GREETINGS

¹From Small Man (Paul), chosen by the Great Spirit to be a message bearer for Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, and from He Gives Honor (Timothy).

²To the Great Spirit’s holy people and sacred family members1 who live in Village of Giants (Colossae) and have been faithful to walk the path of the Chosen One. We greet you with the great kindness and peace that comes from our Father, the Great Spirit.

GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER

³When we send up prayers for you, we always give thanks to the Father of our Honored Chief, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. ⁴We thank him for the good words we have heard about your trust in Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One and your deep love for all his holy family members. ⁵This love and trust come from the hope you have in Creator’s promises kept safe for you in the spirit-world above. It is the same hope you heard about when you were told the words of truth found in Creator’s good story.

GOOD FRUIT COMES FROM THE GOOD STORY

⁶The seeds of this good story have been planted throughout the whole world, and now the message is growing and bearing good fruit. In the same way, it took root and began to grow in you, when you first heard and understood the truth about the gift of Creator’s great kindness.

⁷Walks in Beauty (Epaphras) was the seed planter who first taught you these things. He is a faithful servant of the Chosen One, for your sakes, and also a much-loved helper who walks beside us on the road of life. ⁸He is the one who told us about the love of the Spirit that is in you.

SENDING UP PRAYERS

⁹Ever since we heard about you, we have never stopped praying for you. When we send our voices to the Great Spirit, we ask that he will fill your heart and mind with the knowledge you need to walk in his ways with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰That you will walk in a manner that is worthy of our Honored Chief, making his heart glad and bearing good fruit as you walk the path he has chosen for you. In this way, you will grow wise in your understanding of our Great Creator.

^11-12We pray that you will grow strong with the strength that comes from the honor and shining-greatness of his power. Then you will be able to stand firm in a calm and unhurried manner, as you give thanks with glad hearts to the Great Spirit who is our Father from above. For he is the one who has made you ready to take your place on this road of life, a place he prepared for you among all the holy ones who walk in his light.

SET FREE BY THE SON

¹³The Giver of Life has set us free from the dark ruler of this world. He has brought us safely onto his good road to walk it together with Creator’s much-loved Son. ¹⁴He is the one who paid a great price to release us from our bad hearts and broken ways.

¹⁵He is the visible representation of our invisible Creator. All that the Father has belongs to this Son. He existed before creation and is above all created things. ¹⁶For it was in him that all things in the spirit-world above and on the earth below were created, all things seen and unseen. Yes, even governments, rulers, powers, and authorities were all created by him and for him.

HE GIVES ALL THINGS THEIR FULL MEANING

¹⁷He is the one who is in first place and the head of all things. It is in him that all things come together and find their full meaning and purpose. ¹⁸He is also the head of his body on earth, the sacred family. He is in first place before all other things, the first2 to rise to life from among those who have died. In this way, he remains chief in all things.

¹⁹It made our Great Father’s heart glad to have all that he is living in his Son. ²⁰Through his Son he brought together everything in the spirit-world above and on the earth below into harmony with himself, making peace through his lifeblood poured out on the cross.

OUTSIDERS BECOME INSIDERS

²¹At one time you were outsiders, separated from Creator by your hostile thoughts that led to evil ways. ²²But now in the physical body of the Chosen One, through his death, he has turned you from an enemy into a friend. He did this so that you can stand without shame before the Great Spirit as a people who have been made holy, washed clean from guilt and free from all accusation.

²³Yes, all this is yours as you make your path straight on the road that leads to this hope, trusting in the good story that you have heard. This is the same story that is being told to all in creation who live under the spirit-world above. And I, Small Man (Paul), have dedicated my life to serve this good story.

SUFFERING WITH THE CHOSEN ONE

²⁴Even though I have been suffering for you, it makes my heart glad. There are still many things that the Chosen One must suffer through his sacred family in his body on earth.

My suffering, in my human body,3 is my part in bringing full meaning and purpose to these remaining afflictions. This I gladly do for the sake of the sacred family, the body of the Chosen One.

A GREAT MYSTERY REVEALED

²⁵The Great Spirit has given me the solemn task of serving his sacred family, the family you are now part of, by teaching you the full meaning and purpose of Creator’s message. ²⁶This message is a mystery that was hidden for many ages and generations but now has been made clear to his holy ones.

²⁷Creator also did this to show the Outside Nations the mystery of the beauty and honor he has bestowed on them. This mystery is that Chosen One also lives in you, the Outside Nations. For the Chosen One in you is the hope of this beauty and honor.

²⁸Yes, he is the one we tell others about, teaching and instructing them with wise counsel, so that they may stand tall as mature human beings, like the Chosen One. ²⁹I give all I am to this task, drawing my strength from the Great Spirit who works so powerfully in me.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

¹I want you to know about the fierce spiritual battle that I fight for you who live in Village of Giants (Colossae). I also fight for you who live in the village of The People Will Decide (Laodicea) and for all who have never seen me face to face. ²I pray that all of you would have strong hearts that beat together with the love of the Great Spirit. Then your understanding will grow strong and you will see clearly into the mystery of our Father the Great Spirit, and this mystery is the Chosen One.

TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

³For the Great Spirit has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in the Chosen One. ⁴I am making this known to you so that no humans behaving like tricksters will fool you with their smooth words and sly arguments. ⁵For even though my body may be far away, in my spirit I am close to you. I can see you standing strong and walking a straight path with firm steps as you trust in the Chosen One.

WALKING THE GOOD ROAD

⁶So, in the same way you welcomed the Chosen One, Creator Sets Free (Jesus), to be your Honored Chief, continue to walk with him on this road of life. ⁷Let your roots grow deep into him, and then your faith will grow strong and your steps will become firm on this path that you have learned to follow, always giving thanks to the Great Spirit.

WATCH OUT FOR LYING SPIRITS

⁸Make sure no one steals your faith from you with fine-sounding words spoken with hollow tongues. These people make up their own traditions as they follow the lying spirits of the ways of this world,4 instead of simply trusting in the Chosen One. ⁹For all that the Great Spirit is fills the physical body of the Chosen One. ¹⁰He is the one above all other powers and forces, and you have been made complete in him.

CUTTING OFF WEAK HUMAN WAYS

¹¹In the Chosen One, you received a spiritual cutting of the flesh ceremony done without human hands. The Chosen One did this for you, by the cutting off of your weak human ways.5

¹²This is what happened when you were buried with him during your purification ceremony.6 You were also raised up with him through your trust in Creator’s great power that raised the Chosen One from the dead.

SILENCING ALL ACCUSATIONS

¹³You were spiritually dead because your weak human ways had not yet been cut away and because you were still following your bad hearts, walking in your broken ways. Even so the Great Spirit has made you spiritually alive along with the Chosen One by releasing you from all wrongdoings.

¹⁴When Creator did this, he wiped away and silenced every accusation that could be made against us for not following tribal law. When the Chosen One was nailed to the cross, the accusations the law made against us were nailed there with him, releasing us from those charges.

VICTORY DANCE

¹⁵This is how the Great Spirit, through what the Chosen One did on the cross, defeated the spiritual powers that ruled over us by using our tribal law to accuse us and hold us captive. He now dances the victory dance with us, for the whole world to see, to celebrate the defeat of those powers!

NO MORE SHADOWS

¹⁶From now on do not accept anyone’s accusation against you for not following laws about what you should eat or drink, or whether you participate in celebrating festivals, or New Moon ceremonies, or a Day of Resting. ¹⁷These laws and ceremonies were only dim shadows of what was coming, but the reality is found in the Chosen One.

HOLD ON FIRMLY TO THE CHOSEN ONE

¹⁸Do not permit anyone to talk you out of what the Chosen One has done for you. That kind of humility is only a mask to fool you into humbling yourselves before wayward spirit-messengers. The visions they claim to have seen are only puffed-up images that come from their own prideful imaginations and weak ways of thinking.

¹⁹These people have lost their way because they did not hold on firmly to the Chosen One, who is the head of his body, the sacred family. When the members of this body depend on the Chosen One, they are nourished and held together by the body’s joints and tendons. This is how Creator helps them grow into maturity.

FOLLOWING THE CHOSEN ONE INSTEAD OF RULES

²⁰If you have died with the Chosen One to the powers and ideas that rule the ways of this world, why would you follow the kind of rules these people require? ²¹Rules like, “Do not handle this! Do not taste that! Do not go near this!” ²²The problem is, these things they make rules about eventually get used up and ultimately fade away, because they are only rules and instructions made up by weak human beings. ²³They may put on a show of wisdom and humble, self-imposed spirituality, along with harsh treatment of their bodies, but these rules are without honor and have no power to keep us from following our broken human ways.

KEEP LOOKING UP

¹Since you have been raised up to a new life with the Chosen One, then keep looking upward toward him into the spirit-world above, where he sits in the place of greatest honor at Creator’s right hand. ²Keep your thoughts and desires centered on the spirit-world above, not on the things from the earth below.

HIDDEN IN THE CHOSEN ONE

³You died with the Chosen One, and now your life is hidden with the Chosen One in the Great Spirit. ⁴When the Chosen One is revealed, then you will be revealed with him and share in his beauty and honor.

THINGS THAT MUST DIE

⁵So let the death of the Chosen One kill in you all that is of the ways of this world. These are things such as improper sexual desires, spiritual impurity, uncontrolled emotions that lead to wrong desires, evil ways, and always wanting more than you need. These desires come from listening to lying spirits.7 ⁶It is things such as these that will bring down the great anger of Creator on the ones who refuse to follow his ways.

⁷All of you once followed this dark path when you walked in these ways, ⁸but it is now time to walk away from these things, things such as uncontrolled anger that turns into rage, dark selfish desires, speaking lies against others, and insulting them with foul words from mouths that have no respect. ⁹So stop lying to each other and speaking with forked tongues!

WALKING THE NEW PATH

These bad-hearted ways must come to an end, for they no longer represent who you are. The person you were has died, so quit walking the path like that worn-out person you used to be. ¹⁰Instead, begin to walk in the ways of the new person you have been created to be. This new person is being created to look like the Great Spirit and to think his thoughts.

THE CHOSEN ONE IS ALL IN ALL

¹¹In the Chosen One there are no longer Insiders or Outsiders,8 or those who ceremonially cut the flesh and those who do not. We no longer see ourselves or others as uncivilized, ruffians,9 slaves or free. For there is only the Chosen One. All are in him, and he is in all!

NEW REGALIA FOR A NEW LIFE

¹²The Great Spirit has chosen you to be his holy and deeply loved children, so put on the new regalia he has provided for you. Put on deep feeling for the pain of others, kindness, humbleness of heart, gentleness of spirit, and be patient with one another. ¹³If there are any complaints against each other, then carry that burden basket and learn to forgive. For we must forgive others in the same manner that our Honored Chief has freely forgiven us.

¹⁴When all this new regalia is in place, let the love of the Great Spirit gather all the loose threads and braid them together in unity with one another. ¹⁵Let the Chosen One guide you on the path of peace and harmony, and then as his one body this peace will be the guiding light in your hearts as you give thanks to the Great Spirit.

DANCING OUR PRAYERS

¹⁶Let the message of the Chosen One become a deep watering hole inside you. It will then become a refreshing spring as you teach and guide one another with wisdom and understanding. You will sing traditional prayers, sacred chants, and spiritual songs, as you dance your prayers before the Great Spirit with glad and thankful hearts.

¹⁷Every step taken and each word spoken should be done to represent our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus), as you dance your prayers and give thanks through him to our Father the Creator.

GUIDANCE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

¹⁸Wives, listen to and follow the loving guidance of your husbands, for this is a good thing in Creator’s sight. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives in the same manner that Creator loves you, and never let bitter roots grow in your heart toward them.

²⁰Children, follow the wise guidance of your parents in all you do, for this will make Creator’s heart glad. ²¹Fathers, do not push your children too hard, for this may make their hearts fall to the ground.

GUIDANCE FOR SLAVES AND MASTERS

²²If you are a slave, then do everything your earthly master tells you to do, not just when he has his eye on you but from a good heart and out of deep respect for the Great Spirit. ²³Do everything from a strong heart, knowing you are serving our Creator and not weak human beings. ²⁴For you know it is our Honored Chief, the Chosen One, whom you serve, who will honor you with all that he has promised. ²⁵It does not matter whether one is master or slave: if wrong is done, then wrong will come back—full circle. Creator will not favor one over another.

NEVER GIVE UP PRAYING

²When you send your voice to the Great Spirit, stay alert and never give up praying and giving thanks. ^3-4Keep us in your thoughts and prayers also. Ask Creator to open the way for our message to be heard, and that I would clearly make known the mystery of the Chosen One. It is for this reason that I have been captured and put in chains.

⁵Use great wisdom as you walk among those who are not yet part of the sacred family, and make full use of every opportunity as you represent our Honored Chief. ⁶Think before you speak and let your words be clear. Then, like salt that brings out the good flavor, you will know how to give each person the right answer.

FINAL WORDS AND FAREWELLS

^7-8I am sending He Is at Ease (Tychicus) to you, a much-loved spiritual brother, one who faithfully serves our Honored Chief by also serving others. I am sending him to bring you news about me, so you will know how we are doing and that your hearts may be lifted up and made strong. ⁹Along with him is He Is Helpful (Onesimus), a much-loved and faithful spiritual brother, who is also from the sacred family that meets in your village. They will give you a full report about everything here.

¹⁰I send you greetings from Good Chief (Aristarchus), who is in prison with me. War Club (Mark), the cousin of Son of Comfort (Barnabas), also sends his greetings. He is the one I already instructed you about. If he comes to you, welcome him. ¹¹Creator Rescues (Jesus), who is also named Stands Upright (Justus), also sends his greetings. These are the only Tribal Members who walk with me on Creator’s good road, working with me side by side. They have been a great comfort to me.

¹²Walks in Beauty (Epaphras), who is a member of the sacred family of your village,10 sends his greetings also. He is a true servant of the Chosen One, Creator Sets Free (Jesus). He wrestles for you in his prayers, that you will stand strong and walk Creator’s path with firm steps as you grow into mature human beings. ¹³I speak from my heart, he has worked with all his strength for you and for those who live in the village of The People Will Decide (Laodicea) and in Medicine Village (Hierapolis).

¹⁴Our much-loved friend Shining Light (Luke), the medicine man, sends you his greetings, along with Leader of the People (Demas).

¹⁵Send my greetings to the sacred family members in the village of The People Will Decide (Laodicea), to Bride Woman (Nympha), and to the sacred family members that gather in her home.

¹⁶After you who live in Village of Giants (Colossae) have read this message from me, make sure it is also read by the sacred family at The People Will Decide (Laodicea), and then you can also read the message I sent to them.

¹⁷Give this message to Horse Chief (Archippus), “See to it that you finish the work our Honored Chief entrusted to you.”

¹⁸I, Small Man (Paul), write this greeting with my own hand. Remember me in my chains! May the gift of Creator’s great kindness rest on you.