Kolosser 1
Hoffnung für Alle
Jesus – das Ebenbild Gottes und der Ursprung allen Lebens (Kapitel 1,1‒23)
Anschrift und Gruß
1 Paulus, ein Apostel von Jesus Christus, durch Gott berufen, und sein Mitarbeiter Timotheus 2 schreiben diesen Brief an die Brüder und Schwestern in Kolossä, die durch den Glauben mit Jesus Christus verbunden sind und ganz zu Gott gehören. Wir wünschen euch Gnade und Frieden von Gott, unserem Vater.
Wir beten für euch
3 Jedes Mal wenn wir für euch beten, danken wir Gott, dem Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus. 4 Wir haben von eurem Glauben an Jesus Christus gehört und davon, wie ihr allen Christen in Liebe verbunden seid. 5 Beides ist so reich bei euch vorhanden, weil ihr wisst, dass sich eure Hoffnung im Himmel erfüllen wird. Von dieser Hoffnung habt ihr gehört, als man euch das Wort der Wahrheit, die rettende Botschaft von Jesus Christus, verkündete.
6 Diese Botschaft wird nicht nur bei euch, sondern auch in der ganzen Welt verbreitet. Immer mehr Menschen hören sie, nehmen sie an, und so trägt sie reiche Frucht. Auch bei euch ist es vom ersten Tag an so gewesen, als ihr erfahren habt, wie gnädig Gott ist. 7 Euch brachte unser lieber Mitarbeiter Epaphras diese rettende Botschaft. Wir wissen, dass er Christus dient und dass er euch ein treuer und guter Lehrer war. 8 Er hat uns auch davon berichtet, welche Liebe der Geist Gottes in euch geweckt hat.
9 Deshalb haben wir seitdem nicht aufgehört, für euch zu beten. Wir bitten Gott, dass sein Geist euch mit Weisheit und Einsicht erfüllt und ihr auf diese Weise seinen Willen immer besser erkennt. 10 Dann nämlich könnt ihr so leben, dass der Herr dadurch geehrt wird und er sich in jeder Hinsicht über euch freut. Euer Leben wird für Gott Frucht bringen, indem ihr in vielerlei Weise Gutes tut. Ihr werdet ihn immer besser kennen lernen 11-12 und das ganze Ausmaß seiner herrlichen Kraft und Stärke erfahren, damit ihr geduldig und ausdauernd euren Weg gehen könnt.
Ihr habt wirklich allen Grund, Gott, dem Vater, voll Freude dafür zu danken. Denn er hat euch zu seinen rechtmäßigen Erben gemacht. Zusammen mit allen, die zu ihm gehören, dürft ihr einmal bei ihm sein, in seinem Reich des Lichts. 13 Er hat uns aus der Gewalt der Finsternis befreit, und nun leben wir unter der Herrschaft seines geliebten Sohnes Jesus Christus. 14 Durch ihn sind wir erlöst, unsere Sünden sind vergeben.
Christus steht über der ganzen Schöpfung
15 Christus ist das Ebenbild des unsichtbaren Gottes.
Als sein Sohn steht er über der ganzen Schöpfung
und war selbst schon längst vor ihr da.[a]
16 Durch ihn ist alles erschaffen,
was im Himmel und auf der Erde ist: Sichtbares und Unsichtbares,
Königreiche und Mächte, Herrscher und Gewalten.
Ja, alles ist durch ihn geschaffen und vollendet sich schließlich in ihm.
17 Denn Christus war vor allem anderen;
und alles hat nur durch ihn Bestand.
18 Er ist das Haupt der Gemeinde, die sein Leib ist.
Er ist der Ursprung allen Lebens[b]
und zugleich der Erste, der vom Tod zu einem unvergänglichen Leben auferstand.
So sollte er in jeder Hinsicht an erster Stelle stehen.
19 Denn Gott hat beschlossen, mit seiner ganzen Fülle in ihm zu wohnen
20 und alles im Himmel und auf der Erde
durch ihn mit sich zu versöhnen.
Ja, Gott hat Frieden gestiftet,
als Jesus am Kreuz sein Blut vergoss.
21 Auch ihr wusstet früher nicht, was es bedeutet, mit Gott zu leben; ihr wart seine Feinde durch alles Böse, das ihr gedacht und getan habt. 22 Doch indem Christus Mensch wurde und am Kreuz starb, hat Gott euch mit sich selbst versöhnt. Jetzt gehören wir zu Gott und stehen befreit von aller Sünde und Schuld vor ihm da. 23 Wichtig ist aber, dass ihr auch weiterhin fest und unerschütterlich in eurem Glauben bleibt. Lasst euch durch nichts davon abbringen! Keine Macht der Erde soll euch die Hoffnung rauben, die Gott euch durch seine rettende Botschaft geschenkt hat. Ihr habt sie gehört, und sie ist überall in der Welt verkündet worden. Mein ganzes Leben steht im Dienst dieser Botschaft. Sie will ich weitersagen.
Warnung vor falschen Lehren (Kapitel 1,24–2,23)
Paulus verkündet die Botschaft im Auftrag Gottes
24 Was ich auch immer für euch erleiden muss, nehme ich gern auf mich; ich freue mich sogar darüber. Das Maß der Leiden, die ich für Christus auf mich nehmen muss, ist noch nicht voll. Und ich leide für seinen Leib, für seine Gemeinde. 25 Gott hat mir aufgetragen, seiner Gemeinde zu dienen und euch seine Botschaft ohne Abstriche zu verkünden. 26 Ihr habt erfahren, was von Anfang der Welt, ja, was der gesamten Menschheit vor euch verborgen war: ein Geheimnis, das jetzt allen Christen enthüllt worden ist. 27 Dabei geht es um ein unbegreifliches Wunder, das Gott für alle Menschen auf dieser Erde bereithält. Ihr, die ihr zu Gott gehört, dürft dieses Geheimnis verstehen. Es lautet: Christus lebt in euch! Und damit habt ihr die feste Hoffnung, dass Gott euch Anteil an seiner Herrlichkeit gibt.
28 Diesen Christus verkünden wir. Mit aller Weisheit, die Gott mir gegeben hat, ermahne ich die Menschen und unterweise sie im Glauben, damit jeder Einzelne durch die Verbindung mit Christus reif und mündig wird. 29 Das ist das Ziel meiner Arbeit, dafür kämpfe ich, und dafür mühe ich mich ab. Christus, der mit seiner Macht in mir wirkt, schenkt mir die Kraft dazu.
Kolosser 1
Schlachter 1951
Zuschrift und Gruß
1 Paulus, Apostel Jesu Christi durch den Willen Gottes, und der Bruder Timotheus, 2 an die Heiligen in Kolossä und gläubigen Brüder in Christus: Gnade widerfahre euch und Friede von Gott, unsrem Vater und dem Herrn Jesus Christus.
Glaube und Liebe der Kolosser - Gebet des Apostels für ihren geistlichen Fortschritt
3 Wir danken dem Gott und Vater unsres Herrn Jesus Christus, so oft wir für euch beten, 4 da wir gehört haben von eurem Glauben an Christus Jesus und von eurer Liebe zu allen Heiligen, 5 um der Hoffnung willen, die euch im Himmel aufbehalten ist, von welcher ihr zuvor gehört habt durch das Wort der Wahrheit des Evangeliums, 6 das bei euch ist, wie auch in aller Welt, und Frucht trägt und wächst, wie auch bei euch, von dem Tage an, da ihr von der Gnade Gottes gehört und sie in Wahrheit erkannt habt; 7 wie ihr [es] ja gelernt habt von Epaphras, unsrem geliebten Mitknecht, welcher ein treuer Diener Christi für euch ist, 8 der uns auch eure Liebe im Geist kundgetan hat.
9 Weshalb wir auch von dem Tage an, da wir es vernommen haben, nicht aufhören, für euch zu beten und zu bitten, daß ihr erfüllt werdet mit der Erkenntnis Seines Willens in aller geistlichen Weisheit und Einsicht, 10 damit ihr des Herrn würdig wandelt zu allem Wohlgefallen: in allem guten Werk fruchtbar und in der Erkenntnis Gottes wachsend, 11 mit aller Kraft gestärkt nach der Macht seiner Herrlichkeit zu aller Standhaftigkeit und Geduld, mit Freuden.
Jesus Christus, der Urheber unserer Erlösung, das Ebenbild des unsichtbaren Gottes, der Schöpfer aller Dinge, das Haupt der Gemeinde
12 Dankbar dem Vater, der uns tüchtig gemacht hat zum Anteil am Erbe der Heiligen im Licht, 13 welcher uns errettet hat aus der Gewalt der Finsternis und versetzt in das Reich des Sohnes seiner Liebe, 14 in welchem wir die Erlösung haben durch sein Blut, die Vergebung der Sünden; 15 welcher das Ebenbild des unsichtbaren Gottes ist, der Erstgeborene aller Kreatur.
16 Denn in ihm ist alles erschaffen worden, was im Himmel und was auf Erden ist, das Sichtbare und das Unsichtbare, seien es Throne oder Herrschaften oder Fürstentümer oder Gewalten: alles ist durch ihn und für ihn geschaffen; 17 und er ist vor allem, und alles besteht in ihm. 18 Und er ist das Haupt des Leibes, [nämlich] der Gemeinde, er, der der Anfang ist, der Erstgeborene aus den Toten, damit er in allem der Erste sei. 19 Denn es gefiel [Gott], daß in ihm alle Fülle wohnen sollte 20 und alles durch ihn versöhnt würde zu ihm selbst dadurch daß er Frieden machte durch das Blut seines Kreuzes durch ihn, sowohl was im Himmel, als auch was auf Erden ist.
21 Und euch, die ihr einst entfremdet[a] und feindlich gesinnt waret in den bösen Werken, hat er aber nun versöhnt in dem Leibe seines Fleisches durch den Tod, 22 um euch heilig und tadellos und unverklagbar darzustellen vor seinem Angesicht, 23 wenn ihr nämlich im Glauben gegründet und fest bleibet und euch nicht abbringen lasset von der Hoffnung des Evangeliums, das ihr gehört habt, welches in der ganzen Schöpfung unter dem Himmel gepredigt wird, dessen Diener ich, Paulus, geworden bin.
Leiden und Kämpfe des Apostels - Christus in euch, die Hoffnung der Herrlichkeit
24 Nun freue ich mich in den Leiden für euch und erdulde[b] stellvertretend an meinem Fleisch, was noch fehlte an den Trübsalen Christi für seinen Leib, welcher ist die Gemeinde, 25 deren Diener ich geworden bin gemäß dem Verwalteramt Gottes, das mir für euch gegeben worden ist, daß ich das Wort Gottes voll ausrichten soll, 26 [nämlich] das Geheimnis, das vor den Zeitaltern und Geschlechtern verborgen war, nun aber seinen Heiligen geoffenbart worden ist, 27 denen Gott kundtun wollte, welches der Reichtum der Herrlichkeit dieses Geheimnisses unter den Völkern sei, nämlich: Christus in euch, die Hoffnung der Herrlichkeit.
28 Den verkündigen wir, indem wir jeden Menschen ermahnen und jeden Menschen lehren in aller Weisheit, um einen jeden Menschen vollkommen in Christus darzustellen, 29 wofür auch ich arbeite und ringe nach der Wirksamkeit dessen, der in mir wirkt in Kraft.
Footnotes
- Kolosser 1:21 entfremdet o. fern von Gott
- Kolosser 1:24 erdulde o. ergänze
Colossians 1
King James Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
2 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.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 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:
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 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.
Colossians 1
1599 Geneva Bible
The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians
1 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.
1 Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the [a]will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 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.
3 [c]We give thanks to God even the [d]Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you:
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love toward all Saints.
5 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,
6 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,
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ:
8 [f]Who hath also declared unto us your love in the [g]Spirit.
9 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
- Colossians 1:1 By the free bountifulness of God.
- Colossians 1:2 Colosse is situated in Phrygia, not far from Hierapolis and Laodicea, on that side that they bend toward Lycia and Pamphylia.
- Colossians 1:3 He commendeth the doctrine that was delivered them by Epaphras, and their readiness in receiving it.
- Colossians 1:3 We cannot otherwise consider of God to our salvation, but as he is Christ’s Father, in whom we are adopted.
- Colossians 1:5 For the glory that is hoped for.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:8 Your spiritual love, or your love which cometh from the Spirit.
- Colossians 1:9 God’s will.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:12 In that glorious and heavenly kingdom.
- 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.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:15 Begotten before anything was made: and therefore the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father.
- 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.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:18 Who so rose again that he shall die no more, and who raiseth others from death to life by his power.
- Colossians 1:19 Most plentiful abundance of all things pertaining to God.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:20 The whole Church.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:21 The Son.
- Colossians 1:22 In that fleshly body, to give us to understand that his body was not a fantastical body, but a true body.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:23 To all men: whereby we learn that the Gospel was not shut up within the corners of Judea alone.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:24 For your profit and commodity.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:27 This Paul bridleth the curiosity of men.
- 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.
- Colossians 1:28 Perfect and sound wisdom, which is perfect in itself, and shall in the end make them perfect that follow it.
Colossians 1
Evangelical Heritage Version
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the holy and faithful brothers[a] in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.[b]
Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope that is stored up for you in heaven. You have already heard about this in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that is present with you now. The gospel is bearing fruit and growing in the entire world, just as it also has been doing among you from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth. 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your[c] behalf. 8 He is the one who told us about your love in the Spirit.[d]
9 For this reason, from the day we heard about your love, we also have not stopped praying for you. We keep asking that you would be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you might live in a way that is worthy of the Lord. Our goal is that you please him by bearing fruit in every kind of good work and by growing in the knowledge of God, 11 as you are being strengthened with all power because of his glorious might working in you. Then you will have complete endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who qualified us[e] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
What the Father Did Through Christ
13 The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,[f] the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 16 for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and all things hold together in him.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things he might have the highest rank. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself (whether things on earth or in heaven) by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Reconciled Through Christ’s Death
21 At one time, you were alienated from God and hostile in your thinking as expressed through your evil deeds. 22 But now Christ reconciled you in his body of flesh through death, in order to present you holy, blameless, and faultless before him— 23 if you continue steadfast and firm in faith, without being moved away from the hope of the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a minister.
Paul’s Service in Preaching the Gospel
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church. 25 I became a minister of the church for your benefit when God gave me the task of fully proclaiming the word of God, 26 namely, the mystery that was hidden for past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known to them what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles—this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim him as we admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom, so that we might present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 This is the goal I am laboring to reach, striving with his strength, which is powerfully at work in me.
Footnotes
- Colossians 1:2 When context indicates it, the Greek word for brothers may refer to all fellow believers, male and female.
- Colossians 1:2 Some witnesses to the text add and our Lord Jesus Christ. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.)
- Colossians 1:7 Some witnesses to the text read our.
- Colossians 1:8 Or about the love the Spirit worked in you
- Colossians 1:12 Some witnesses to the text read you.
- Colossians 1:14 A few witnesses to the text add through his blood.
Hoffnung für Alle® (Hope for All) Copyright © 1983, 1996, 2002 by Biblica, Inc.®
Copyright © 1951 by Geneva Bible Society
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.