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Colossians 1:9-23
New American Standard Bible
Colossians 1:9-23
New American Standard Bible
9 For this reason we also, (A)since the day we heard about it, (B)have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the [a](C)knowledge of His will in all spiritual (D)wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will (E)walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [b](F)to please Him in all respects, (G)bearing fruit in every good work and [c]increasing in the [d]knowledge of God; 11 (H)strengthened with all power, according to [e]His glorious might, [f]for the attaining of all perseverance and [g]patience; (I)joyously 12 giving thanks to (J)the Father, who has qualified us [h]to share in (K)the inheritance of the [i]saints in (L)light.
The Incomparable Christ
13 [j]For He rescued us from the [k](M)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [l](N)His beloved Son, 14 (O)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 [m]He is the (P)image of the (Q)invisible God, the (R)firstborn of all creation: 16 for [n](S)by Him all things were created, (T)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (U)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—(V)all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [o](W)is before all things, and in Him all things [p]hold together. 18 He is also the (X)head of (Y)the body, the church; and He is (Z)the beginning, (AA)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [q]it was (AB)the Father’s good pleasure for all (AC)the [r]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to (AD)reconcile all things to Himself, (AE)whether things on earth or things in [s]heaven, having made (AF)peace through (AG)the blood of His cross.
21 And although you were (AH)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now (AI)reconciled you in His (AJ)body of flesh through death, in order to (AK)present you before Him (AL)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in [t]the faith firmly (AM)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the (AN)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed (AO)in all creation under heaven, (AP)and of which I, Paul, [u]was made a [v](AQ)minister.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 1:9 Or real knowledge
- Colossians 1:10 Lit unto all pleasing
- Colossians 1:10 Or growing by the knowledge
- Colossians 1:10 Or real knowledge
- Colossians 1:11 Lit the might of His glory
- Colossians 1:11 Lit unto all
- Colossians 1:11 Or patience with joy
- Colossians 1:12 Lit unto the portion of
- Colossians 1:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Colossians 1:13 Lit Who rescued
- Colossians 1:13 Lit authority
- Colossians 1:13 Lit the Son of His love
- Colossians 1:15 Lit Who is
- Colossians 1:16 Or in
- Colossians 1:17 Or has existed prior to
- Colossians 1:17 Or endure
- Colossians 1:19 Or all the fullness was pleased to dwell
- Colossians 1:19 I.e., fullness of deity
- Colossians 1:20 Lit the heavens
- Colossians 1:23 Or in faith
- Colossians 1:23 Lit became
- Colossians 1:23 Or servant
Colossians 1:9-23
New International Version
Colossians 1:9-23
New International Version
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you,(A) we have not stopped praying for you.(B) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will(C) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a](D) 10 so that you may live a life worthy(E) of the Lord and please him(F) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,(G) 11 being strengthened with all power(H) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,(I) 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,(J) who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance(K) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.(L) 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(M) and brought us into the kingdom(N) of the Son he loves,(O) 14 in whom we have redemption,(P) the forgiveness of sins.(Q)
The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image(R) of the invisible God,(S) the firstborn(T) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(U) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(V) all things have been created through him and for him.(W) 17 He is before all things,(X) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(Y) of the body, the church;(Z) he is the beginning and the firstborn(AA) from among the dead,(AB) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(AC) to have all his fullness(AD) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(AE) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(AF) by making peace(AG) through his blood,(AH) shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(AI) in your minds(AJ) because of[c] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(AK) you by Christ’s physical body(AL) through death to present you(AM) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(AN)— 23 if you continue(AO) in your faith, established(AP) and firm, and do not move from the hope(AQ) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(AR) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(AS)
Footnotes
- Colossians 1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding
- Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us
- Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.