New Testament · Letters of Paul · World English Bible
Colossians
"Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance."
— Colossians 3:12 
The Reading LensEvery verse pulled to the top of a book is chosen by three questions: Where is God’s heart here? Who is He protecting? Who is being saved by the action? It marks the place where those answers come into clearest focus — a “look at this, in this book.”
About the Letter
Written to a congregation he had not founded — Epaphras had — in a town in the Lycus valley, addressing a teaching that was adding things: visions, rules about food and festivals, and the worship of angels.
His answer is not to argue point by point but to raise the subject. If everything holds together in Christ, the supplements are not merely unnecessary; they are a demotion.
It shares a great deal of wording with Ephesians and travelled alongside the note to Philemon — Onesimus goes with Tychicus, and both men are named here.
4 Chapters
The Image of the Invisible God
Thanksgiving and a prayer for endurance with patience and joy. Then the hymn: firstborn over all creation, all things created through him and for him, and in him all things held together.
Rooted
Do not be taken captive by philosophy and empty deceit. The record of debt nailed to the cross. Let no one judge you about food, drink, festival or new moon — these are a shadow.
The New Self
Set your mind on things above. Put to death what belongs to the old life; put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience — and over them all, love. Then the household instructions.
Final Greetings
A request for prayer for an open door. Speech seasoned with salt. Then the names — Luke the beloved physician, Onesimus described as one of you, and Nympha with the church in her house.