Dual Panel1Paul<3972>, an apostle<652> of Jesus<2424> Christ<5547> by the will<2307> of God<2316>, and Timothy<5095> our brother<80>,
2To the saints<40> and faithful<4103> brethren<80> in Christ<5547> who are at Colossae<2857>: Grace<5485> to you and peace<1515> from God<2316> our Father<3962>.
3We give<2168> thanks<2168> to God<2316>, the Father<3962> of our Lord<2962> Jesus<2424> Christ<5547>, praying<4336> always<3842> for you,
4since we heard<191> of your faith<4102> in Christ<5547> Jesus<2424> and the love<26> which<3739> you have<2192> for all<3956> the saints<40>;
5because<1223> of the hope<1680> laid<606> up for you in heaven<3772>, of which<3739> you previously<4257> heard<4257> in the word<3056> of truth<225>, the gospel<2098>
6which has come<3918> to you, just<2531> as in all<3956> the world<2889> also<2532> it is constantly bearing<2592> fruit<2592> and increasing<837>, even<2531> as it has been doing in you also<2532> since<575> the day<2250> you heard<191> of it and understood<1921> the grace<5485> of God<2316> in truth<225>;
7just<2531> as you learned<3129> it from Epaphras<1889>, our beloved<27> fellow<4889> bond-servant<4889>, who<3739> is a faithful<4103> servant<1249> of Christ<5547> on our behalf<5228>,
8and he also<2532> informed<1213> us of your love<26> in the Spirit<4151>.
9For this<3778> reason<1223> also<2532>, since<575> the day<2250> we heard<191> of it, we have not ceased<3973> to pray<4336> for you and to ask<154> that you may be filled<4137> with the knowledge<1922> of His will<2307> in all<3956> spiritual<4152> wisdom<4678> and understanding<4907>,
10so that you will walk<4043> in a manner<516> worthy<516> of the Lord<2962>, to please<699> Him in all<3956> respects<3956>, bearing<2592> fruit<2592> in every<3956> good<18> work<2041> and increasing<837> in the knowledge<1922> of God<2316>;
11strengthened<1412> with all<3956> power<1411>, according<2596> to His glorious<1391> might<2904>, for the attaining of all<3956> steadfastness<5281> and patience<3115>; joyously<5479>
12giving<2168> thanks<2168> to the Father<3962>, who has qualified<2427> us to share<3310> in the inheritance<2819> of the saints<40> in Light<5457>.
13For He rescued<4506> us from the domain<1849> of darkness<4655>, and transferred<3179> us to the kingdom<932> of His beloved<26> Son<5207>,
14in whom<3739> we have<2192> redemption<629>, the forgiveness<859> of sins<266>.
15He is the image<1504> of the invisible<517> God<2316>, the firstborn<4416> of all<3956> creation<2937>.
16For by Him all<3956> things<3956> were created<2936>, both in the heavens<3772> and on earth<1093>, visible<3707> and invisible<517>, whether<1535> thrones<2362> or<1535> dominions<2963> or<1535> rulers<746> or<1535> authorities<1849>--all<3956> things<3956> have been created<2936> through<1223> Him and for Him.
17He is before<4253> all<3956> things<3956>, and in Him all<3956> things<3956> hold<4921> together<4921>.
18He is also<2532> head<2776> of the body<4983>, the church<1577>; and He is the beginning<746>, the firstborn<4416> from the dead<3498>, so<2443> that He Himself<846> will come<1096> to have<4409> first<4409> place<4409> in everything<3956>.
19For it was the Father's good<2106> pleasure<2106> for all<3956> the fullness<4138> to dwell<2730> in Him,
20and through<1223> Him to reconcile<604> all<3956> things<3956> to Himself<846>, having made<1517> peace<1517> through<1223> the blood<129> of His cross<4716>; through<1223> Him, I say, whether<1535> things on earth<1093> or<1535> things in heaven<3772>.
21And although you were formerly<4218> alienated<526> and hostile<2190> in mind<1271>, engaged in evil<4190> deeds<2041>,
22yet<1161> He has now<3570> reconciled<604> you in His fleshly<4561> body<4983> through<1223> death<2288>, in order to present<3936> you before<2714> Him holy<40> and blameless<299> and beyond<410> reproach<410>--
23if<1487> indeed<1065> you continue<1961> in the faith<4102> firmly<2311> established<2311> and steadfast<1476>, and not moved<3334> away<3334> from the hope<1680> of the gospel<2098> that you have heard<191>, which was proclaimed<2784> in all<3956> creation<2937> under<5259> heaven<3772>, and of which<3739> I, Paul<3972>, was made<1096> a minister<1249>.
24Now<3568> I rejoice<5463> in my sufferings<3804> for your sake<5228>, and in my flesh<4561> I do my share<466> on behalf<5228> of His body<4983>, which<3739> is the church<1577>, in filling<466> up what<3588> is lacking<5303> in Christ's<5547> afflictions<2347>.
25Of this church I was made<1096> a minister<1249> according<2596> to the stewardship<3622> from God<2316> bestowed<1325> on me for your benefit<1519>, so that I might fully<4137> carry<4137> out the preaching of the word<3056> of God<2316>,
26that is, the mystery<3466> which has been hidden<613> from the past ages<165> and generations<1074>, but has now<3568> been manifested<5319> to His saints<40>,
27to whom<3739> God<2316> willed<2309> to make<1107> known<1107> what<5101> is the riches<4149> of the glory<1391> of this<3778> mystery<3466> among<1722> the Gentiles<1484>, which<3739> is Christ<5547> in you, the hope<1680> of glory<1391>.
28We proclaim<2605> Him, admonishing<3560> every<3956> man<444> and teaching<1321> every<3956> man<444> with all<3956> wisdom<4678>, so<2443> that we may present<3936> every<3956> man<444> complete<5046> in Christ<5547>.
29For this<3739> purpose also<2532> I labor<2872>, striving<75> according<2596> to His power<1411>, which mightily<1411> works<1754> within<1722> me.