Modern Literal Version
[Colossians 1]
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 1:2 to the holy and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: grace to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 We are giving-thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying concerning you*, 1:4 having heard of your* faith in Christ Jesus and of the love* which you* have toward all the holy-ones, 1:5 because of the hope which is laying up for you* in the heavens, of which you* heard beforehand in the word of the truth of the good-news. 1:6 This good-news which is present* *for you*; just-as it also is in all the world. And is bearing-fruit and growing in yourselves, just-as it also does in you*, from the day you* heard and fully knew the grace of God in truth; 1:7 just-as you* also learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow bondservant, who is a faithful servant of the Christ on your* behalf, 1:8 who also indicated to us your* love* in the Spirit.
1:9 Because of this, we also do not cease praying and asking on your* behalf from the day we heard it, in order that you* may be filled with the full knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and intelligence, 1:10 for you* to walk worthy of the Lord toward pleasing him in everything, bearing-fruit in every good work and growing yourselves into the full knowledge of God; 1:11 being empowered in all power, according to the dominion of his glory, *for all endurance and patience with joy, 1:12 giving-thanks to the Father, who made us sufficient *for the part of the inheritance of the holy-ones in the light. 1:13 He rescued us out of the authority of darkness and transplanted us into the kingdom of the Son of his love*; 1:14 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins, {T} though his blood 1:15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 1:16 Because all things were created by him: the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth, the visible and invisible, whether thrones or lordships or principalities or authorities. All things have been created through him and *for him. 1:17 And he is before all things and all things are standing {Or: established} in him. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the congregation* of believers; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, in order that he might become foremost in all things. 1:19 Because all the fullness was delighted to dwell in him; 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, whether things upon the earth or things upon the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross, through him. 1:21 And you* were being previously alienated and enemies in mind, in evil works, but now he reconciled you* 1:22 in the body of his flesh through his death, to present you* holy and unblemished and irreproachable in his sight; 1:23 if you* actually are remaining in the faith, having been founded and grounded and not being moved away from the hope of the good-news which you* heard, which was preached in all creation which is under heaven; of which I, Paul, became a servant.
1:24 Now I am rejoicing in the sufferings of mine on your* behalf and I am filling up in my flesh, the things lacking of the afflictions of the Christ on behalf of his body, which is the congregation* of believers; 1:25 of which I became a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given to me *for you*, to fulfill the word of God, 1:26 the mystery that has been hidden away from the ages and away from the generations, but now it was manifested to his holy-ones. 1:27 To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, who is Christ in you*, the hope of glory. 1:28 The Christ whom we are proclaiming, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, in order that we should present every man as completed in Christ Jesus; 1:29 *for which I also labor, struggling according to his working, which works in power in me.
2:1 For* I wish you* to know how-vast a struggle I have concerning you* and those in Laodicea and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2:2 in order that their hearts might be encouraged, having been knitted together in love* and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God and Father and of the Christ, 2:3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
2:4 But I am saying all of this, in order that not anyone may delude you* in persuasive speech. 2:5 For* even if I am absent in the flesh, but yet I am together with you* in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your* order and the firmness of your* faith in Christ.
2:6 Therefore, as you* received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk* in him, 2:7 having been rooted and being built up in him and being confirmed in the faith, just-as you* were taught in it, abounding in thanksgiving.
2:8 Beware*, that there will not be anyone there who is leading you* away as his prey through philosophy and vain deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ, 2:9 because all the fullness of the Deity is dwelling in him bodily. 2:10 And you* are fulfilled in him, who is the head of all principality and authority; 2:11 in whom you* were also circumcised with a circumcision not made* with hands, in the stripping off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ, 2:12 having been buried together with him in the immersion*, in which you* were also raised up together with him through the faith from the working of God, who raised him up from the dead. 2:13 And you*, being dead in your* trespasses and the uncircumcision of your* flesh, he made* you* alive together with him, having forgiven* us all our trespasses; 2:14 having wiped-away the handwriting in the decrees that were against us, which were an adversary to us. He has also taken these out of the midst of us, having nailed it to the cross, 2:15 having stripped off the principalities and the authorities, he publicly made a show of them, having triumphed over them in it.
2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you* in food, or in drink, or in this respect of a feast day, or a new month, or a Sabbath; 2:17 which are a shadow of the future things, but the body is Christ's. 2:18 Let no one arbitrate against you*, willing it so in your* humility and in a religion of the messengers; stepping you* further into the things which he has not seen, being vainly arrogant by his mind of flesh, 2:19 and not holding-fast to the head, from whom all the body is being supplied and knitted together through the joints and ligaments, which is growing with the growth of God.
2:20 If you* died together with Christ away from the elemental principles of the world, why, (as though living in the world), are you* submissive to its decrees: 2:21 do not touch; do not taste; do not handle; 2:22 (which things in the using are all leading to corruption), according to the commandments and teachings of men? 2:23 Which things are indeed in a man-made religion holding a reason which comes from man's wisdom and humility and unsparing cruelty of the body, but are not in any value toward the indulgence of the flesh.
3:1 Therefore, if you* were raised up together with the Christ, seek* the things which are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Be* mindful of the things above, not the things upon the earth. 3:3 For* you* died and the life you* have, has been hidden together with the Christ in God. 3:4 Whenever the Christ, who is the life of us, is manifested, then you* will also be manifested together with him in glory.
3:5 Therefore make* your* members dead which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed, which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of which things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience; 3:7 among whom you* also previously walked, when you* were living in them. 3:8 But also now, place* all these things away from yourselves: anger, fury, malice, blasphemy, obscene speech from your* mouth.
3:9 Do* not lie to one another; since you* have stripped off the old man together with his practices, 3:10 and have clothed yourselves with the new man, who is being renewed to the full knowledge according to the image of the one who created him; 3:11 where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free man, but Christ is all things and in all things.
3:12 Therefore as chosen ones of God, holy and beloved, clothe* yourselves with a heart* of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, 3:13 tolerating one another and forgiving* others in yourselves. If anyone has a complaint toward anyone; just-as the Christ forgave* you*, so you* also forgive* others. 3:14 But over all these things be clothed with the love*, which is the bond of maturity. 3:15 And let the peace of God arbitrate in your* hearts, for which you* were also called in one body, and become* thankful. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you* richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing in gratitude in your* heart to the Lord. 3:17 And everything, anything, whatever you* do* in word or in work, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving-thanks to the God and Father through him.
3:18 The wives: be subject* to your* own husbands, as is proper in the Lord.
3:19 The husbands: love** the wives, and do* not be bitter toward them.
3:20 The children: obey** the parents according to all things, for* this is well pleasing in the Lord.
3:21 The fathers: do* not aggravate your* children, in order that they may not be discouraged.
3:22 The bondservants: be* obedient* according to all things, those who are your* lords according to the flesh; not in eye-services, like men-pleasers, but in clarity of heart, fearing God.
3:23 And everything, anything whatever you* do*, work* from your soul, as you would to the Lord and not as to men; 3:24 knowing that you* will be receiving from the Lord the payment of the inheritance; for* you* are serving* the Lord Christ. 3:25 But he who does wrong will get back what he did wrong and there is no favoritism with God.
[Colossians 4] 4:1 The lords: provide* the just and the equal things to your* bondservants; knowing that you* also have a Lord in the heavens.
4:2 Persevere* in your* prayer, watching in it in thanksgiving; 4:3 praying at the same time concerning us also, in order that God may open a door of the word to us, to speak the mystery of the Christ, because of which I have also been bound; 4:4 in order that I may manifest it, as it is essential for me to speak. 4:5 Walk* in wisdom toward those who are outside, buying up the time. 4:6 Let your* speech always be in gratitude, having been seasoned in salt, that you* may know how it is essential for you* to answer each one.
4:7 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant, and my fellow bondservant in the Lord will make all things known to you* from me; 4:8 whom I sent to you* *for this same thing, in order that he might know about the things concerning you* and in order that he may comfort your* hearts; 4:9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one from you*. They will be making all things known to you* the things which are done here.
4:10 Aristarchus my fellow captive greets you*, and Mark, the cousin to Barnabas (concerning whom you* received commandments; if he comes to you*, accept* him), 4:11 and Jesus who is called* Justus. These, being from the circumcision, are my only fellow workers in the kingdom of God, those who became a comfort to me. 4:12 Epaphras, a bondservant of Christ, the one from you*, greets you*. He is always fighting on your* behalf in his prayers, in order that you* might stand complete and having been fulfilled in all the will of God. 4:13 For* I am testifying of him, that he has much zeal on your* behalf, and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician and Demas greet you*. 4:15 Greet* the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the congregation* which is in his house.
4:16 And whenever this letter is read before you*, do** forward it, in order that it should also be read in the congregation* of the Laodiceans, and in order that you* also should read the letter from Laodicea. 4:17 And say* to Archippus, Beware that the service which you received in the Lord, that* you should fulfill it.
4:18 The greeting from me, Paul, with my own hand. Remember* my bonds. Grace is with you*. Amen.
{NOTES: You should read the 'Definitions' Section and other non-bible sections.}
{{ Introduction to 1 & 2 Thessalonians 52-53 AD
The letter sent to a congregation in Thessalonica apparently who had problems with the teachings previously given to them, which deals with what is typical, called the 'Second Coming.' They believed (wrongly) that Jesus was coming back 'like right now.' One thing that false religious groups and 'self-proclaimed' (false) prophets have taught us in the past 100 years or so is that no one knows when Jesus is coming back. Jesus did not even know. A very vivid picture is given of how the judgment, revelation of the Lord, Jesus' coming and the end occurs. Jesus and the messengers of God would come with a sound of a trumpet (common in Greek history as a call to battle, that everyone could hear it) in flaming fire. Christians will meet Jesus in the air 1Thessalonians 4:16-17, 'those who are not obeying...the sentence of everlasting utter-destruction' in 2Thessalonians 1:7-9. The warning that the 'man of sin' would come first, 1Thessalonians 2, Caesar Nero, (called 666 by John in Revelation 13:18) was a time that Christians would start suffering persecution from the hands of the Roman government. A quick 'to the point' conclusion in 2Thessalonians 3 and a commandment to stay away from those who do not teach 'the tradition received from us.' A commandment we hope all Christians will obey by not following the 'traditions of men' and so save themselves from the 'fire.'}}
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Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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