Greeting

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

To the saints (B)and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:

(C)Grace to you and peace from God our Father [a]and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Faith in Christ

(D)We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (E)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of (F)your love for all the saints; because of the hope (G)which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, (H)as it has also in all the world, and (I)is bringing forth [b]fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew (J)the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from (K)Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is (L)a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your (M)love in the Spirit.

Preeminence of Christ

(N)For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask (O)that you may be filled with (P)the knowledge of His will (Q)in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 (R)that you may walk worthy of the Lord, (S)fully pleasing Him, (T)being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the (U)knowledge of God; 11 (V)strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, (W)for all patience and longsuffering (X)with joy; 12 (Y)giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of (Z)the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from (AA)the power of darkness (AB)and [c]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 (AC)in whom we have redemption [d]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is (AD)the image of the invisible God, (AE)the firstborn over all creation. 16 For (AF)by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or (AG)dominions or [e]principalities or [f]powers. All things were created (AH)through Him and for Him. 17 (AI)And He is before all things, and in Him (AJ)all things consist. 18 And (AK)He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, (AL)the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

19 For it pleased the Father that (AM)in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and (AN)by Him to reconcile (AO)all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, (AP)having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, (AQ)who once were alienated and enemies in your mind (AR)by wicked works, yet now He has (AS)reconciled 22 (AT)in the body of His flesh through death, (AU)to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue (AV)in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are (AW)not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, (AX)which was preached to every creature under heaven, (AY)of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Sacrificial Service for Christ

24 (AZ)I now rejoice in my sufferings (BA)for you, and fill up in my flesh (BB)what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for (BC)the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to (BD)the [g]stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 (BE)the [h]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, (BF)but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 (BG)To them God willed to make known what are (BH)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: [i]which is (BI)Christ in you, (BJ)the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, (BK)warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, (BL)that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me (BM)mightily.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:2 NU omits and the Lord Jesus Christ
  2. Colossians 1:6 NU, M add and growing
  3. Colossians 1:13 transferred
  4. Colossians 1:14 NU, M omit through His blood
  5. Colossians 1:16 rulers
  6. Colossians 1:16 authorities
  7. Colossians 1:25 dispensation or administration
  8. Colossians 1:26 secret or hidden truth
  9. Colossians 1:27 M who

Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the [a]saints and faithful [b]believers in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father.

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray always for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] [c]love which you have for all the saints (God’s people); because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation] which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it]. You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf and he also has told us of your love [well-grounded and nurtured] in the [Holy] Spirit.

For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; 11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.

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 [d]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 [e]church; and He is the beginning, [f]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 [g]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 [h]in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I [i]supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. 25 In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]— 26 that is, [j]the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people). 27 God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory. 28 We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed]. 29 For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:2 Every born-again believer (saint) has been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, made holy and set apart for God’s purpose.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Lit brethren.
  3. Colossians 1:4 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
  4. Colossians 1:16 Or in.
  5. Colossians 1:18 This refers to the entire body of born-again believers (whether past, present, or future), not a local congregation.
  6. Colossians 1:18 Christ is the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body. Others who were raised had to die again.
  7. Colossians 1:22 Lit body of flesh.
  8. 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.”
  9. Colossians 1:24 I.e. since the church is Christ’s body, figuratively speaking, whatever the church suffers can be considered additional sufferings by Christ Himself, and all such suffering was ordained and destined by God; what is left to suffer in God’s plan is what is “lacking of Christ’s afflictions.” Paul, as a member of the church, was destined to suffer through persecution etc., thereby taking his share of the church body’s divinely-ordained suffering.
  10. Colossians 1:26 I.e. that believing Gentiles would be united with believing Jews into one body of believers.

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.

The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians

1 After the salutation, 4 he praiseth them the more, to make them attentive unto him. 7 He reporteth the testimony of the doctrine which they heard of Epaphras. 13 He magnifieth God’s grace towards them, 20 and showeth that all the parts of our salvation consist in Christ alone.

Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the [a]will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To them which are at [b]Colosse, Saints and faithful brethren in Christ: Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

[c]We give thanks to God even the [d]Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you:

Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love toward all Saints.

For the [e]hope’s sake, which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye have heard before by the word of truth, which is the Gospel,

Which is come unto you, even as it is unto all the world, and is fruitful as it is also among you from the day that ye heard and truly knew the grace of God,

As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ:

[f]Who hath also declared unto us your love in the [g]Spirit.

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

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord, and please him in all things, being fruitful in all good works, and increasing in the knowledge of God,

11 [i]Strengthened with all might through his glorious power, unto all patience, and longsuffering with [j]joyfulness,

12 [k]Giving thanks unto the [l]Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in [m]light,

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

14 [n]In whom we have redemption through his blood, that is, the forgiveness of sins.

15 [o]Who is the (B)image of the invisible God, [p]the first begotten of every creature.

16 (C)For by him were all things created which are in heaven, and which are in earth, things visible and invisible: whether they be [q]Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him.

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

18 [r]And he is the head of the body of the Church: he is the beginning, (D)and the [s]first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 (E)For it pleased the Father, that in him should [t]all fullness dwell.

20 [u]And through peace made by that blood of that his cross, to reconcile to himself through him, through him, I say, [v]all things, both which are in earth, and which are in heaven.

21 [w]And you which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your minds were set in evil works, hath [x]he now also reconciled,

22 In that body of his [y]flesh through death, to make you holy and unblameable, and without fault in his sight.

23 [z]If ye continue, grounded and established in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, whereof ye have heard, and which hath been preached to [aa]every creature, which is under heaven, [ab]whereof I Paul am a minister.

24 Now rejoice I in my sufferings [ac]for you, and fulfill the [ad]rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body’s sake, which is the Church,

25 [ae]Whereof I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given me unto youward, to fulfill the word of God,

26 (F)Which is the mystery hid since the world began, and from all ages, but now is made manifest to his [af]Saints,

27 To whom God [ag]would make known what is the riches of his glorious mystery among the Gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

28 [ah]Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in [ai]all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

29 Whereunto I also labor and strive, according to his working which worketh in me mightily.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:1 By the free bountifulness of God.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Colosse is situated in Phrygia, not far from Hierapolis and Laodicea, on that side that they bend toward Lycia and Pamphylia.
  3. Colossians 1:3 He commendeth the doctrine that was delivered them by Epaphras, and their readiness in receiving it.
  4. Colossians 1:3 We cannot otherwise consider of God to our salvation, but as he is Christ’s Father, in whom we are adopted.
  5. Colossians 1:5 For the glory that is hoped for.
  6. Colossians 1:8 He declareth his good will towards them, telling them that they must not still remain at one stay but go on further both in the knowledge of the Gospel, and also in the true use of it.
  7. Colossians 1:8 Your spiritual love, or your love which cometh from the Spirit.
  8. Colossians 1:9 God’s will.
  9. Colossians 1:11 The gift of continuance is not of us, but it proceedeth from the virtue of God, which he doth freely give us.
  10. Colossians 1:11 It must not be unwilling, and as it were drawn out of us by force, but proceed from a merry and joyful mind.
  11. Colossians 1:12 Having ended the preface, he goeth to the matter itself, that is to say, to an excellent description (although it be but short) of whole Christianity, which is fitly divided into three treatises: for first of all he expoundeth the true doctrine, according to the order of the causes, beginning from this verse to the 24. And from thence he beginneth to apply the same to the Colossians with divers exhortations to verse 6 of the second Chapter. And last of all in the third place even to the third Chapter, he refuteth the corruption of true doctrine.
  12. Colossians 1:12 The efficient cause of our salvation is the only mercy of God the Father, who maketh us meet to be partakers of eternal life, delivering us from the darkness wherein we were born, and bringing us to the light of the knowledge of the glory of his Son.
  13. Colossians 1:12 In that glorious and heavenly kingdom.
  14. Colossians 1:14 The matter itself of our salvation, is Christ the Son of God, who hath obtained remission of sins for us by the offering up of himself.
  15. Colossians 1:15 A lively description of the person of Christ, whereby we understand that in him only, God showeth himself to be seen: who was begotten of the Father before anything was made, that is, from everlasting, by whom also all things that are made, were made without any exception, by whom also they do consist, and whose glory they serve.
  16. Colossians 1:15 Begotten before anything was made: and therefore the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father.
  17. Colossians 1:16 He setteth forth the Angels with glorious names, that by the comparison of most excellent spirits we may understand how far passing the excellence of Christ, in whom only we have to content ourselves, and let go all Angels.
  18. Colossians 1:18 Having gloriously declared the excellent dignity of the person of Christ, he describeth his office and function, to wit, that he is that same to the Church, that the head is to the body, that is to say, the prince and governor of it, and the very beginning of true life, as who rising first from death, he is the Author of eternal life, so that he is above all, in whom only there is most plentiful abundance of all good things, which is poured out upon the Church.
  19. Colossians 1:18 Who so rose again that he shall die no more, and who raiseth others from death to life by his power.
  20. Colossians 1:19 Most plentiful abundance of all things pertaining to God.
  21. Colossians 1:20 Now he teacheth how Christ executed that office which his Father joined him, to wit, by suffering the death of the cross (which was joined with the curse of God) according to his decree, that by this sacrifice he might reconcile his Father all men as well them which believed in him to come, and were already under this hope gathered into heaven, as them which should upon the earth believe in him afterwards. And thus is justification described of the Apostle, which is one and the chiefest part of the benefit of Christ.
  22. Colossians 1:20 The whole Church.
  23. Colossians 1:21 Sanctification is another work of God in us by Christ, in that that he restored us (which hated God extremely, and were wholly and willingly given to sin) to his gracious favor, in such sort, that he therewithall purifieth us with his holy Spirit, and consecrateth us to righteousness.
  24. Colossians 1:21 The Son.
  25. Colossians 1:22 In that fleshly body, to give us to understand that his body was not a fantastical body, but a true body.
  26. Colossians 1:23 This second treatise of this part of the Epistle, wherein he exhorteth the Colossians not to suffer themselves by any means to be moved from this doctrine, showing and declaring that there is nowhere any other true Gospel.
  27. Colossians 1:23 To all men: whereby we learn that the Gospel was not shut up within the corners of Judea alone.
  28. Colossians 1:23 He purchased authority to this doctrine by his Apostleship, and taketh a most sure proof thereof, of his afflictions which he suffereth for Christ’s Name to instruct the Churches with these examples of patience.
  29. Colossians 1:24 For your profit and commodity.
  30. Colossians 1:24 The afflictions of the Church are said to be Christ’s afflictions, by reason of that fellowship and knitting together, that the body and the head have the one with the other, not that there is any more need to have the Church redeemed, but that Christ showeth his power in the daily weakness of his, and that for the comfort of the whole body.
  31. Colossians 1:25 He bringeth another proof of his Apostleship, to wit, that God is the author of it, by whom also he was appointed peculiarly Apostle of the Gentiles, to the end that by this means, that same might be fulfilled by him, which the Prophets foretold of the calling of the Gentiles.
  32. Colossians 1:26 Whom he chose to sanctify unto himself in Christ: moreover he sayeth that the mystery of our redemption was hidden since the world began, except it were revealed unto a few, who also were taught it extraordinarily.
  33. Colossians 1:27 This Paul bridleth the curiosity of men.
  34. Colossians 1:28 He protesteth that he doth faithfully execute his Apostleship in every place, bringing men unto Christ only, through the Lord’s plentiful blessings of his labors.
  35. Colossians 1:28 Perfect and sound wisdom, which is perfect in itself, and shall in the end make them perfect that follow it.

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

to the saints in Colossae, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!

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

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that [is] to all the saints,

because of the hope that is laid up for you in the heavens, which ye heard of before in the word of the truth of the good news,

which is present to you, as also in all the world, and is bearing fruit, as also in you, from the day in which ye heard, and knew the grace of God in truth;

as ye also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful ministrant of the Christ,

who also did declare to us your love in the Spirit.

Because of this, we also, from the day in which we heard, do not cease praying for you, and asking that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

10 to your walking worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, in every good work being fruitful, and increasing to the knowledge of God,

11 in all might being made mighty according to the power of His glory, to all endurance and long-suffering with joy.

12 Giving thanks to the Father who did make us meet for the participation of the inheritance of the saints in the light,

13 who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate [us] into the reign of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of the sins,

15 who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,

16 because in him were the all things created, those in the heavens, and those upon the earth, those visible, and those invisible, whether thrones, whether lordships, whether principalities, whether authorities; all things through him, and for him, have been created,

17 and himself is before all, and the all things in him have consisted.

18 And himself is the head of the body -- the assembly -- who is a beginning, a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all [things] -- himself -- first,

19 because in him it did please all the fulness to tabernacle,

20 and through him to reconcile the all things to himself -- having made peace through the blood of his cross -- through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens.

21 And you -- once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile,

22 in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself,

23 if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that [is] under the heaven, of which I became -- I Paul -- a ministrant.

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly,

25 of which I -- I did become a ministrant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God,

26 the secret that hath been hid from the ages and from the generations, but now was manifested to his saints,

27 to whom God did will to make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this secret among the nations -- which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory,

28 whom we proclaim, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,

29 for which also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power.