'Paul,1an apostle2of Christ3Jesus4by5the will6of God,7and8Timothy9ourbrother,11 To the1saints4and5faithful6brothers7in8Christ9at2Colossae:3Grace10to you11and12peace13from14God15our17Father.16 We1always10thank1God,3the2Father4of6our7Lord6Jesus8Christ,9when we pray13for11you,12 [since we] heard of1your4faith3in5Christ6Jesus7and8of the9love10that11you have12for13all14the15saints,16 because of1the2hope3laid up5for you6in7heaven.9Of this10you have heard before11in12the13word14of the15truth,16the17gospel,18 which has come2to3you,4as5indeed6in7thewhole8world10it is11bearing fruit12and13increasing14— as15italso16doesamong17you,18since19the20day21you heard22itand23understood24the25grace26of God28in29truth,30 just as1you learned2itfrom3Epaphras4our8beloved6fellow servant.7He9is10a faithful11minister14of Christ16on12your13behalf12 and2has made known3to us4your6love7in8the Spirit.9 And so,12from5the6day7we4heard,8we have10not9ceased10to pray13for11you,12asking15that16you may be filled with17the18knowledge19of21his22will21in23all24spiritual28wisdom25and26understanding,27 so asto walk1in a manner worthy2of the3Lord,4fully6pleasing7to him,bearing fruit12in8every9good11work10and13increasing14in the15knowledge16of God.18 May yoube strengthened4with1all2power,3according to5his10glorious9might,7for11all12endurance13and14patience15with16joy,17 giving thanks1to the2Father,3who has qualified5you6to share79in the10inheritance11of the12saints13in14light.16 He1has delivered2us3from4the5domain6of darkness8and9transferred10usto11the12kingdom13of15his18beloved17Son,15 in1whom2we have3redemption,5the6forgiveness7of sins.9 He1is2the image3of the6invisible7God,5the firstborn8of all9creation.10 For1by2him3all6things5were created,4in7heaven9and10on11earth,13visible15and16invisible,18whether19thrones20or21dominions22or23rulers24or25authorities26—all28things27were created34through29him30and31for32him.33 And1he2is3before4all [things],5and6in9him10all8things7hold together.11 And1he2is3the4head5of the6body,7the8church.9He10is11the beginning,12the firstborn13from14the15dead,16that17in19everything20he21might be18preeminent.22 For1in2him3all5the6fullness7of Godwas pleased4to dwell,8 and1through2him3to reconcile4to7himself8all6things,5whether18on20earth22or23in25heaven,27making peace9by10the11blood12of14his15cross.14 And1you,2who4once3were4alienated5and6hostile7in mind,9doing12evil14deeds,12 he has3now1reconciled3in4his9body6of flesh8by10hisdeath,12in order to present13you14holy15and16blameless17and18above reproach19before20him,21 if1indeed2you continue in3the4faith,5stable6and7steadfast,8not10shifting11from12the13hope14of the15gospel16that17you heard,18which has been proclaimed20in21all22creation23under25heaven,27andof which28I,30Paul,31became29a minister.32 Now1I rejoice2in3[my]4sufferings5for6your7sake,6and8in16my19flesh18I am filling up9what is lacking1011inChrist’s15afflictions13for the sake of20his23body,22that24is,25the26church,27 of which1I3became2a minister4according to5the6stewardship7[from] God9that was given11to me12for13you,14to make15the16word17of God19fully [known],15 the1mystery2hidden4for5ages7and9generations11but13now12revealed14to16his17saints.16 To them1God4chose2to make known5how [great]6among14the15Gentiles16arethe7riches8of the9glory10of this13mystery,12which17is18Christ19in20you,21the22hope23of glory.25 Him1we2proclaim,3warning4everyone56and7teaching8everyone910with11all12wisdom,13that14we may present15everyone1617mature18in19Christ.20 For1this2I toil,4struggling5with6allhis9energy8that he11powerfully1415works11within12me.13