1Paul, an apostle of JesusChristby the will of God, andTimotheus our brother,
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To the saintsandfaithfulbrethreninChrist which are atColosse: Grace be unto you, andpeace, fromGodourFatherand the LordJesusChrist.
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We give thanks to Godand the Father of ourLordJesusChrist, prayingalwaysforyou,
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Since we heard of yourfaithinChristJesus, and of the lovewhich ye have toall the saints,
5For the hopewhich is laid upforyouinheaven, whereof ye heard beforein the word of the truth of the gospel;
6Which is comeuntoyou, as it is inalltheworld; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth alsoinyou, sincetheday ye heard of it, andknewthegrace of Godintruth:
7AsyealsolearnedofEpaphrasourdearfellowservant, whoisforyou a faithfulministerofChrist;
8Whoalsodeclared unto usyourlovein the Spirit.
9For this causewealso, sincethedayweheard it, donotcease to prayforyou, and to desirethat ye might be filled with theknowledge of hiswillinallwisdomandspiritualunderstanding;
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That ye might walkworthy of the Lorduntoallpleasing, being fruitfulineverygoodwork, andincreasingin the knowledge of God;
11Strengthenedwithallmight, according tohisgloriouspower, untoallpatienceandlongsufferingwithjoyfulness;
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Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath madeusmeetto be partakers of the inheritance of the saintsinlight:
13Who hath deliveredusfrom the power of darkness, and hath translatedusinto the kingdom of hisdearSon:
14Inwhom we haveredemptionthroughhisblood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15Whois the image of the invisibleGod, the firstborn of everycreature:
16Forbyhimwere all thingscreated, that are inheaven, and that are inearth, visibleandinvisible, whether they be thrones, ordominions, orprincipalities, orpowers: all thingswerecreatedbyhim, andforhim:
17Andheisbefore all things, andbyhim all thingsconsist.
18Andheis the head of the body, the church: whois the beginning, the firstbornfrom the dead; thatinall things he might have the preeminence.
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For it pleased the Father thatinhimshouldallfulnessdwell;
20And, having made peacethrough the blood of hiscross, byhim to reconcile all thingsuntohimself; byhim, I say, whether they be thingsinearth, orthingsinheaven.
21Andyou, that weresometimealienatedandenemies in your mindbywickedworks, yetnow hath he reconciled
22In the body of hisfleshthroughdeath, to presentyouholyandunblameableandunreproveableinhissight:
23If ye continue in the faithgroundedandsettled, and be not moved awayfrom the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, andwhich was preachedtoeverycreaturewhich is underheaven; whereofIPaul am made a minister;
24Whonowrejoiceinmysufferingsforyou, and fill up that which isbehind of the afflictions of Christinmyfleshforhis body's sake, which is the church:
25WhereofI am made a minister, according to the dispensation of Godwhich is giventomeforyou, tofulfil the word of God;
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Even the mysterywhich hath been hidfromagesandfromgenerations, butnow is made manifest to hissaints:
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To whomGodwould make knownwhatis the riches of the glory of thismysteryamong the Gentiles; whichisChristinyou, the hope of glory:
28Whomwepreach, warningeveryman, andteachingeverymaninallwisdom; thatwe may presenteverymanperfectinChristJesus:
29WhereuntoIalsolabour, striving according tohisworking, whichworkethinmemightily.