Colossians 1:21-2:5

Holman Christian Standard Bible

²¹ Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. ²² But now He has reconciled you by His physical body^[a] through His death,^(A) to present you holy, faultless,^(B) and blameless before Him^(C)— ²³ if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith^(D) and are not shifted away from the hope^(E) of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation^(F) under heaven,^(G) and I, Paul,^(H) have become a servant of it.

Paul’s Ministry

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings^(I) for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body,^(J) that is, the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. ²⁷ God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ^(K) in you, the hope^(L) of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ I labor for this, striving^(M) with His strength that works powerfully in me.^(N)

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle^(O) I have for you, for those in Laodicea,^(P) and for all who have not seen me in person. ² I want their hearts to be encouraged^(Q) and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery^(R)—Christ.^{[b](S) 3} All the treasures of wisdom^(T) and knowledge^(U) are hidden in Him.

Christ versus the Colossian Heresy

⁴ I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. ⁵ For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit,^(V) rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.