20 and through him to reconcile(A) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(B) by making peace(C) through his blood,(D) shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(E) in your minds(F) because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(G) you by Christ’s physical body(H) through death to present you(I) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(J) 23 if you continue(K) in your faith, established(L) and firm, and do not move from the hope(M) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(N) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

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For he chose us(A) in him before the creation of the world(B) to be holy and blameless(C) in his sight. In love(D) he[a] predestined(E) us for adoption to sonship[b](F) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure(G) and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,(H) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(I) In him we have redemption(J) through his blood,(K) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches(L) of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. He
  2. Ephesians 1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

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29 For those God foreknew(A) he also predestined(B) to be conformed to the image of his Son,(C) that he might be the firstborn(D) among many brothers and sisters.

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29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

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28 God blessed them and said to them,(A) “Be fruitful and increase in number;(B) fill the earth(C) and subdue it. Rule over(D) the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.(E)

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28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

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Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

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