Colossians 1:20-29

New Testament for Everyone

Reconciled and firm in faith

²¹ So what about you? Well, there was a time when you were excluded! You were enemies in your thinking, and in wicked behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you in the body of his flesh, through death, in order to bring you into his presence holy, blameless and without any accusation.

²³ This assumes, of course, that you keep firmly on in the faith—by which I mean, solid on your foundations, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard. This gospel, after all, has been announced in all creation under heaven! And this is the gospel of which I, Paul, became a servant.

The Messiah, living within you

²⁴ Right now I’m having a celebration—a celebration of my sufferings, which are for your benefit! And I’m steadily completing, in my own flesh, what is presently lacking in the Messiah’s afflictions on behalf of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I became the church’s servant, according to the terms laid down by God when he gave me my commission on your behalf, the commission to fulfill God’s word.

²⁶ This word declares the mystery that was kept secret from past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to God’s holy people. ²⁷ God’s intention was to make known to them just what rich glory this mystery contains, out there among the nations. And this is the key: the Messiah, living within you as the hope of glory!

²⁸ He is the one we are proclaiming. We are instructing everybody and teaching everybody in every kind of wisdom, so that we can present everybody grown up, complete, in the Messiah. ²⁹ That’s what I am working for, struggling with all his energy which is powerfully at work within me.