From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower. To God?s people who live in Colossae and are faithful followers of Christ. I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
A Prayer of Thanks
3 Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all of God?s people, 5 because what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You first heard about this hope when you believed the true message, which is the good news.
6 The good news is spreading all over the world with great success. It has spread in that same way among you, ever since the first day you learned the truth about God?s wonderful kindness 7 from our good friend Epaphras. He works together with us for Christ and is a faithful worker for you. 8 He is also the one who told us about the love that God?s Spirit has given you.
The Person and Work of Christ
9 We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. 10 Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better. 11 His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.
12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. 13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who forgives our sins and sets us free. 15 Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation.
16 Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God?s Son, and everything was made for him.
17 God?s Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.18 He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others.
19 God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. 20 And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.