Colossians 1
Contemporary English Version
1 From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.
2 To God's people who live in Colossae and are faithful followers of Christ.
I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
A Prayer of Thanks
3 Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all God's people, 5 because what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You first heard about this hope when you believed the true message, which is the good news.
6 The good news is spreading all over the world with great success. It has spread in this same way among you, ever since the first day you learned the truth about God's wonderful kindness 7 (A) from our good friend Epaphras. He works together with us for Christ and is a faithful worker for you.[a] 8 He is also the one who told us about the love that God's Spirit has given you.
The Person and Work of Christ
9 We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding his Spirit gives. 10 Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better. 11 His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.
12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you[b] have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. 13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 (B) who forgives our sins and sets us free.
15 (C) Christ is exactly like God,
who cannot be seen.
He is the first-born Son,
superior to all creation.
16 Everything was created by him,
everything in heaven
and on earth,
everything seen and unseen,
including all forces
and powers,
and all rulers
and authorities.
All things were created
by God's Son,
and everything was made
for him.
17 God's Son was before all else,
and by him everything
is held together.
18 (D) He is the head of his body,
which is the church.
He is the very beginning,
the first to be raised
from death,
so that he would be
above all others.
19 God himself was pleased
to live fully in his Son.
20 (E) And God was pleased
for him to make peace
by sacrificing his blood
on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven
and on earth
would be brought back to God.
21 You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. 22 But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent. 23 But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
Paul's Service to the Church
24 I am glad I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continue[c] the suffering of Christ for his body, the church. 25 God's plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you. 26 For ages and ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people. 27 God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.
28 We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so all of Christ's followers will grow and become mature. 29 This is why I work so hard and use the mighty power he gives me.
歌罗西书 1
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
问候
1 奉 神旨意,作基督耶稣使徒的保罗,和我们的弟兄提摩太, 2 写信给歌罗西的圣徒,在基督里忠心的弟兄。愿恩惠、平安[a]从我们的父 神归给你们!
为信徒感谢 神
3 我们为你们祷告的时候,常常感谢我们主耶稣基督的父 神[b], 4 因为听见你们对基督耶稣的信心,并对众圣徒有的爱心。 5 这都是因着那给你们存在天上的盼望,它就是你们从前所听见真理的道,就是福音; 6 这福音传到你们那里,也传到普天下,并且继续增长,不断结果,正如自从你们听见福音,真正知道 神恩惠的日子起,在你们中间也是这样。 7 这福音是你们从我们所亲爱、一同作仆人的以巴弗学到的。他为我们[c]作了基督的忠心仆役, 8 也把圣灵赐给你们的爱告诉我们。
基督和他的工作
9 因此,我们自从听见的日子就不住地为你们祷告和祈求,愿你们满有一切属灵的智慧和悟性,真正知道 神的旨意, 10 好使你们行事为人对得起主,凡事蒙他喜悦,在一切善事上结果子,对 神的认识更有长进。 11 愿你们从他荣耀的权能中,得以在一切事上力上加力,好使你们凡事欢欢喜喜地忍耐宽容, 12 又感谢父,使你们配与众圣徒在光明中分享基业。 13 他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,迁移到他爱子的国度里。 14 藉着他的爱子,我们得蒙救赎,罪得赦免。
15 爱子是那看不见的 神之像,
是首生的[d],在一切被造的以先。
16 因为万有都是在他里面[e]造的,
无论是天上的、地上的,
能看见的、不能看见的,
或是有权位的、统治的,
或是执政的、掌权的,
一概都是藉着他为着他造的。
17 他在万有之先;
万有也靠他而存在。
18 他是身体(教会)的头;
他是元始,
是从死人中复活的首生者,
好让他在万有中居首位。
19 因为 神喜欢使一切的丰盛在他里面居住,
20 藉着他[f], 神使万有与自己和好,
无论是地上的、天上的,
都藉着他在十字架上所流的血促成了和平。
21 从前你们与 神隔绝,心思上与他为敌,行为邪恶; 22 但如今,他藉着他儿子肉身的死,已经使你们与他自己和好了[g],把你们献在他的面前,成为圣洁,没有瑕疵,无可指责。 23 只要你们持守信仰,根基稳固,坚定不移,不致动摇,离开了你们从前所听见的福音的盼望;这福音也是传给天下一切被造之物的,我—保罗作了这福音的仆役。
保罗为教会的工作
24 现在我为你们受苦,倒很快乐;并且为基督的身体,就是为教会,我要在自己的肉身上补满基督未尽的苦难。 25 我照 神为你们所赐我的职分作了教会的仆役,要把 神的道传得完满; 26 这道就是历世历代所隐藏的奥秘,但如今向他的圣徒显明了。 27 神要让他们知道,这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀;就是基督在你们心里[h]成了得荣耀的盼望。 28 我们传扬他,是用诸般的智慧,劝戒各人,教导各人,要把各人在基督里完完全全地献上[i]。 29 我也为此劳苦,照着他在我里面运用的大能尽心竭力。
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和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.