Colossians 1:1-14

New study
The book of Colossians, like that of James, is another letter written post-resurrection to the early church on how to live a Christ-centered life.

Major themes in Paul's letter to the church at Colossae

1. The Supremacy and Deity of Christ
2. Reconciliation and Redemption
3. Warning Against False Teachings
4. New Life in Christ
5. Unity and the Church Body
6. Practical Instruction in Relationships
7. Prayer and Thanksgiving
8. Christ-Centered Living and Hope

Greeting
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

2 To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.[Other mss add and the Lord Jesus Christ]

Thanksgiving
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.[Or and truly recognized God’s grace] 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your[Other mss read our] behalf, 8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.

Prayer for Spiritual Growth
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,[Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding] 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you[Other mss read us] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption,[Other mss add through his blood] the forgiveness of sins.

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