Luke 2
2:1 Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2:2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
2:3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
2:5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
2:6 It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.
2:7 She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
2:9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
2:10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
2:11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
2:12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
2:13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
2:15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
2:16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
2:17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
2:18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
2:19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
2:22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord
2:23 as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord",
2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
2:25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
2:27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,
2:28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
2:29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;
2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
2:31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
2:32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."
2:33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,
2:34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
2:35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
2:36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
2:37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years, who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.
2:38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
2:39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
2:40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
2:41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
2:42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,
2:43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn't know it,
2:44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
2:45 When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
2:46 It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.
2:47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
2:48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."
2:49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"
2:50 They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them.
2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Colossians 1
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1:2 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
1:4 having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News,
1:6 which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
1:7 even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
1:8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
1:9 For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
1:10 that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1:11 strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy;
1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;
1:14 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins;
1:15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
1:16 For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
1:18 He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
1:19 For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;
1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
1:21 You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,
1:22 yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him,
1:23 if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the assembly;
1:25 of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,
1:26 the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
1:28 whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
1:29 for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
Colossians 2
2:1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2:2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
2:3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
2:4 Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
2:5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
2:6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
2:7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
2:8 Be careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
2:9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
2:10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
2:11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
2:13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
2:14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
2:15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
2:17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.
2:18 Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
2:19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth.
2:20 If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
2:21 "Don't handle, nor taste, nor touch"
2:22 all of which perish with use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
2:23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
