CHAPTER 1
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 hisa
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
inb
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 mindc 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 fulfild
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 ine 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.
The
Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems,
Inc.
†
A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King
James Version.
a
his...: Gr. the Son of his love
b
in...: or, among all
c
in...: or, by your mind in
d
to fulfil...: or, fully to preach the word
e
in: or, among
