1 Greetings from|strong="G2424" Paul|strong="G3972", an|strong="G2532" apostle|strong="G0652" of|strong="G1223" Christ|strong="G5547" Jesus|strong="G2424". I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G2532" an|strong="G2532" apostle|strong="G0652" because|strong="G1223" that|strong="G2316" is|strong="G2316" what|strong="G3588" God|strong="G2316" wanted. Greetings also|strong="G2532" from|strong="G2424" Timothy|strong="G5095", our|strong="G2316" brother|strong="G0080" in|strong="G2316" Christ|strong="G5547".
2 To|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" holy|strong="G0040" and|strong="G2532" faithful|strong="G4103" brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G2532" sisters in|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547" who|strong="G3588" live in|strong="G1722" Colossae|strong="G2857".
3 In|strong="G2316" our|strong="G2316" prayers|strong="G4336" we|strong="G2249" always|strong="G3842" thank|strong="G2168" God|strong="G2316" for|strong="G4012" you|strong="G5210". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" Father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G2316" our|strong="G2316" Lord|strong="G2962" Jesus|strong="G2424" Christ|strong="G5547".
4 We|strong="G3739" thank|strong="G2192" him|strong="G3739" because|strong="G1722" we|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2192" heard|strong="G0191" about|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" faith|strong="G4102" you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G2192" in|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547" Jesus|strong="G2424" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" love|strong="G0026" you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G2192" for|strong="G1519" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G0026" God’s people|strong="G3956".
5 Your|strong="G1223" faith|strong="G3739" and|strong="G3772" love continue because|strong="G1223" you|strong="G5210" know what|strong="G3739" is|strong="G3739" waiting for|strong="G1223" you|strong="G5210" in|strong="G1722" heaven|strong="G3772"—the|strong="G3588" hope|strong="G1680" you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G3588" had|strong="G3739" since|strong="G1223" you|strong="G5210" first heard|strong="G4257" the|strong="G3588" true|strong="G0225" message|strong="G3056", the|strong="G3588" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G3056"
6 that|strong="G3739" was|strong="G1510" told to|strong="G1519" you|strong="G5210". Throughout|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" world|strong="G2889", this|strong="G3588" Good|strong="G1510" News is|strong="G1510" bringing blessings and|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" spreading|strong="G0837". And|strong="G2532" that’s what|strong="G3739" has|strong="G2316" been|strong="G1510" happening among|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" since|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3956" first time|strong="G2250" you|strong="G5210" heard|strong="G0191" it|strong="G0191" and|strong="G2532" understood|strong="G1921" the|strong="G3956" truth|strong="G0225" about|strong="G1722" God’s|strong="G2316" grace|strong="G5485".
7 You|strong="G5210" heard it|strong="G3739" from|strong="G0575" Epaphras|strong="G1889", our|strong="G5547" dear|strong="G0027" friend and|strong="G4103" co-worker. He|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" faithful|strong="G4103" servant|strong="G1249" of|strong="G0575" Christ|strong="G5547" for|strong="G5228" us.
8 He|strong="G2532" also|strong="G2532" told|strong="G1213" us|strong="G1722" about|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" love|strong="G0026" you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G2532" from|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151".
9 Since|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3956" day|strong="G2250" we|strong="G2249" heard|strong="G0191" these|strong="G3778" things|strong="G3778" about|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210", we|strong="G2249" have|strong="G2532" continued praying|strong="G4336" for|strong="G5228" you|strong="G5210". This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3778" what|strong="G3739" we|strong="G2249" pray|strong="G4336":
10 that|strong="G3956" this|strong="G3588" will|strong="G2316" help you|strong="G1722" live|strong="G4043" in|strong="G1722" a|strong="G2532" way|strong="G1722" that|strong="G3956" brings|strong="G1519" honor to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962" and|strong="G2532" pleases him|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" every|strong="G3956" way|strong="G1722"; that|strong="G3956" your|strong="G2962" life|strong="G4043" will|strong="G2316" produce good|strong="G0018" works|strong="G2041" of|strong="G2316" every|strong="G3956" kind|strong="G3956" and|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3956" you|strong="G1722" will|strong="G2316" grow|strong="G0837" in|strong="G1722" your|strong="G2962" knowledge|strong="G1922" of|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316";
11 that|strong="G3956" God|strong="G0846" will|strong="G3956" strengthen you|strong="G1722" with|strong="G3326" his|strong="G0846" own|strong="G0846" great|strong="G3956" power|strong="G1411", so|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3956" you|strong="G1722" will|strong="G3956" be|strong="G2532" patient|strong="G5281" and|strong="G2532" not|strong="G2532" give up|strong="G1519" when|strong="G2532" troubles come.
12 and|strong="G3962" give|strong="G2168" thanks|strong="G2168" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" Father|strong="G3962". He|strong="G1722" has|strong="G3962" made|strong="G2427" you|strong="G5210" able to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G3588" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G1722" has|strong="G3962" promised to|strong="G1519" give|strong="G2168" all|strong="G3588" his|strong="G1519" holy|strong="G0040" people|strong="G3588", who|strong="G3588" live in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" light|strong="G5457".
13 God|strong="G0846" made us|strong="G1519" free|strong="G4506" from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" power|strong="G1849" of|strong="G5207" darkness|strong="G4655". And|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" brought|strong="G1519" us|strong="G1519" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" kingdom|strong="G0932" of|strong="G5207" his|strong="G0846" dear Son|strong="G5207".
14 The|strong="G3588" Son paid the|strong="G3588" price to|strong="G1722" make us|strong="G1722" free. In|strong="G1722" him|strong="G3739" we|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2192" forgiveness|strong="G0859" of|strong="G1722" our|strong="G1722" sins|strong="G0266".
15 No one|strong="G3739" can see God|strong="G2316",
16 Through|strong="G1223" his|strong="G0846" power|strong="G1849" all|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956" were|strong="G3956" made:
17 The|strong="G3956" Son was|strong="G1510" there|strong="G1510" before|strong="G4253" anything|strong="G3956" was|strong="G1510" made.
18 He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" head|strong="G2776" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" body|strong="G4983", which|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" church|strong="G1577".
19 God|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" pleased|strong="G2106" for|strong="G3754" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G3956" himself|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1722" live|strong="G2730" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" Son.
20 And|strong="G2532" through|strong="G1223" him|strong="G0846", God|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" happy to|strong="G1519" bring|strong="G1519" all|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956" back|strong="G1519" to|strong="G1519" himself|strong="G0846" again|strong="G2532"—
21 At|strong="G1722" one|strong="G3588" time|strong="G4218" you|strong="G5210" were|strong="G1510" separated from|strong="G1722" God. You|strong="G5210" were|strong="G1510" his|strong="G2532" enemies|strong="G2190" in|strong="G1722" your|strong="G2532" minds|strong="G1271", because|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" evil|strong="G4190" you|strong="G5210" did|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" against|strong="G1722" him|strong="G2532".
22 But|strong="G1161" now|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G2288" made you|strong="G5210" his|strong="G0846" friends again|strong="G2532". He|strong="G2532" did this|strong="G3588" by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" death|strong="G2288" Christ|strong="G0846" suffered while|strong="G1722" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" in|strong="G1722" his|strong="G0846" body|strong="G4983". He|strong="G2532" did it|strong="G0846" so|strong="G2532" that|strong="G0846" he|strong="G2532" could present|strong="G3936" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G2532" himself|strong="G0846" as|strong="G1722" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" holy|strong="G0040", blameless|strong="G0410", and|strong="G2532" without|strong="G2532" anything that|strong="G0846" would|strong="G0846" make you|strong="G5210" guilty before|strong="G2714" him|strong="G0846".
23 And|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3739" is|strong="G3739" what|strong="G3739" will|strong="G3739" happen|strong="G1096" if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G3739" continue|strong="G1961" to|strong="G2532" believe in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098" you|strong="G3739" heard|strong="G0191". You|strong="G3739" must|strong="G3588" remain|strong="G1961" strong and|strong="G2532" sure in|strong="G1722" your|strong="G1487" faith|strong="G4102". You|strong="G3739" must|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" let|strong="G1096" anything|strong="G3956" cause you|strong="G3739" to|strong="G2532" give|strong="G0191" up the|strong="G3956" hope|strong="G1680" that|strong="G3739" became|strong="G1096" yours when|strong="G2532" you|strong="G3739" heard|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3956" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098". That|strong="G3739" same|strong="G3739" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098" has|strong="G3739" been|strong="G1096" told to|strong="G2532" everyone|strong="G3956" on|strong="G1722" earth, and|strong="G2532" that’s the|strong="G3956" work that|strong="G3739" I|strong="G1473", Paul|strong="G3972", was|strong="G3739" given to|strong="G2532" do|strong="G1096".
24 I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" happy in|strong="G1722" my|strong="G1722" sufferings|strong="G3804" for|strong="G5228" you|strong="G5210". There|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" much that|strong="G3739" Christ|strong="G5547" must|strong="G1510" still suffer. And|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" gladly|strong="G5463" accept my|strong="G1722" part|strong="G1473" of|strong="G1577" those|strong="G3588" sufferings|strong="G3804" in|strong="G1722" my|strong="G1722" body|strong="G4983" for|strong="G5228" the|strong="G3588" good|strong="G1510" of|strong="G1577" his|strong="G0846" body|strong="G4983", the|strong="G3588" church|strong="G1577".
25 I|strong="G1473" became|strong="G1096" a|strong="G1096" servant|strong="G1249" of|strong="G3056" the|strong="G3588" church because|strong="G2596" God|strong="G2316" gave|strong="G1325" me|strong="G1325" a|strong="G1096" special work to|strong="G1519" do|strong="G1096". This|strong="G3588" work helps you|strong="G5210". My|strong="G1325" work is|strong="G2316" to|strong="G1519" tell the|strong="G3588" complete|strong="G4137" message|strong="G3056" of|strong="G3056" God|strong="G2316".
26 This|strong="G3588" message is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" secret truth that|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" hidden|strong="G0613" since|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" beginning|strong="G0165" of|strong="G0575" time|strong="G0165". It|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" hidden|strong="G0613" from|strong="G0575" everyone for|strong="G0575" ages|strong="G0165", but|strong="G1161" now|strong="G1161" it|strong="G0846" has|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" made|strong="G5319" known|strong="G5319" to|strong="G2532" God’s|strong="G0846" holy|strong="G0040" people|strong="G0846".
27 God|strong="G2316" decided to|strong="G2309" let|strong="G1510" his|strong="G3739" people|strong="G1484" know|strong="G1107" just|strong="G3739" how|strong="G5101" rich and|strong="G2316" glorious|strong="G1391" that|strong="G3739" truth is|strong="G1510". That|strong="G3739" secret truth, which|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" for|strong="G1722" all|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1484", is|strong="G1510" that|strong="G3739" Christ|strong="G5547" lives in|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210", his|strong="G3739" people|strong="G1484". He|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" our|strong="G2316" hope|strong="G1680" for|strong="G1722" glory|strong="G1391".
28 So|strong="G2443" we|strong="G2249" continue|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2443" tell people|strong="G0444" about|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547". We|strong="G2249" use all|strong="G3956" wisdom|strong="G4678" to|strong="G2443" counsel every|strong="G3956" person|strong="G0444" and|strong="G2532" teach|strong="G1321" every|strong="G3956" person|strong="G0444". We|strong="G2249" are|strong="G3956" trying to|strong="G2443" bring|strong="G3936" everyone|strong="G3956" before|strong="G1722" God as|strong="G1722" people|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2532" grown to|strong="G2443" be|strong="G2532" spiritually mature|strong="G5046" in|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547".
29 To|strong="G1519" do|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3588", I|strong="G1473" work|strong="G1754" and|strong="G2532" struggle|strong="G0075" using the|strong="G3588" great strength|strong="G1411" that|strong="G3739" Christ|strong="G0846" gives me|strong="G1473". That|strong="G3739" strength|strong="G1411" is|strong="G3739" working|strong="G1754" in|strong="G1722" my|strong="G1722" life.