Col 1 | BSB | STEP | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by [the] will of God, and Timothy [our] brother,

Colossians 1

Greetings from Paul and Timothy

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by [the] will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, 2 To the saints in Colossae, [the] faithful brothers in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. ^{▼▼BYZ and TR God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ}

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God, [the] Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints— 5 [the faith and love] proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, about which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world [this gospel] is bearing fruit and growing, just as [it has been doing] among you since the day you heard [it] and truly understood the grace of God. 7 You learned [it] from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our ^{▼▼NE, NA, BYZ, and TR your} behalf, 8 [and] who also informed us of your love in [the] Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard [about you] , we {have} not stopped praying for you and asking [God] to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [and] may please [Him] in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, [and] joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you ^{▼▼BYZ and TR us} to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought [us] into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Supremacy of Christ

15 [The Son] is [the] image of the invisible God, [the] firstborn over all creation. 16 For in Him all things were created, [things] in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning [and] firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. 19 For [God] was pleased [to have] all [His] fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. 21 Once you were alienated [ from God ] and were hostile in your minds because of [your] evil deeds. 22 But now He has reconciled [you] by [Christ’s] physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 23 if indeed you continue in [your] faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation ^{▼▼Or to every creature} under heaven, [and] of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Paul's Suffering for the Church

24 Now I rejoice in [my] sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. 25 I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, 26 the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. 27 To [them] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.