Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and Timothy(C) our brother,

To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ:

Grace(D) and peace to you from God our Father.[b](E)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

We always thank God,(F) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love(G) you have for all God’s people(H) the faith and love that spring from the hope(I) stored up for you in heaven(J) and about which you have already heard in the true message(K) of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit(L) and growing throughout the whole world(M)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras,(N) our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister(O) of Christ on our[d] behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.(P)

For this reason, since the day we heard about you,(Q) we have not stopped praying for you.(R) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will(S) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e](T) 10 so that you may live a life worthy(U) of the Lord and please him(V) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,(W) 11 being strengthened with all power(X) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,(Y) 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,(Z) who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance(AA) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.(AB) 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(AC) and brought us into the kingdom(AD) of the Son he loves,(AE) 14 in whom we have redemption,(AF) the forgiveness of sins.(AG)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image(AH) of the invisible God,(AI) the firstborn(AJ) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(AK) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(AL) all things have been created through him and for him.(AM) 17 He is before all things,(AN) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(AO) of the body, the church;(AP) he is the beginning and the firstborn(AQ) from among the dead,(AR) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(AS) to have all his fullness(AT) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(AU) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(AV) by making peace(AW) through his blood,(AX) shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(AY) in your minds(AZ) because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(BA) you by Christ’s physical body(BB) through death to present you(BC) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(BD) 23 if you continue(BE) in your faith, established(BF) and firm, and do not move from the hope(BG) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(BH) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(BI)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice(BJ) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(BK) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(BL) 25 I have become its servant(BM) by the commission God gave me(BN) to present to you the word of God(BO) in its fullness— 26 the mystery(BP) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known(BQ) among the Gentiles the glorious riches(BR) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,(BS) the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing(BT) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,(BU) so that we may present everyone fully mature(BV) in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously(BW) contend(BX) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.(BY)

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 4:15.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Some manuscripts Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
  3. Colossians 1:7 Or slave
  4. Colossians 1:7 Some manuscripts your
  5. Colossians 1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding
  6. Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us
  7. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Akong si Pablo ay apostol ni Jesucristo sa pamamagitan ng kalooban ng Diyos at ang ating kapatid na si Timoteo. Ako ay sumusulat sa mga banal at mga tapat na kapatid kay Cristo na nasa Colosas.

Sumainyo ang biyaya at kapayapaang mula sa Diyos na ating Ama at mula sa Panginoong Jesucristo.

Pasasalamat at Pananalangin

Nagpapasalamat kami sa Diyos at Ama ng ating Pangi­noong Jesucristo. Kayo ay patuloy naming idinadalangin.

Nagpapa­salamat kami sa Diyos sapagkat nabalitaan namin ang inyong pananampalataya kay Cristo Jesus at ang patungkol sa pag-ibig ninyo sa lahat ng mga banal. Ang pananam­palataya at pag-ibig na ito ay dahil sa pag-asang nakalaan para sa inyo sa kalangitan, na una ninyong narinig sa salita ng katotohanan ng ebanghelyo. Dumating ito sa inyo, tulad ng pagdating nito sa buong sanlibutan. Ito ay nagbubunga gaya rin naman ng pagbubunga sa inyo mula nang araw na inyong marinig at malaman ang biyaya ng Diyos sa katotohanan. Ito ay katulad ng natutunan ninyo kay Epafras, ang minamahal naming kapwa-alipin, na tapat na tagapaglingkod ni Cristo para sa inyo. Siya rin ang nagsabi sa amin sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu patungkol sa inyong pag-ibig.

Dahil din naman dito, mula nang araw na marinig namin ito, wala na kaming tigil sa pananalangin para sa inyo. Hini­hiling namin na kayo ay mapuspos ng kaalaman ng kaniyang kalooban, sa buong karunungan at espiritwal na pagkaunawa. 10 Ito ay upang mamuhay kayong karapat-dapat sa Panginoon sa buong kaluguran, at upang kayo ay mamunga sa bawat gawang mabuti at lumalago sa kaalaman ng Diyos. 11 At upang kayo ay lumakas sa kapangyarihan ayon sa kapangyarihan ng kaniyang kaluwalhatian sa buong pagtitiis at pagtitiyaga na may kagalakan. 12 Magpasalamat kayo sa Ama na nagpaging-dapat sa atin na maging kabahagi ng mana ng mga banal sa kaliwanagan. 13 Siya ang nagligtas sa atin mula sa kapama­halaan ng kadiliman at inilipat tayo sa kaharian ng kaniyang pinakamamahal na Anak. 14 Sa kaniya ay mayroon tayong katubusan sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang dugo, ang kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan.

Si Cristo ang Pangulo ng Lahat ng Bagay

15 Siya ang wangis ng Diyos na hindi nakikita, ang panganay na pinakahigit sa buong sangnilikha.

16 Ito ay sapagkat sa pamamagitan niya, nilalang ang lahat ng mga bagay na nasa langit at mga bagay na nasa lupa, mga bagay na nakikita o hindi nakikita. Ito man ay mga luklukan, o mga paghahari, o mga pamunuan, o mga pamamahala. Ang lahat ng bagay ay nilalang sa pamamagitan niya at para sa kaniya. 17 At siya ay nauna sa lahat ng bagay at sa pamamagitan niya ay nananatiling buo ang lahat ng mga bagay. 18 At siya ang ulo ng katawan, ang iglesiya. Siya ang pasimula, ang panganay mula sa mga patay upang siya ang maging kataas-taasan sa lahatng bagay. 19 Ikinalugod ng Ama na ang buong kapuspusanay manahan sa kaniya. 20 Nagdala siya ng kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng dugo na nabuhos sa krus. Sa pamama­gitan niya ikinalugod ng Ama na ipagkasundo sa kaniyang sarili ang lahat ng mga bagay sa lupa, o sa lahat ng mga bagay sa langit.

21 At kayo na dating banyaga at mga kaaway ng Diyos dahil sa inyong pag-iisip at dahil sa inyong masasamang gawa ay ipinagkasundo ngayon. 22 Ito ay sa katawan ng kaniyang laman sa pamamagitan ngkaniyang kamatayan upang kayo ay maiharap na banal at walang kapintasan at walang maipa­paratang sa kaniyang paningin. 23 Ito ay kung manatili kayo sa pananampalataya na matatag at matibay at hindi malilipat mulasa pag-asa ng ebanghelyo na inyong narinig at ito ang ipinangaral sa bawat nilalang na nasa silong ng langit. Akong si Pablo ay ginawang tagapaglingkod ng ebanghelyong ito.

Ang Pagpapagal ni Pablo Para sa Iglesiya

24 Ako ngayon ay nagagalak sa aking mga paghihirap alang-alang sa inyo. Pinupunuan ko sa aking katawan ang mga kakulangan ng mga paghihirap niCristo para sa kapakanan ng kaniyang katawan, ang iglesiya.

25 Dahil dito naging tagapag­lingkod ako ayon sa pangangasiwa na mula sa Diyos, na ibinigay sa akin para sa inyong kapakinabangan upang ganapin ko ang Salita ng Diyos. 26 Ito ang hiwagang inilihim mula pa sa nakaraang kapanahunan at mula sa mga lahing nakaraan, ngunit ngayon ay ipinahayag sa kaniyang mga banal. 27 Sa kanila ay ipinasya ng Diyos na ipakilala ang kayamanan ng kaluwal­hatian ng hiwagang ito sa mga Gentil. Ito ay si Cristo na sumasainyo, ang pag-asa sa kaluwalhatian.

28 Siya ang aming ipinahahayag. Binibigyan namin ng babalaat tinuturuan ang bawat tao ng lahat ng karunungan, upang maiharap naming sakdal ang bawat tao kay Cristo Jesus. 29 Dahil dito, nagpapagal din naman ako at nagsisikap ayon sa kaniyang paggawa na gumagawang may kapangyarihan sa akin.