Colossians 1:21-2:7

English Standard Version

²¹^(A)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, ^(B)doing evil deeds, ²²he 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

²⁴Now ^(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. ²⁸Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that ^(V)we may present everyone ^(W)mature in Christ. ²⁹For this ^(X)I toil, ^(Y)struggling ^(Z)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know ^(AA)how great a ^(AB)struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ²that ^(AC)their hearts may be encouraged, being ^(AD)knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of ^(AE)God's mystery, which is Christ, ³^(AF)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I say this in order ^(AG)that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵For ^(AH)though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your ^(AI)good order and ^(AJ)the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

⁶^(AK)Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷^(AL)rooted and ^(AM)built up in him and ^(AN)established in the faith, just ^(AO)as you were taught, abounding ^(AP)in thanksgiving.