Paul’s Interest in the Colossians

²⁴ I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. ²⁵ I became its minister according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,^{(A) 26} the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.^{(B) 27} To them God chose to make known how great among the gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.^{(C) 28} It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.^{[a](D) 29} For this I toil and strive with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.^(E)

⁷ But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.^{(A) 8} Therefore it is said,

⁹ (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended^[b] into the lower parts of the earth?^{[c] 10} He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers^{(C) 12} to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,^{(D) 13} until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,^[d] to the measure of the full stature of Christ.^{(E) 14} We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming;^{(F) 15} but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,^{(G) 16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.