11 Paul , an apostle of Jesus Christ [1] by the will of God , and Timothy [2]our brother , 2 To the [3] saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae : Grace to you and peace from God our Father .
3 We give thanks to God , the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have [4]for all the [5]saints ; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in [6]heaven , of which you previously heard in the word of truth , [7]the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as [8] in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and [9]increasing , even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and [10]understood the grace of God in truth ; 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras , our beloved fellow bond-servant , who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf , 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit .
9 For this reason also , since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the [11] knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding , 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord , [12] to please Him in all respects , bearing fruit in every good work and [13]increasing in the [14]knowledge of God ; 11 strengthened with all power , according to [15]His glorious might , [16]for the attaining of all steadfastness and [17]patience ; joyously
12 giving thanks to the Father , who has qualified us [18]to share in the inheritance of the [19]saints in Light . 13 [20]For He rescued us from the [21] domain of darkness , and transferred us to the kingdom of [22] His beloved Son ,
14 in whom we have redemption , the forgiveness of sins . 15 [23]He is the image of the invisible God , the firstborn of all creation . 16 For [24] by Him all things were created , both in the heavens and on earth , visible and invisible , whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [25] is before all things , and in Him all things [26]hold together . 18 He is also head of the body , the church ; and He is the beginning , the firstborn from the dead , so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything . 19 For [27]it was the Father's good pleasure for all the [28]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself , having made peace through the blood of His cross ; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in [29]heaven .
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind , engaged in evil deeds , 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death , in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach - 23 if indeed you continue in [30]the faith firmly established and steadfast , and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard , which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven , and of which I, Paul , [31]was made a [32] minister . 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake , and in my flesh I [33]do my share on behalf of His body , which is the church , in filling up what is lacking [34]in Christ's afflictions . 25 Of this church I [35]was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit , so that I might [36]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God , 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations , but has now been manifested to His [37]saints , 27 to whom God willed to 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 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man [38]with all wisdom , so that we may present every man [39] complete in Christ . 29 For this purpose also I labor , striving according to His [40]power , which [41]mightily works within me.
