you always, 4. Having heard of your faith in Christ for JESUS’ sake, and of your love for all the saints, 5. For the hope that is set before you in heaven, which ye heard before in the word of truth in the gospel,

Which is come unto you, as it was into all the world, and is fruitful, as it was in you, from the day that ye heard it, and knew the grace of God in truth.

As ye have learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, which is a faithful minister of Christ unto you,

Who also opened to us your love in the Spirit.
(Epistle on the twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity.)

Therefore we also, from the day that we heard it, cease not from praying and supplicating for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

That ye may walk worthy of the Lord in all pleasing, and be fruitful in all good works.

and grow in the knowledge of God, and be strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, in all patience and longsuffering with joy;

and give thanks to the Father, who hath made us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light, 13. Who hath delivered us from the dominion of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son,

in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins]

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn before all creatures.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, both thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and authorities: all things were created by him, and for him.

And he is before all; and all things consist in him.

And he is the head of the body, which is the church; who is the beginning, and the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it was his good pleasure that in him should all fullness dwell, 20. And that all things through him might be reconciled to himself, whether on earth or in heaven, that he might make peace through himself by the blood of his cross.

And to you, who were once aliens and enemies by reason of evil works, 22. But now he hath reconciled you to the body of his flesh by death, that he might present you holy and without blame before himself,

If ye continue otherwise in the faith, being established, and firm, and immovable, in the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, which was preached among every creature that is under heaven, which I Paul have ministered.

Now rejoicing in my sufferings which I suffer for you, I make restitution in my flesh for the afflictions which are yet lacking in Christ for his body, which is the church, 25. To whom I have become a minister according to the divine office of preaching which is given me among you, that I should preach the word of God abundantly, 26. That is, the mystery which has been hidden from the world and from the ages, but is now
revealed to his saints,

Which God hath purposed to make known, which is the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, who is the hope of glory, 28. Whom we preach, and exhort all men, and teach all men with all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ JEsu,

I also labor and strive according to the working of him that worketh in me mightily.
(Colossians)
Chapter 2
Of the statutes of men, Christ, holy baptism, and the power of his death.

But I let you know what a struggle I have for you, and for them that are at Laodicea, and for all that have not seen my person in the flesh,

That their hearts may be admonished and gathered together in love to all the riches of the understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

But I say of this, that no man deceive you with reasoning.

For though I be not here according to the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing, and beholding your precious order, and your strong faith in Christ.

As ye have therefore received the Lord Christ Jesus, walk ye in him.

And be ye rooted and established in him, and be ye firm in the faith, as ye are taught, and be ye abundantly thankful in the same.

Take heed that no man deprive you through philosophy and loose enticement after the doctrine of men, and after the statutes of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are perfected in him, who is the head of all principality and authority, 11. In whom ye also are circumcised with the circumcision without hands, by the putting away of the sinful body in the flesh, even the circumcision of Christ,

In whom ye were buried with him by baptism; in whom also ye were raised from the dead by the faith which God wrought, who raised him from the dead.

And hath quickened you also with him, being dead in sins, and in the foreskin of your flesh, and hath forgiven us all our sins.

And hath blotted out the handwriting that was against us, which came forth by statutes, and was against us; and hath taken it out of the remedy, and nailed it to the cross.

And hath stripped the principalities and the mighty men, and hath made a public spectacle of them, and hath made a triumph of them by himself.

Let no man therefore make you conscience of meat, or of drink, or of certain feasts, or of new moons, or of sabbaths,

Which is the shadow of things to come; but the body itself is in Christ.

Let no man shift his aim, who walketh after his own choice in the humility and spirituality of angels, which he hath never seen, and is puffed up without matter in his carnal mind 19. And holdeth not to the head, out of which the whole body by joints and bands receiveth help, and cleaveth one to another, and so increaseth to the divine greatness.

If ye then be dead with Christ unto the statutes of the world, why are ye entangled with statutes, as though ye lived yet in the world?

Which say, Thou shalt not touch this, thou shalt not taste this, thou shalt not touch this, 22. Which are all consumed with hands, and are the commandment and doctrine of men; 23. Which have a semblance of wisdom through self-chosen spirituality and humility, and in that they spare not the body, neither do honor to the flesh for its need.
(Colossians)
Chapter 3
Exercise of godliness, especially of persons of the domestic estate.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Seek those things which are above, and not those things which are on earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

But when Christ your life shall be manifested, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory.

Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: Fornication, uncleanness, shameful rutting, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, 6. For which the wrath of God comes upon the children of unbelief; 7. In which also ye used to walk, when ye lived therein.

But now put away from yourselves all wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, and shameful words out of your mouth.

Lie not among yourselves. Put off the old man with his works.

And put on the new, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him, 11. For there is not Greek, Jew, circumcision, foreskin, unclean, scythe, bond, free, but all, and in all, Christ.
(Epistle on the fifth Sunday after Epiphany.)

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, saints and beloved, tender mercies, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience

And bear with one another, forgiving one another, if any man complain of another: as Christ forgave you, so forgive ye.

And above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body: and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly in all wisdom. Teach and admonish yourselves with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord in your hearts.

And whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto God and the Father by him.
(Epistle on the sixth Sunday after Epiphany.)

Wives, be subject to your husbands in the Lord, as is fitting.

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Ye children, be obedient to your parents in all things: for this is acceptable unto the LORD.

Ye fathers, provoke not your children to bitterness, lest they be afraid.

Ye servants, be obedient in all things unto your fleshly masters, not with service before your eyes, but to please men.
but with simplicity of heart and fear of the Lord.

Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the LORD, and not unto men; 24. And know that ye shall receive of the LORD the recompence of the inheritance: for ye serve the LORD Christ.

But he that worketh iniquity shall receive that which he hath wronged: and no respect of persons shall be counted for him.
Chap. 4, v. 1: Lords, what is right and equal, prove to your servants,