Colossians 1:18-2:7

English Standard Version

¹⁸ And ^(A)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(B)the beginning, ^(C)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For ^(D)in him all the ^(E)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and ^(F)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, ^(G)making peace ^(H)by the blood of his cross.

^21 (I)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, ^(J)doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled ^(K)in his body of flesh by his death, ^(L)in order to present you holy and blameless and ^(M)above reproach before him, ^23 (N)if indeed you continue in the faith, ^(O)stable and steadfast, not shifting from ^(P)the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed ^(Q)in all creation^[a] under heaven, ^(R)and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now ^(S)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(T)I am filling up ^(U)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions ^(V)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ^25 (W)of which I became a minister according to ^(X)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ^26 (Y)the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ^27 (Z)To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are ^(AA)the riches of the glory of ^(AB)this mystery, which is Christ in you, ^(AC)the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that ^(AD)we may present everyone ^(AE)mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this ^(AF)I toil, ^(AG)struggling ^(AH)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

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

Alive in Christ

^6 (AS)Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ^7 (AT)rooted and ^(AU)built up in him and ^(AV)established in the faith, just ^(AW)as you were taught, abounding ^(AX)in thanksgiving.