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)

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^(B) for you, ³ that is, the mystery^(C) made known to me by revelation,^(D) as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(E) into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.^{(F) 6} This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^(G) together with Israel, members together of one body,^(H) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^(I)

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel^(J) by the gift of God’s grace given me^(K) through the working of his power.^{(L) 8} Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^(M) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^(N) the boundless riches of Christ,^{(O) 9} and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^(P) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^(Q) should be made known^(R) to the rulers and authorities^(S) in the heavenly realms,^{(T) 11} according to his eternal purpose^(U) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God^(V) with freedom and confidence.^{(W) 13} I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(X) before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches^(Y) he may strengthen you with power^(Z) through his Spirit in your inner being,^{(AA) 17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^(AB) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted^(AC) and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,^(AD) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^(AE) is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^(AF)—that you may be filled^(AG) to the measure of all the fullness of God.^(AH)

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(AI) to do immeasurably more than all we ask^(AJ) or imagine, according to his power^(AK) that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^(AL)

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner^(AM) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(AN) of the calling^(AO) you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^(AP) in love.^{(AQ) 3} Make every effort to keep the unity^(AR) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^{(AS) 4} There is one body^(AT) and one Spirit,^(AU) just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(AV); ⁵ one Lord,^(AW) one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all,^(AX) who is over all and through all and in all.^(AY)

⁷ But to each one of us^(AZ) grace^(BA) has been given^(BB) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[b] says:

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[d]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended^(BE) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^{(BF) 11} So Christ himself gave^(BG) the apostles,^(BH) the prophets,^(BI) the evangelists,^(BJ) the pastors and teachers,^{(BK) 12} to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(BL) may be built up^{(BM) 13} until we all reach unity^(BN) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(BO) and become mature,^(BP) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(BQ)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(BR) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(BS) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^{(BT) 15} Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(BU) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(BV) that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(BW) and builds itself up^(BX) in love,^(BY) as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^(BZ) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^{(CA) 18} They are darkened in their understanding^(CB) and separated from the life of God^(CC) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.^{(CD) 19} Having lost all sensitivity,^(CE) they have given themselves over^(CF) to sensuality^(CG) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off^(CH) your old self,^(CI) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;^{(CJ) 23} to be made new in the attitude of your minds;^{(CK) 24} and to put on^(CL) the new self,^(CM) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.^(CN)

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully^(CO) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.^{(CP) 26} “In your anger do not sin”^[e]:^(CQ) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.^{(CR) 28} Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,^(CS) doing something useful with their own hands,^(CT) that they may have something to share with those in need.^(CU)

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,^(CV) but only what is helpful for building others up^(CW) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(CX) with whom you were sealed^(CY) for the day of redemption.^{(CZ) 31} Get rid of^(DA) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(DB) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(DC) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(DD)