(A)We [a]give thanks to God, (B)the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (C)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the (D)love which you have [b]for (E)all the [c]saints; because of the (F)hope (G)reserved for you in [d]heaven, of which you previously (H)heard in the word of truth, [e]the gospel which has come to you, just as [f](I)in all the world also it is bearing (J)fruit and [g]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you (K)heard it and [h]understood the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from (L)Epaphras, our (M)beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your (N)love in the Spirit.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:3 Or always give...praying for you
  2. Colossians 1:4 Or toward
  3. Colossians 1:4 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  4. Colossians 1:5 Lit the heavens
  5. Colossians 1:5 Or of the gospel
  6. Colossians 1:6 Or it is in all the world also, bearing
  7. Colossians 1:6 Or spreading abroad
  8. Colossians 1:6 Or came to fully know

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.[a] He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1:7 Or he is ministering on your behalf; some manuscripts read he is ministering on our behalf.