Colossians 1
Wycliffe Bible
1 Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, brother,
2 to them that be at Colosse, holy and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus, grace and peace to you of God our Father [grace to you and peace of God our Father] and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We do thankings to God, and to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ], evermore praying for you,
4 [we] hearing your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love that ye have to all holy men,
5 for the hope that is kept to you in heavens. Which ye heard in the word of truth of the gospel,
6 that came to you, as also it is in all the world, and maketh fruit, and waxeth, as [it is] in you, from that day in which ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
7 As ye learned of Epaphras, our fellow most dear-worthy [our even-servant most dear-worthy], which is a true minister of Jesus Christ for you;
8 which also showed to us your loving in Spirit.
9 And therefore we from the day in which we heard, cease not to pray for you, and to ask, that ye be filled with the knowing of his will in all wisdom and ghostly understanding;
10 that ye walk worthily to God pleasing by all things, and make fruit in all good work, and wax in the science of God, [that ye walk worthily to God pleasing by all things, making fruit in all good work, and waxing in the science of God,]
11 and be comforted in all virtue by the might of his clearness [after the might of his clearness], in all patience and long abiding with joy,
12 that ye do thankings to God and to the Father, which made you worthy into the part of heritage of holy men in light.[a]
13 Which delivered us from the power of darknesses [The which delivered us from the power of darkness], and translated [us] into the kingdom of the Son of his loving,
14 in whom we have again-buying and remission of sins.
15 Which is the image of God invisible, the first begotten of each creature.
16 For in him all things be made, in heavens and in earth, visible and invisible, either thrones, either dominations, either princehoods, either powers, all things be made of nought by him, and in him,
17 and he is before all, and all things be in him.
18 And he is head of the body of the church; which is the beginning and the first begotten of dead men, that he hold the first dignity in all things[b].
19 For in him it pleased all plenty to inhabit,
20 and by him all things to be reconciled into him, and made peace by the blood of his cross, those things that be in earth's, either that be in heavens [either those things that be in earth's, or that be in heavens].
21 And when ye were sometime aliened, and enemies by wit in evil works, now he hath reconciled you
22 in the body of his flesh by death, to have you holy, and unwemmed, and without reproof before him.
23 If nevertheless ye dwell in the faith, founded, and stable [founded, and stabled], and unmoveable from the hope of the gospel that ye have heard, which is preached in all creature that is under heaven. Of which I Paul am made a minister,
24 and now I have joy in passion for you, and I fill those things that fail of the passions of Christ in my flesh, for his body, that is the church. [the which now I have joy in passions for you, and full-fill those things that fail of the passions of Christ in my flesh, for his body, that is the church.]
25 Of which I Paul am made [a] minister by the dispensation of God, that is given to me in you, that I fill the word of God,[c]
26 the private [the mystery, or private], that was hid from worlds and generations. But now it is showed to his saints,
27 to whom God would make known the riches of the glory of this sacrament in heathen men, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Whom we show, reproving each man, and teaching each man in all wisdom, that we offer each man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 In which thing also I travail, in striving by the working of him [In which thing and I travail, striving after the working of him], that he worketh in me in virtue.
Footnotes
- Colossians 1:12 doing thankings to God the Father, the which made us worthy into the part of heritage of holy men in light.
- Colossians 1:18 the which is the beginning, or the first of all, and the first begotten of dead, that he be holding primacy, or the first dignity, in all things
- Colossians 1:25 Of which I Paul am made minister/am made a servant, after the dispensation of God, that is given to me in you, that I fulfill the word of God,
Colossians 1
New Matthew Bible
He gives thanks to God for their faith, love, and hope, and prays for their increase. He explains how we are the kingdom of God won by Christ, who is the head of the congregation.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timothy.
2 To the saints who are at Colosse and brethren who believe in Christ.
Grace be with you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you 4 since we heard of the faith that you have in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you bear to all the saints, 5 for the sake of the hope that is laid up in store for you in heaven – of which hope you heard before by the true word of the gospel, 6 which has come to you in the same way as it has into all the world, and is fruitful among you in the same way since the first day you heard it and had experience of the grace of God in the truth, 7 when you learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant. He is for you a faithful minister of Christ. 8 He also described to us the love that you have in the Spirit.
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard of it, have not ceased praying for you, and asking that you be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord in all things that please him, being fruitful in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of God, 11 strengthened with all might through his glorious power to have all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, 12 and giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood; that is to say, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, and the first begotten of all creatures. 16 For by him were all things created: things that are in heaven and things that are in earth, things visible and things invisible, whether they be majesty, or lordship, or rule, or power. All things are created by him and in him, 17 and he is before all things, and in him all things have their being.
18 And he is the head of the body; that is to say, of the congregation. He is the beginning and first begotten of the dead, so that in all things he may have the pre-eminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell, 20 and by him to reconcile all things to himself, and to set at peace by him, through the blood of his cross, both things in heaven and things in earth.
21 And you, who were in times past strangers and enemies because your minds were set in evil works, he has now reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to make you holy, unblameable, and without fault in his own sight – 23 if you continue grounded and established in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, of which you have heard how it is preached among all creatures under heaven, and of which I, Paul, am made a minister.
24 Now I joy in the sufferings that I suffer for you, and fill up that which I lack of the passions of Christ in my flesh, for the sake of his body, which is the congregation. 25 I am made a minister thereof according to the ordinance of God, which ordinance was given to me for you, in order to fulfil the word of God, 26 that mystery hid since the world began and since the beginning of generations, but which is now opened to his saints, 27 to whom God desired to make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles. These riches are Christ in you, the Hope of Glory 28 whom we preach, warning all people and instructing all people in all wisdom, to make all men perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 For this I also labour and strive, even as far forth as his working works in me mightily.
Colossians 1
1599 Geneva Bible
The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians
1 1 After the salutation, 4 he praiseth them the more, to make them attentive unto him. 7 He reporteth the testimony of the doctrine which they heard of Epaphras. 13 He magnifieth God’s grace towards them, 20 and showeth that all the parts of our salvation consist in Christ alone.
1 Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the [a]will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To them which are at [b]Colosse, Saints and faithful brethren in Christ: Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 [c]We give thanks to God even the [d]Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you:
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love toward all Saints.
5 For the [e]hope’s sake, which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye have heard before by the word of truth, which is the Gospel,
6 Which is come unto you, even as it is unto all the world, and is fruitful as it is also among you from the day that ye heard and truly knew the grace of God,
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ:
8 [f]Who hath also declared unto us your love in the [g]Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard of it, cease not to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be fulfilled with knowledge of [h]his will in all wisdom, and spiritual understanding.
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord, and please him in all things, being fruitful in all good works, and increasing in the knowledge of God,
11 [i]Strengthened with all might through his glorious power, unto all patience, and longsuffering with [j]joyfulness,
12 [k]Giving thanks unto the [l]Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in [m]light,
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom (A)of his dear Son,
14 [n]In whom we have redemption through his blood, that is, the forgiveness of sins.
15 [o]Who is the (B)image of the invisible God, [p]the first begotten of every creature.
16 (C)For by him were all things created which are in heaven, and which are in earth, things visible and invisible: whether they be [q]Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things consist.
18 [r]And he is the head of the body of the Church: he is the beginning, (D)and the [s]first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 (E)For it pleased the Father, that in him should [t]all fullness dwell.
20 [u]And through peace made by that blood of that his cross, to reconcile to himself through him, through him, I say, [v]all things, both which are in earth, and which are in heaven.
21 [w]And you which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your minds were set in evil works, hath [x]he now also reconciled,
22 In that body of his [y]flesh through death, to make you holy and unblameable, and without fault in his sight.
23 [z]If ye continue, grounded and established in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, whereof ye have heard, and which hath been preached to [aa]every creature, which is under heaven, [ab]whereof I Paul am a minister.
24 Now rejoice I in my sufferings [ac]for you, and fulfill the [ad]rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body’s sake, which is the Church,
25 [ae]Whereof I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given me unto youward, to fulfill the word of God,
26 (F)Which is the mystery hid since the world began, and from all ages, but now is made manifest to his [af]Saints,
27 To whom God [ag]would make known what is the riches of his glorious mystery among the Gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
28 [ah]Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in [ai]all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 Whereunto I also labor and strive, according to his working which worketh in me mightily.
Footnotes
- Colossians 1:1 By the free bountifulness of God.
- Colossians 1:2 Colosse is situated in Phrygia, not far from Hierapolis and Laodicea, on that side that they bend toward Lycia and Pamphylia.
- Colossians 1:3 He commendeth the doctrine that was delivered them by Epaphras, and their readiness in receiving it.
- Colossians 1:3 We cannot otherwise consider of God to our salvation, but as he is Christ’s Father, in whom we are adopted.
- Colossians 1:5 For the glory that is hoped for.
- Colossians 1:8 He declareth his good will towards them, telling them that they must not still remain at one stay but go on further both in the knowledge of the Gospel, and also in the true use of it.
- Colossians 1:8 Your spiritual love, or your love which cometh from the Spirit.
- Colossians 1:9 God’s will.
- Colossians 1:11 The gift of continuance is not of us, but it proceedeth from the virtue of God, which he doth freely give us.
- Colossians 1:11 It must not be unwilling, and as it were drawn out of us by force, but proceed from a merry and joyful mind.
- Colossians 1:12 Having ended the preface, he goeth to the matter itself, that is to say, to an excellent description (although it be but short) of whole Christianity, which is fitly divided into three treatises: for first of all he expoundeth the true doctrine, according to the order of the causes, beginning from this verse to the 24. And from thence he beginneth to apply the same to the Colossians with divers exhortations to verse 6 of the second Chapter. And last of all in the third place even to the third Chapter, he refuteth the corruption of true doctrine.
- Colossians 1:12 The efficient cause of our salvation is the only mercy of God the Father, who maketh us meet to be partakers of eternal life, delivering us from the darkness wherein we were born, and bringing us to the light of the knowledge of the glory of his Son.
- Colossians 1:12 In that glorious and heavenly kingdom.
- Colossians 1:14 The matter itself of our salvation, is Christ the Son of God, who hath obtained remission of sins for us by the offering up of himself.
- Colossians 1:15 A lively description of the person of Christ, whereby we understand that in him only, God showeth himself to be seen: who was begotten of the Father before anything was made, that is, from everlasting, by whom also all things that are made, were made without any exception, by whom also they do consist, and whose glory they serve.
- Colossians 1:15 Begotten before anything was made: and therefore the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father.
- Colossians 1:16 He setteth forth the Angels with glorious names, that by the comparison of most excellent spirits we may understand how far passing the excellence of Christ, in whom only we have to content ourselves, and let go all Angels.
- Colossians 1:18 Having gloriously declared the excellent dignity of the person of Christ, he describeth his office and function, to wit, that he is that same to the Church, that the head is to the body, that is to say, the prince and governor of it, and the very beginning of true life, as who rising first from death, he is the Author of eternal life, so that he is above all, in whom only there is most plentiful abundance of all good things, which is poured out upon the Church.
- Colossians 1:18 Who so rose again that he shall die no more, and who raiseth others from death to life by his power.
- Colossians 1:19 Most plentiful abundance of all things pertaining to God.
- Colossians 1:20 Now he teacheth how Christ executed that office which his Father joined him, to wit, by suffering the death of the cross (which was joined with the curse of God) according to his decree, that by this sacrifice he might reconcile his Father all men as well them which believed in him to come, and were already under this hope gathered into heaven, as them which should upon the earth believe in him afterwards. And thus is justification described of the Apostle, which is one and the chiefest part of the benefit of Christ.
- Colossians 1:20 The whole Church.
- Colossians 1:21 Sanctification is another work of God in us by Christ, in that that he restored us (which hated God extremely, and were wholly and willingly given to sin) to his gracious favor, in such sort, that he therewithall purifieth us with his holy Spirit, and consecrateth us to righteousness.
- Colossians 1:21 The Son.
- Colossians 1:22 In that fleshly body, to give us to understand that his body was not a fantastical body, but a true body.
- Colossians 1:23 This second treatise of this part of the Epistle, wherein he exhorteth the Colossians not to suffer themselves by any means to be moved from this doctrine, showing and declaring that there is nowhere any other true Gospel.
- Colossians 1:23 To all men: whereby we learn that the Gospel was not shut up within the corners of Judea alone.
- Colossians 1:23 He purchased authority to this doctrine by his Apostleship, and taketh a most sure proof thereof, of his afflictions which he suffereth for Christ’s Name to instruct the Churches with these examples of patience.
- Colossians 1:24 For your profit and commodity.
- Colossians 1:24 The afflictions of the Church are said to be Christ’s afflictions, by reason of that fellowship and knitting together, that the body and the head have the one with the other, not that there is any more need to have the Church redeemed, but that Christ showeth his power in the daily weakness of his, and that for the comfort of the whole body.
- Colossians 1:25 He bringeth another proof of his Apostleship, to wit, that God is the author of it, by whom also he was appointed peculiarly Apostle of the Gentiles, to the end that by this means, that same might be fulfilled by him, which the Prophets foretold of the calling of the Gentiles.
- Colossians 1:26 Whom he chose to sanctify unto himself in Christ: moreover he sayeth that the mystery of our redemption was hidden since the world began, except it were revealed unto a few, who also were taught it extraordinarily.
- Colossians 1:27 This Paul bridleth the curiosity of men.
- Colossians 1:28 He protesteth that he doth faithfully execute his Apostleship in every place, bringing men unto Christ only, through the Lord’s plentiful blessings of his labors.
- Colossians 1:28 Perfect and sound wisdom, which is perfect in itself, and shall in the end make them perfect that follow it.
Colossians 1
Authorized (King James) Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 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; 24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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