21 (A)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, (B)doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled (C)in his body of flesh by his death, (D)in order to present you holy and blameless and (E)above reproach before him, 23 (F)if indeed you continue in the faith, (G)stable and steadfast, not shifting from (H)the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed (I)in all creation[a] under heaven, (J)and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

24 Now (K)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh (L)I am filling up (M)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions (N)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 (O)of which I became a minister according to (P)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 (Q)the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 (R)To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are (S)the riches of the glory of (T)this mystery, which is Christ in you, (U)the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that (V)we may present everyone (W)mature in Christ. 29 For this (X)I toil, (Y)struggling (Z)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:23 Or to every creature

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(A) in your minds(B) because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(C) you by Christ’s physical body(D) through death to present you(E) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(F) 23 if you continue(G) in your faith, established(H) and firm, and do not move from the hope(I) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(J) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(K)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice(L) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(M) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(N) 25 I have become its servant(O) by the commission God gave me(P) to present to you the word of God(Q) in its fullness— 26 the mystery(R) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known(S) among the Gentiles the glorious riches(T) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,(U) the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing(V) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,(W) so that we may present everyone fully mature(X) in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously(Y) contend(Z) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by