, Paul, became a shepherd.
Now rejoice in my suffering for you, instead of fulfilling that which falls short of the afflictions of the Messiah in my flesh, for the sake of His Body, which is the Qahal. I became a shepherd as regards the stewardship of 'Elohiym given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of 'Elohiym – the revelation that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now revealed to His qadoshiym. To them 'Elohiym purposed to make known the riches of the revelation of Kabowd, and this among the gentiles, who is the Messiah in you, the expectation of the Kabowd.
We proclaim Him, warning every man and teaching every man in all chakmah, that we may present every man mature in the Messiah. To this end I labor, struggling in accordance with all His energy, the One working in me in power.
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally, that they may be encouraged in their hearts and yachad in checed, that they may have all the riches of full confidence of discernment, for da`ath of the revelation of 'Elohiym, namely, the Messiah, in whom are hidden all the treasure of chakmah and da`ath. And, I tell you this, so that no one may deceive you by persuasive speech. For I am absent from you in body, but I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and the firmness of your 'emuwnah in the Messiah.
Therefore, just as you received Yeshuwah haMashiyach as Lord, continue to live in Him, having been rooted and built up in Him, stabilized in 'emuwnah, as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and worthless deceit, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the world – rather than depending on the Messiah.
For in Him resides all the fulfillment of ha'Elohiym physically, and you are in Him, having been satiated, who is the Ro'sh over all the first estate and superhuman. In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand, but by the putting off of the flesh, by the circumcision of the Messiah, being co-buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through 'emuwnah in the power of 'Elohiym, raising Him from the dead.
When you were dead in chatta'ah and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him, having forgiven all chatta'ah. This wiped away the handwritten regulations, which were against us and that stood opposed to us; He took them out of their midst, nailing them to the cross. Having stripped away the first estate and the superhuman, displaying them in boldness, triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you in eating or drinking, or with regard to a Chag, a Chodesh or Shabat. This is a shadow of the things that are coming; but the Body is the Messiah's. Do not let anyone judge you who delights in false humility and the worship of mal'akiym. Such a person parades what is feigned about what he has seen, puffed up through the intellect of his flesh. He has lost connection with the Ro'sh, from whom the whole Body, its ligaments and sinews having been supplied and held together, will grow by the fruitfulness of 'Elohiym.
If, then, you have died with the Messiah to the basic principles of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its doctrinal notions asserted without regard to evidence or truth – "Do not attach yourself to it! Do not experience it! Do not have anything to do with it!"? Are these things all corrupt with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings? Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their arbitrary piety, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in satisfying the flesh.
If, then, you were raised with the Messiah, worship what is above, where the Messiah is sitting as Yamiyn of 'Elohiym. Set your minds on what is above, not on worldly things. For you died, and your life has been hidden with the Messiah in 'Elohiym. When the Messiah is revealed, who is your life, then you also will be revealed with Him in Kabowd.
Therefore, put to death whatever belongs to the world: pornography, everything tame', self-pity, longing for what is forbidden, and an insatiable desire for wealth or gain, all of which is idolatry. For these things the wrath of 'Elohiym is coming upon the rasha`iym. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all these things as well – covetousness, rage, malice, blasphemy, and shameful language from your mouth. Do not deceive each other, since you have taken off your old self with his practices and have put on the new, being renewed in da`ath according to the image of his Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or freeman, but the Messiah is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as chosen people of 'Elohiym, qadoshiym and chacdiym, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forebearance and forgiving yourselves. Whatever grievances you may have against one another, forgive them as YHWH forgave you. And over all these put on checed, which brings perfect yachad.
Let the shalom of the Messiah rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to shalom. And be thankful. The Word of the Messiah dwells in you richly, as you teach and gently reprove one another in all chakmah, using Tphillowt, hymns and spiritual songs with checed in your hearts to YHWH. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all things in the Name of the Lord Yeshuwah, giving thanks to 'Elohiym, the Father, through Him.
Women, submit to your own husband, as is fitting in YHWH. Husbands, love your women and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing to YHWH. Fathers, do not provoke your children, that they will not become discouraged.
Slaves, obey your worldly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you, like pleasers of men, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for YHWH. Whatever you do, work at it with all your soul, as working for YHWH, not for men, since you know that from YHWH you will receive the reward of the inheritance. For, it is YHWH, the Messiah, you are serving. Anyone who does risha` will be repaid for his risha`, and there is no favoritism.
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in Shamayim.
Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it, with thanksgiving. And pray together for us, too, that 'Elohiym may open a door for the Word, so that we may proclaim the revelation of the Messiah, for which I am bound, that I may clearly reveal it as I need to. Walk in chakmah toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of checed, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a trustworthy shepherd and fellow slave in YHWH. I am sending him to you for that express purpose, because he knows all about us and can encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, the trustworthy and dear brother who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Bar-Nabah, about whom you have received instructions – if he comes to you, welcome him.
Yeshua, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Yhuwdim among my fellow workers for Mamlahket ha'El, and they have proved a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Yeshuwah haMashiyach, sends greetings. He is always contending for you with the adversary in the prayers, that you will stand firm, mature and tamiym, in all the will of 'Elohiym. I vouch for him that he is zealous for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the physician among the chacdiym, and Demas send greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nymphas and the congregation in her house.
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the congregation of Laodicea and that you in turn read the letter of Laodicea.
Tell Archippus: "Take the service you have received in YHWH seriously, that you may fulfill it."
I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my bonds. Checed is with you.
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