1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Apostolic Sender} through the will of God {Theos, Sovereign Will-Giver}, and Timothy the brother.
2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ {Christos, Uniting Lord} in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God {Theos, Gracious Father} our Father.
3 We give thanks to God {Theos, Recipient Of Thanksgiving}, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Exalted Lord}, always praying concerning you.
4 Having heard of your faith {pistis: loyal trust} in Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Focus Of Faith} and the love which you have toward all the saints.
5 Because of the hope {elpida: confident expectation} which has been laid up for you in the heavens, which you previously heard in the word {logos: divine message} of the truth, the gospel.
6 Which is present among you, just as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as it also does among you, from the day you heard and came to know the grace of God {Theos, Giver Of Grace} in truth {aletheia: genuine reality}.
7 Just as you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister {diakonos: self-giving service} of Christ {Christos, Sovereign Master} on your behalf.
8 He also made known {delosas: clearly reported} to us your love in the Spirit {pneuma: Empowering Presence}.
9 Because of this, we also, from the day we heard, do not cease to pray on your behalf and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His {Theos, Sovereign Planner} will in all wisdom {sophia: heavenly insight} and spiritual understanding.
10 That you may walk worthily of the Lord {Kyrios, Worthy Sovereign}, unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God {Theos, Revealed Father}.
11 Being strengthened with all power according to the might of His {Theos, Glorious Strength-Giver} glory, for all endurance and patience {makrothymia: steadfast forbearance} with joy.
12 Giving thanks to the Father {patri, Gracious Qualifier} who has qualified you for the share of the inheritance of the saints in the light {photi: holy realm}.
13 He {Theos, Rescuing Father} has delivered us from the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love {agape: self-giving devotion}.
14 In whom {Christos, Present Redeemer} we have redemption, the forgiveness {aphesis: gracious release} of sins.
15 He {Christos, Supreme Revealer} is the image of the invisible God {Theos, Unseen Majesty}, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For in Him {Christos, Supreme Creator} all things {ta panta: entire created universe} were created in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 And He {Christos, Eternal Preexistent One} is before all things {panta: entire created order}, and in Him all things hold together.
18 And He {Christos, Exalted Head} is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn {prototokos: Supreme Over Resurrection} from the dead, so that He Himself might become preeminent in all things.
19 For in Him {Christos, Embodied Fullness} all the fullness {pleroma: entire divine reality} was pleased to dwell.
20 And through Him {Christos, Cosmic Reconciler} to reconcile all things to God Himself {Theos, Peace-Maker King}, having made peace through the blood of His cross, through Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
21 And you, who once were alienated {apellotriomenos: relationally separated} and hostile in mind {dianoia: deep inner thinking}, engaged in evil works,
22 But now you have been reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy {hagios: set apart for God} and blameless and above reproach before Him {Theos, Holy Judge}.
23 If indeed you continue in the faith {pistis: trustful conviction}, having been firmly established and steadfast, and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel of which you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a servant {diakonos: commissioned worker}.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ {Christos, Suffering Messiah} for the sake of His body, which is the church {ekklesia: called-out assembly}.
25 Of which I became a servant according to the stewardship from God {Theos, Faithful Commissioner} that was given to me for you, to make the word {logos: spoken message} of God fully known.
26 The mystery {mysterion: divine secret revealed}—the one having been hidden from the ages and from the generations—has now been made manifest to His {Theos, Revealer of Mystery} saints.
27 To whom God {Theos, Mystery Revealer} willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ {Christos, Indwelling Messiah} in you, the hope of glory {doxa: divine splendor}.
28 Whom we proclaim, warning {noutheteo: corrective admonition} every person and teaching every person in all wisdom, so that we may present every person perfect in Christ {Christos, Spiritual Fulfillment}.
29 For this {eis ho: ministry aim} I also labor, striving according to His {Christos, Empowering Lord} energy, which is working within me in power.