Colossians Chapter 1
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2
to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
3
that are at Colossæ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
4
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
5
having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,
6
because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
7
which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as
8
it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
9
even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
10
who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
11
For this cause we also, since the day we heard
12
it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
13
to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
14
strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;
15
giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
16
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
17
in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:
18
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
19
for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
20
and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.
21
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.
22
For it was the good pleasure
23
of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;
24
and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him,
25
I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
26
And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,
27
yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
28
if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
29
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus, byGod's will, and Timotheus the brother,
2
to the holy and faithful brethren in Christ which [are] in Colosse. Grace to you and peace fromGod our Father [and Lord Jesus Christ].
3
We give thanks to theGod and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ continually [when] praying for you,
4
having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love which ye have towards all the saints,
5
on account of the hope which [is] laid up for you in the heavens; of which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the glad tidings,
6
which are come to you, as [they are] in all the world, [and] are bearing fruit and growing, even as also among you, from the day ye heard [them] and knew indeed the grace ofGod, in truth:
7
even as ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-bondman, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you,
8
who has also manifested to us your love in [the] Spirit.
9
For this reason we also, from the day we heard [of your faith and love], do not cease praying and asking for you, to the end that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
10
[so as] to walk worthily of the Lord unto all well-pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing by the true knowledge ofGod;
11
strengthened with all power according to the might of his glory unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy;
12
giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light,
13
who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated [us] into the kingdom of the Son of his love:
14
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins;
15
who is image of the invisibleGod, firstborn of all creation;
16
because by him were created all things, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or authorities: all things have been created by him and for him.
17
And he is before all, and all things subsist together by him.
18
And he is the head of the body, the assembly; who is [the] beginning, firstborn from among the dead, that he might have the first place in all things:
19
for in him all the fulness [of theGodhead] was pleased to dwell,
20
and by him to reconcile all things to itself, having made peace by the blood of his cross — by him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
21
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works, yet now has it reconciled
22
in the body of his flesh through death; to present you holy and unblamable and irreproachable before it,
23
if indeed ye abide in the faith founded and firm, and not moved away from the hope of the glad tidings, which ye have heard, which have been proclaimed in the whole creation which [is] under heaven, of which I Paul became minister.
24
Now, I rejoice in sufferings for you, and I fill up that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh, for his body, which is the assembly;
25
of which I became minister, according to the dispensation ofGod which [is] given me towards you to complete the word ofGod,
26
the mystery which [has been] hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to his saints;
27
to whomGod would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory:
28
whom we announce, admonishing every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, to the end that we may present every man perfect in Christ.
29
Whereunto also I toil, combating according to his working, which works in me in power.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Paulus Apostolus Iesu Christi per voluntatem Dei, et Timotheus frater:
2
eis, qui sunt Colossis, sanctis, et fidelibus fratribus in Christo Iesu.
3
Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Iesu Christo. Gratias agimus Deo, et Patri Domini nostri Iesu Christi semper pro vobis orantes:
4
audientes fidem vestram in Christo Iesu, et dilectionem, quam habetis in sanctos omnes
5
propter spem, quæ reposita est vobis in cælis: quam audistis in verbo veritatis Evangelii:
6
quod pervenit ad vos, sicut et in universo mundo est, et fructificat, et crescit sicut in vobis, ex ea die, qua audistis, et cognovistis gratiam Dei in veritate,
7
sicut didicistis ab Epaphra charissimo conservo nostro, qui est fidelis pro vobis minister Christi Iesu,
8
qui etiam manifestavit nobis dilectionem vestram in spiritu:
9
ideo et nos ex qua die audivimus, non cessamus pro vobis orantes, et postulantes ut impleamini agnitione voluntatis eius, in omni sapientia et intellectu spiritali:
10
ut ambuletis digne Deo per omnia placentes: in omni opere bono fructificantes, et crescentes in scientia Dei:
11
in omni virtute confortati secundum potentiam claritatis eius in omni patientia, et longanimitate cum gaudio
12
gratias agentes Deo Patri, qui dignos nos fecit in partem sortis sanctorum in lumine:
13
qui eripuit nos de potestate tenebrarum, et transtulit in regnum filii dilectionis suæ,
14
in quo habemus redemptionem per sanguinem eius, remissionem peccatorum:
15
qui est imago Dei invisibilis, primogenitus omnis creaturæ:
16
quoniam in ipso condita sunt universa in cælis, et in terra, visibilia, et invisibilia, sive throni, sive dominationes, sive principatus, sive potestates: omnia per ipsum, et in ipso creata sunt:
17
et ipse est ante omnes, et omnia in ipso constant.
18
Et ipse est caput corporis Ecclesiæ, qui est principium, primogenitus ex mortuis: ut sit in omnibus ipse primatum tenens.
19
quia in ipso complacuit, omnem plenitudinem inhabitare:
20
et per eum reconciliare omnia in ipsum, pacificans per sanguinem crucis eius, sive quæ in terris, sive quæ in cælis sunt.
21
Et vos cum essetis aliquando alienati, et inimici sensu in operibus malis:
22
nunc autem reconciliavit in corpore carnis eius per mortem, exhibere vos sanctos, et immaculatos, et irreprehensibiles coram ipso:
23
si tamen permanetis in fide fundati, et stabiles, et immobiles a spe Evangelii, quod audistis, quod prædicatum est in universa creatura, quæ sub cælo est, cuius factus sum ego Paulus minister.
24
Qui nunc gaudeo in passionibus pro vobis, et adimpleo ea, quæ desunt passionem Christi, in carne mea pro corpore eius, quod est Ecclesia:
25
cuius factus sum ego minister secundum dispensationem Dei, quæ data est mihi in vos, ut impleam verbum Dei:
26
mysterium, quod absconditum fuit a sæculis, et generationibus, nunc autem manifestatum est sanctis eius,
27
quibus voluit Deus notas facere divitias gloriæ sacramenti huius in Gentibus, quod est Christus, in vobis spes gloriæ,
28
quem nos annunciamus, corripientes omnem hominem, et docentes omnem hominem, in omni sapientia, ut exhibeamus omnem hominem perfectum in Christo Iesu.
29
in quo et laboro, certando secundum operationem eius, quam operatur in me in virtute.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2
to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4
having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
5
because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News
6
which has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,
7
even as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf,
8
who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
9
For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10
that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
11
strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy,
12
giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,
13
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
14
in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16
For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.
17
He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
18
He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19
For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,
20
and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
21
You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
22
yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
23
if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,
25
of which I was made a servant according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God,
26
the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
27
to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28
We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
29
for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
παυλος αποστολος χριστου ιησου δια θεληματος θεου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος
2
τοις εν κολοσσαις αγιοις και πιστοις αδελφοις εν χριστω χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων
3
ευχαριστουμεν τω θεω πατρι του κυριου ημων ιησου [χριστου] παντοτε περι υμων προσευχομενοι
4
ακουσαντες την πιστιν υμων εν χριστω ιησου και την αγαπην [ην εχετε] εις παντας τους αγιους
5
δια την ελπιδα την αποκειμενην υμιν εν τοις ουρανοις ην προηκουσατε εν τω λογω της αληθειας του ευαγγελιου
6
του παροντος εις υμας καθως και εν παντι τω κοσμω εστιν καρποφορουμενον και αυξανομενον καθως και εν υμιν αφ ης ημερας ηκουσατε και επεγνωτε την χαριν του θεου εν αληθεια
7
καθως εμαθετε απο επαφρα του αγαπητου συνδουλου ημων ος εστιν πιστος υπερ ημων διακονος του χριστου
8
ο και δηλωσας ημιν την υμων αγαπην εν πνευματι
9
δια τουτο και ημεις αφ ης ημερας ηκουσαμεν ου παυομεθα υπερ υμων προσευχομενοι και αιτουμενοι ινα πληρωθητε την επιγνωσιν του θεληματος αυτου εν παση σοφια και συνεσει πνευματικη
10
περιπατησαι αξιως του κυριου εις πασαν αρεσκειαν εν παντι εργω αγαθω καρποφορουντες και αυξανομενοι τη επιγνωσει του θεου
11
εν παση δυναμει δυναμουμενοι κατα το κρατος της δοξης αυτου εις πασαν υπομονην και μακροθυμιαν μετα χαρας
12
ευχαριστουντες τω πατρι τω ικανωσαντι υμας εις την μεριδα του κληρου των αγιων εν τω φωτι
13
ος ερρυσατο ημας εκ της εξουσιας του σκοτους και μετεστησεν εις την βασιλειαν του υιου της αγαπης αυτου
14
εν ω εχομεν την απολυτρωσιν την αφεσιν των αμαρτιων
15
ος εστιν εικων του θεου του αορατου πρωτοτοκος πασης κτισεως
16
οτι εν αυτω εκτισθη τα παντα εν τοις ουρανοις και επι της γης τα ορατα και τα αορατα ειτε θρονοι ειτε κυριοτητες ειτε αρχαι ειτε εξουσιαι τα παντα δι αυτου και εις αυτον εκτισται
17
και αυτος εστιν προ παντων και τα παντα εν αυτω συνεστηκεν
18
και αυτος εστιν η κεφαλη του σωματος της εκκλησιας ος εστιν [η] αρχη πρωτοτοκος εκ των νεκρων ινα γενηται εν πασιν αυτος πρωτευων
19
οτι εν αυτω ευδοκησεν παν το πληρωμα κατοικησαι
20
και δι αυτου αποκαταλλαξαι τα παντα εις αυτον ειρηνοποιησας δια του αιματος του σταυρου αυτου [δι αυτου] ειτε τα επι της γης ειτε τα εν τοις ουρανοις
21
και υμας ποτε οντας απηλλοτριωμενους και εχθρους τη διανοια εν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις νυνι δε αποκατηλλαξεν
22
εν τω σωματι της σαρκος αυτου δια του θανατου παραστησαι υμας αγιους και αμωμους και ανεγκλητους κατενωπιον αυτου
23
ει γε επιμενετε τη πιστει τεθεμελιωμενοι και εδραιοι και μη μετακινουμενοι απο της ελπιδος του ευαγγελιου ου ηκουσατε του κηρυχθεντος εν παση κτισει τη υπο τον ουρανον ου εγενομην εγω παυλος διακονος
24
νυν χαιρω εν τοις παθημασιν υπερ υμων και ανταναπληρω τα υστερηματα των θλιψεων του χριστου εν τη σαρκι μου υπερ του σωματος αυτου ο εστιν η εκκλησια
25
ης εγενομην εγω διακονος κατα την οικονομιαν του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι εις υμας πληρωσαι τον λογον του θεου
26
το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυν δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου
27
οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τι το πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ο εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης
28
ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω
29
εις ο και κοπιω αγωνιζομενος κατα την ενεργειαν αυτου την ενεργουμενην εν εμοι εν δυναμει
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timotheus the brother,
2
to the saints in Colossae, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
3
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you,
4
having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that <FI>is<Fi> to all the saints,
5
because of the hope that is laid up for you in the heavens, which ye heard of before in the word of the truth of the good news,
6
which is present to you, as also in all the world, and is bearing fruit, as also in you, from the day in which ye heard, and knew the grace of God in truth;
7
as ye also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful ministrant of the Christ,
8
who also did declare to us your love in the Spirit.
9
Because of this, we also, from the day in which we heard, do not cease praying for you, and asking that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
10
to your walking worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, in every good work being fruitful, and increasing to the knowledge of God,
11
in all might being made mighty according to the power of His glory, to all endurance and long-suffering with joy.
12
Giving thanks to the Father who did make us meet for the participation of the inheritance of the saints in the light,
13
who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate <FI>us<Fi> into the reign of the Son of His love,
14
in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of the sins,
15
who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,
16
because in him were the all things created, those in the heavens, and those upon the earth, those visible, and those invisible, whether thrones, whether lordships, whether principalities, whether authorities; all things through him, and for him, have been created,
17
and himself is before all, and the all things in him have consisted.
18
And himself is the head of the body--the assembly--who is a beginning, a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all <FI>things<Fi> --himself--first,
19
because in him it did please all the fulness to tabernacle,
20
and through him to reconcile the all things to himself--having made peace through the blood of his cross--through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens.
21
And you--once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile,
22
in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself,
23
if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that <FI>is<Fi> under the heaven, of which I became--I Paul--a ministrant.
24
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly,
25
of which I--I did become a ministrant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God,
26
the secret that hath been hid from the ages and from the generations, but now was manifested to his saints,
27
to whom God did will to make known what <FI>is<Fi> the riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory,
28
whom we proclaim, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,
29
for which also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).