24 (A)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh (B)I am supplementing what is lacking [a]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of (C)His body, which is the church. 25 (D)I [b]was made a minister of this church according to the (E)commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might [c]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, (F)the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His [d]saints, 27 to whom (G)God willed to make known what (H)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is (I)Christ in you, the (J)hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, (K)admonishing every person and teaching every person [e]with all (L)wisdom, so that we may (M)present every person [f](N)complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also (O)labor, (P)striving (Q)according to His [g]power which [h]works mightily within me.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:24 Lit of
  2. Colossians 1:25 Lit became
  3. Colossians 1:25 Lit make full the word of God
  4. Colossians 1:26 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  5. Colossians 1:28 Lit in
  6. Colossians 1:28 Or perfect
  7. Colossians 1:29 Lit working
  8. Colossians 1:29 Lit in power

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