Colossians 1:13-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 He has rescued(A) us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom(B) of the Son(C) He loves.(D) 14 We have redemption,[a] the forgiveness of sins, in Him.
The Centrality of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God,(E)
the firstborn over all creation.[b](F)
16 For everything was created by Him,(G)
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.(H)
17 He is before all things,(I)
and by Him all things(J) hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
He is the beginning,(K)
the firstborn from the dead,(L)
so that He might come to have
first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have
all His fullness(M) dwell in Him,(N)
20 and through Him to reconcile
everything to Himself
by making peace(O)
through the blood(P) of His cross[c](Q)—
whether things on earth or things in heaven.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. 22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical body[d] through His death,(R) to present you holy, faultless,(S) and blameless before Him(T)— 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith(U) and are not shifted away from the hope(V) of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation(W) under heaven,(X) and I, Paul,(Y) have become a servant of it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 1:14 Other mss add through His blood
- Colossians 1:15 The One who is preeminent over all creation
- Colossians 1:20 Other mss add through Him
- Colossians 1:22 His body of flesh on the cross
Colossians 1:13-23
New American Standard Bible
The Incomparable Christ
13 [a]For He rescued us from the [b](A)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [c](B)His beloved Son, 14 (C)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 [d]He is the (D)image of the (E)invisible God, the (F)firstborn of all creation: 16 for [e](G)by Him all things were created, (H)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (I)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—(J)all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [f](K)is before all things, and in Him all things [g]hold together. 18 He is also the (L)head of (M)the body, the church; and He is (N)the beginning, (O)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [h]it was (P)the Father’s good pleasure for all (Q)the [i]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to (R)reconcile all things to Himself, (S)whether things on earth or things in [j]heaven, having made (T)peace through (U)the blood of His cross.
21 And although you were (V)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now (W)reconciled you in His (X)body of flesh through death, in order to (Y)present you before Him (Z)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in [k]the faith firmly (AA)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the (AB)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed (AC)in all creation under heaven, (AD)and of which I, Paul, [l]was made a [m](AE)minister.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 1:13 Lit Who rescued
- Colossians 1:13 Lit authority
- Colossians 1:13 Lit the Son of His love
- Colossians 1:15 Lit Who is
- Colossians 1:16 Or in
- Colossians 1:17 Or has existed prior to
- Colossians 1:17 Or endure
- Colossians 1:19 Or all the fullness was pleased to dwell
- Colossians 1:19 I.e., fullness of deity
- Colossians 1:20 Lit the heavens
- Colossians 1:23 Or in faith
- Colossians 1:23 Lit became
- Colossians 1:23 Or servant
Colossians 1:13-23
Amplified Bible
The Incomparable Christ
13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].
15 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation. 16 For [a]by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him. 17 And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.](A) 18 He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the [b]church; and He is the beginning, [c]the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.(B) 19 For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son), 20 and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.
21 And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, 22 yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His [d]physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 [and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed [e]in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 1:16 Or in.
- Colossians 1:18 This refers to the entire body of born-again believers (whether past, present, or future), not a local congregation.
- Colossians 1:18 Christ is the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body. Others who were raised had to die again.
- Colossians 1:22 Lit body of flesh.
- Colossians 1:23 Paul may be referring to the fact that the created world displays proof of the existence of an omnipotent, benevolent God (cf Rom 1:20), without whom there would be no possibility of salvation. Such a God is the foundation of the “good news.”
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