Paul's Ministry to the Church

24 Now (A)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh (B)I am filling up (C)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions (D)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 (E)of which I became a minister according to (F)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 (G)the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 (H)To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are (I)the riches of the glory of (J)this mystery, which is Christ in you, (K)the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that (L)we may present everyone (M)mature in Christ. 29 For this (N)I toil, (O)struggling (P)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

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Paul’s Service in the Church

24 Now I am rejoicing while suffering for you as I complete in my flesh whatever remains of the Messiah’s[a] sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church. 25 I became its servant[b] as God commissioned me to work for you, so that I may complete my ministry of[c] the word of God. 26 This secret was hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints, 27 to whom God wanted to make known the glorious riches of this secret among the gentiles—which is the Messiah[d] in you, our glorious hope. 28 It is he whom we proclaim as we admonish and wisely teach everyone, so that we may present everyone mature[e] in the Messiah.[f] 29 I work hard and struggle to do this, using the energy that he powerfully provides in me.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:24 Or Christ’s
  2. Colossians 1:25 Or minister
  3. Colossians 1:25 The Gk. lacks the ministry of
  4. Colossians 1:27 Or Christ
  5. Colossians 1:28 Or complete
  6. Colossians 1:28 Or Christ