THE EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
COLOSSIANS
Colossians 1 ©
1 After the usual superscription of the epistle. 3 Paul thanks God that the Colossians received the faith in Christ. 5 By the preaching of the Gospel, which now brought forth fruits the entire world over. 7 As was done also among them, according to the testimony of Epaphras, their faithful teacher. 9 Prays to God that they may be more and more strengthened in all Christian virtues. 12 Comes afterwards to the doctrinal part, and declares how they were delivered out of the power of darkness by the blood of Christ. 15 Whose Person he describes, namely, that He is the Image of the invisible God. 16 That all things were created by Him. 18 That He is the Head of the congregation. 20 That by the blood of His cross all things are reconciled that are in heaven, and on earth. 23 Exhorts them to persevere in this faith. 24 Wherefore he also fulfills the sufferings of Christ for them. 25 Forasmuch as he is called to proclaim this mystery among the Gentiles. 28 And to present all people perfect in Christ alone, according to the working of God in him.
PAUL, 1an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at 2Colosse: Graceabe unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Web give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Since we heard of 4your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
For 5the hope whichc is 6laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before 7in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Which is come unto you, as it is 8in all the world; andd9bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also 10in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God 11in truth:
As ye also learned of Epaphrase our dear fellowservant, who is 12for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Who also declared unto us your love 13in the Spirit.
Forf this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not 14cease to pray for you, and to desire thatg ye might be filled with the knowledge of 15his will 16in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Thath ye might walk 17worthy of the Lord 18unto all pleasing, beingi fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened 19with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all 20patience and longsuffering 21with joyfulness;
22Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us 23meetj to be 24partakers of the inheritance of the saints 25in light:
Whok hath delivered us from 26the power of darkness, and hath translatedlus into the kingdom 27ofm his dear Son:
28In whom we have 29redemption throughn his blood, even 30the forgiveness of sins:
Whoo is 31the image 32of the invisible God, thep33firstborn of every creature:
Forq34by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be 35thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and 36for him:
And he is 37before all things, and by him all things 38consist.
Andr he is 39the head of the body, the church: who is 40the beginning, thes41firstborn from the dead; that 42in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased 43the Father that int him should 44all fulness dwell;
And,u having made peacev45through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things 46in earth, or things in heaven.
And 47you, that were 48sometimew alienated and 49enemies in your mind by 50wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
51In the body of his flesh through death, tox present you holy and unblameable and 52unreproveable in his sight:
Ify ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from 53the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to 54every creature which is under heaven; 55whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Whoz now rejoice in my 56sufferings foraa you, and fill up that which is 57behind 58of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh forab59his body’s sake, which is the church:
Whereof I am made a minister, according to 60the dispensationac of God whichad is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Even the mystery 61which hath been hid from ages and from generations, butae now is made manifest to his saints:
Toaf whom God would make known what is 62the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; 63which 64is Christ in you, 65theag hope of glory:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man 66in all wisdom; that we may present 67every man 68perfect in Christ Jesus:
Whereunto I also labour, 69striving 70according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.