1. Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy, a brother,
2. to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ Jesus who are at Colossae.
3. Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying for you always.
4. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have toward all the saints,
5. because of the hope that has been stored up for you in heaven, which you have heard through the Word of Truth in the Gospel.
6. This has reached you, just as it is present in the whole world, where it grows and bears fruit, as it has also done in you, since the day when you first heard and knew the grace of God in truth,
7. just as you learned it from Epaphras, our most beloved fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ Jesus.
8. And he has also manifested to us your love in the Spirit.
9. Then, too, from the day when we first heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and requesting that you be filled with the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
10. so that you may walk in a manner worthy of God, being pleasing in all things, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God,
11. being strengthened in every virtue, in accord with the power of his glory, with all patience and longsuffering, with joy,
12. giving thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to have a share in the portion of the saints, in the light.
13. For he has rescued us from the power of darkness, and he has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,
14. in whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins.