The Word Am I

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

(Philippians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1
Paul, an apostle of Christ (a) Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2
to the saints and faithful brothers(b) in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Philippians 1:3–11)
3
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4
having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
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because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News
6
which has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,
7
even as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your (c) behalf,
8
who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
9
For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10
that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
11
strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy,
12
giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,
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who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
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in whom we have our redemption,(d) the forgiveness of our sins.

The Supremacy of the Son

(Hebrews 1:1–14)
15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
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For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.
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He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
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He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
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For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,
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and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
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You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
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yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
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if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

Paul’s Suffering for the Church

(2 Corinthians 11:16–33)
24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,
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of which I was made a servant according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God,
26
the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
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to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
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We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
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for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.
(b)1:2 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
(c)1:7 NU reads our
(d)1:14 TR adds “through his blood,”
(Philippians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
2
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Philippians 1:3–11)
3
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
7
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The Supremacy of the Son

(Hebrews 1:1–14)
15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Paul’s Suffering for the Church

(2 Corinthians 11:16–33)
24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
25
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
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