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Colossians

Affirms Christ's supremacy and encourages living a life worthy of the Lord. ... click to read full summary of this book.

Chapter 1

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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

Paul, an emissary of Jesus Christ as planned by God, and Timothy, our fellow brother.

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.

To the believers in Colosse: May grace and peace be with you, from God and Jesus Christ our Lord.

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

We thank God and our Lord Jesus's Father, constantly praying for you.

Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

Because we learned about your belief in Jesus Christ and the love you show to all believers.

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

For the hope saved for you in heaven, which you heard earlier about in the true message of the gospel.

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:

This verse says that something has come to you, just like it's present everywhere else. It produces results, just like it does in you, ever since you first learned about it and understood God's kindness.

As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

Just like you learned from Epaphras, our kind coworker, who is a loyal helper of Christ and dedicated to you.

Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Who also told us about your love using the Spirit.

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;

Since we learned about your situation, we have continuously prayed for you. We hope that you gain a deep understanding of God's plans, with wisdom and spiritual insight.

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

So that you can live in a way that honors the Lord and pleases everyone, by doing good deeds and continuously learning more about God.

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Empowered by great strength, based on his wonderful power, enduring all patience and perseverance with happiness.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Thanking the Father for making us worthy to share in the inheritance of the holy ones, who are in the light.

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Who has saved us from darkness' control and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son?

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

In him, we find salvation from our wrongs thanks to his blood, which means our mistakes are erased.

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Who is a picture of a God you can't see, the very first of all living things born.

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:

By him, everything was made, both seen and unseen in heaven and on earth. This includes thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers. Everything was created through him and for him.

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

He comes first in everything, and he holds everything together with him.

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.

He is the leader of the church and was the first to rise from the dead. He is first in everything.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

It made the Father happy for all goodness to be in him.

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.

And making peace using his cross's blood, he brings everything back to himself - on Earth and in Heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

And you, who used to be strangers and hostile because of evil actions, he has now brought peace.

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Through dying, Jesus' body brings you to God as pure, blameless, and beyond reproach.

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;

If you keep believing firmly and stay strong, and don't let anything take away your hope in the message of the gospel, which you learned and that was shared with everyone on Earth, I, Paul, am here to help spread it.

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:

I am happy to endure hardships for your sake, and to complete what is missing from the suffering of Christ experienced by me, as a part of his body, which is the church.

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;

I am here to help, following God's plan given to me for your benefit, to complete God's message.

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Even the secret that was hidden for a long time and from many generations, but now has been revealed to his special followers.

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:

To those whom God reveals the wealth of the glory of this secret for non-Jews; it's about Christ living within you, bringing the hope of shining brightly.

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

We teach and warn everyone with wisdom so they can be complete in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

I also work hard, making an effort based on his powerful action that strongly works within me.

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