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 .
