Colossians 1:1-14

1Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus, by 1God's will, and Timotheus the brother,

2to the holy and faithful brethren in Christ which [are] in Colosse. Grace to you and peace from 2God our Father [and Lord Jesus Christ].

3We give thanks to the 3God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ continually [when] praying for you,

4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love which ye have towards all the saints,

5on account of the hope which [is] laid up for you in the heavens; of which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the glad tidings,

6which are come to you, as [they are] in all the world, [and] are bearing fruit and growing, even as also among you, from the day ye heard [them] and knew indeed the grace of 4God, in truth:

7even as ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-bondman, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you,

8who has also manifested to us your love in [the] Spirit.

9For this reason we also, from the day we heard [of your faith and love], do not cease praying and asking for you, to the end that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

10[so as] to walk worthily of the Lord unto all well-pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing by the true knowledge of 5God;

11strengthened with all power according to the might of his glory unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy;

12giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light,

13who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated [us] into the kingdom of the Son of his love:

14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins;