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Colossians 1
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

1 Paul[a], an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 to the saints[b] and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We Thank God For Your Faith And Love

3 We are giving-thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always while praying for you, 4 having heard-of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope being reserved for you in the heavens, which[c] you previously-heard-of in the word of the truth— the good-news 6 coming to you, just as also in[d] all the world it is bearing-fruit and growing, just as it is doing also in[e] you from which day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth[f], 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-slave who is a faithful servant[g] of Christ on your behalf, 8 the one also having made-clear to us your love in[h] the Spirit.

May You Walk Worthily of God, Who Transferred Us Into The Kingdom of His Son

9 For this reason we also, from which day we heard, do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge[i] of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding[j], 10 so that you may walk worthily of the Lord, toward total[k] pleasing [of Him]— bearing-fruit in every good work and growing in[l] the knowledge of God; 11 being empowered with all power according-to[m] the might of [n] His glory, toward total[o] endurance and patience; with joy[p] 12 giving-thanks to the Father having qualified you for your part[q] of the share[r] of [s] the saints[t] in the light[u], 13 Who delivered[v] us out of the authority[w] of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of [x] His love, 14 in Whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins—

The Son Is The Preeminent Head of All Creation, Because He Created All Things

15 ... Who is the image[y] of the invisible God, the firstborn[z] of [aa] all creation[ab], 16 because all things were created by[ac] Him in the heavens and on the earth, the visible things and the invisible things— whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities. All things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 And He Himself is before all things, and all things have existence[ad] in Him. 18 And He Himself is the head of the body, the church.

The Son Is First In Everything, Because God Reconciled All Things Through Him

... Who is the beginning[ae], the firstborn from the dead, in order that He Himself might come-to-be holding-first-place in all things, 19 because the Father[af] was well-pleased that all the fullness[ag] should dwell in Him 20 and that He should reconcile all things through Him to Himself, having made-peace through the blood of His cross— through Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.

Indeed, You Yourselves Were Reconciled By Him

21 Indeed you were formerly being excluded, and were enemies[ah] in the mind in-connection-with evil works. 22 But now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh[ai] through His death, that He might present you holy and without-blemish and blameless in His presence— 23 if indeed[aj] you continue in the faith, having been founded, and steadfast, and not being moved-away from the hope of the good-news which you heard, the one having been proclaimed in[ak] all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister[al].

I Am Suffering To Fulfill My Stewardship of God’s Now Revealed Mystery: Christ In You

24 Now I am rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling-up-in-turn[am] the things lacking from the afflictions of Christ[an], for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according-to[ao] the stewardship[ap] of God having been given to me for you, that I might fulfill[aq] the word of God— 26 the mystery having been hidden from the past ages and from the past generations. But now it was revealed to His saints, 27 to whom God willed[ar] to make-known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles— which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, 28 Whom we are proclaiming, admonishing every person, and teaching every person with all wisdom, in order that we may present every person mature[as] in Christ, 29 for which[at] I also am laboring, struggling[au] according to His working being at-work[av] in me with power.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:1 On when this book was written, see Acts 28:30.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Or, holy and.
  3. Colossians 1:5 That is, which hope.
  4. Colossians 1:6 That is, in the sphere of.
  5. Colossians 1:6 Or, among you.
  6. Colossians 1:6 That is, in reality, heard and truly understood. Or, the grace of God in its true form, as opposed to the false teaching; the true grace of God.
  7. Colossians 1:7 Or, minister.
  8. Colossians 1:8 That is, in the sphere of, in connection with, in union with.
  9. Colossians 1:9 Or, full-knowledge.
  10. Colossians 1:9 Or, wisdom and spiritual understanding.
  11. Colossians 1:10 Or, for pleasing [Him] in every respect.
  12. Colossians 1:10 Or, by.
  13. Colossians 1:11 That is, based on, in accordance with.
  14. Colossians 1:11 That is, belonging to; or, characterized by (His glorious might).
  15. Colossians 1:11 Or, for endurance and patience in every respect.
  16. Colossians 1:11 Or, patience with joy; giving thanks to.
  17. Colossians 1:12 Or, share, portion.
  18. Colossians 1:12 Or, allotment, lot.
  19. Colossians 1:12 That is, belonging to.
  20. Colossians 1:12 Or, holy ones.
  21. Colossians 1:12 That is, your share of the allotted inheritance... found in the kingdom or realm of light; or, having qualified you... by the light; or, of the saints who are in the light (heaven).
  22. Colossians 1:13 Or, rescued.
  23. Colossians 1:13 Or, jurisdiction, dominion.
  24. Colossians 1:13 That is, the Son who is the object of His Love, and thus, His beloved Son.
  25. Colossians 1:15 Or, likeness, form. That is, the visible expression; or, the personal eternal likeness.
  26. Colossians 1:15 That is, the one having first status, holding first place; the preeminent one.
  27. Colossians 1:15 That is, before; or, in-relation-to.
  28. Colossians 1:15 Or, every created thing.
  29. Colossians 1:16 Or, in, in relation to.
  30. Colossians 1:17 Or, hold-together.
  31. Colossians 1:18 Or, beginner (cause, source, founder); ruler.
  32. Colossians 1:19 Or, because all the fullness was well-pleased to dwell in Him and to reconcile.
  33. Colossians 1:19 That is, God in all His fullness.
  34. Colossians 1:21 Or, hostile.
  35. Colossians 1:22 That is, His fleshly body.
  36. Colossians 1:23 That is, assuming that.
  37. Colossians 1:23 That is, in the sphere of.
  38. Colossians 1:23 Or, servant.
  39. Colossians 1:24 That is, filling-up-on-my-part, in contrast to Christ’s part. Or, filling-up.
  40. Colossians 1:24 That is, lacking from the afflictions belonging to the Christ (Messiah’s full measure of sorrows, suffered personally while He was on earth, and by His people now); or, lacking from Christ’s afflictions (which He is now experiencing in union with His people); or, lacking from my afflictions for Christ.
  41. Colossians 1:25 Or, based on, by way of.
  42. Colossians 1:25 That is, position of management responsibility.
  43. Colossians 1:25 Or, complete.
  44. Colossians 1:27 Or, wanted, wished.
  45. Colossians 1:28 Or, perfect, full-grown, finished.
  46. Colossians 1:29 That is, to which end.
  47. Colossians 1:29 Or, striving, fighting.
  48. Colossians 1:29 Or, in operation.
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Colossians 1
New International Version

1 Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and Timothy(C) our brother,

2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ:

Grace(D) and peace to you from God our Father.[b](E)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God,(F) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love(G) you have for all God’s people(H)— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope(I) stored up for you in heaven(J) and about which you have already heard in the true message(K) of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit(L) and growing throughout the whole world(M)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras,(N) our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister(O) of Christ on our[d] behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.(P)

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you,(Q) we have not stopped praying for you.(R) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will(S) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e](T) 10 so that you may live a life worthy(U) of the Lord and please him(V) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,(W) 11 being strengthened with all power(X) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,(Y) 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,(Z) who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance(AA) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.(AB) 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(AC) and brought us into the kingdom(AD) of the Son he loves,(AE) 14 in whom we have redemption,(AF) the forgiveness of sins.(AG)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image(AH) of the invisible God,(AI) the firstborn(AJ) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(AK) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(AL) all things have been created through him and for him.(AM) 17 He is before all things,(AN) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(AO) of the body, the church;(AP) he is the beginning and the firstborn(AQ) from among the dead,(AR) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(AS) to have all his fullness(AT) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(AU) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(AV) by making peace(AW) through his blood,(AX) shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(AY) in your minds(AZ) because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(BA) you by Christ’s physical body(BB) through death to present you(BC) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(BD)— 23 if you continue(BE) in your faith, established(BF) and firm, and do not move from the hope(BG) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(BH) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(BI)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice(BJ) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(BK) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(BL) 25 I have become its servant(BM) by the commission God gave me(BN) to present to you the word of God(BO) in its fullness— 26 the mystery(BP) 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(BQ) among the Gentiles the glorious riches(BR) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,(BS) the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing(BT) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,(BU) so that we may present everyone fully mature(BV) in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously(BW) contend(BX) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.(BY)

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 4:15.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Some manuscripts Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
  3. Colossians 1:7 Or slave
  4. Colossians 1:7 Some manuscripts your
  5. Colossians 1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding
  6. Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us
  7. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by
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