12 giving thanks to (A)the Father, who has qualified us [a]to share in (B)the inheritance of the [b]saints in (C)light.

The Incomparable Christ

13 [c]For He rescued us from the [d](D)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [e](E)His beloved Son, 14 (F)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 [f]He is the (G)image of the (H)invisible God, the (I)firstborn of all creation: 16 for [g](J)by Him all things were created, (K)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (L)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—(M)all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [h](N)is before all things, and in Him all things [i]hold together. 18 He is also the (O)head of (P)the body, the church; and He is (Q)the beginning, (R)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [j]it was (S)the Father’s good pleasure for all (T)the [k]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to (U)reconcile all things to Himself, (V)whether things on earth or things in [l]heaven, having made (W)peace through (X)the blood of His cross.

21 And although you were (Y)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now (Z)reconciled you in His (AA)body of flesh through death, in order to (AB)present you before Him (AC)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in [m]the faith firmly (AD)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the (AE)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed (AF)in all creation under heaven, (AG)and of which I, Paul, [n]was made a [o](AH)minister.

24 (AI)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh (AJ)I am supplementing what is lacking [p]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of (AK)His body, which is the church. 25 (AL)I [q]was made a minister of this church according to the (AM)commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might [r]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, (AN)the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His [s]saints, 27 to whom (AO)God willed to make known what (AP)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is (AQ)Christ in you, the (AR)hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, (AS)admonishing every person and teaching every person [t]with all (AT)wisdom, so that we may (AU)present every person [u](AV)complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also (AW)labor, (AX)striving (AY)according to His [v]power which [w]works mightily within me.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:12 Lit unto the portion of
  2. Colossians 1:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  3. Colossians 1:13 Lit Who rescued
  4. Colossians 1:13 Lit authority
  5. Colossians 1:13 Lit the Son of His love
  6. Colossians 1:15 Lit Who is
  7. Colossians 1:16 Or in
  8. Colossians 1:17 Or has existed prior to
  9. Colossians 1:17 Or endure
  10. Colossians 1:19 Or all the fullness was pleased to dwell
  11. Colossians 1:19 I.e., fullness of deity
  12. Colossians 1:20 Lit the heavens
  13. Colossians 1:23 Or in faith
  14. Colossians 1:23 Lit became
  15. Colossians 1:23 Or servant
  16. Colossians 1:24 Lit of
  17. Colossians 1:25 Lit became
  18. Colossians 1:25 Lit make full the word of God
  19. Colossians 1:26 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  20. Colossians 1:28 Lit in
  21. Colossians 1:28 Or perfect
  22. Colossians 1:29 Lit working
  23. Colossians 1:29 Lit in power

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