Introduction

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, also a follower of the Lord. 2 To Christ’s people at Colossae – the followers who are faithful to him: May God, our Father, bless you and give you peace.

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3 Whenever we pray we never fail to thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you, 4 now that we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all his people, 5 because of the hope which is kept safe for you in heaven. Of this hope you heard long ago in the true message of the good news which reached you, 6 bearing fruit and growing, as it does, through all the world, just as it did among you from the very day that you heard of God’s loving kindness, and understood what that loving kindness really is. 7 It is just what you learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who, as a minister of the Christ, faithfully represents us, 8 and who told us of the love with which the Spirit has inspired you.

9 And therefore we, from the very day that we heard this, have never ceased praying for you, or asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God, which comes through all true spiritual wisdom and insight. 10 Then you will live lives worthy of the Master, and so please God in every way. Your lives will be fruitful in every kind of good action, and grow into a fuller knowledge of God; 11 you will be made strong at all points with a strength worthy of the power manifested in his glory – strong to endure with patience, and even with gladness, whatever may happen to you; 12 and you will give thanks to the Father who made you fit to share the lot which awaits Christ’s people in the realms of light.