1. From Paul, who by God's will is an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy —
2. To God's people in Colossae, who are our faithful brothers and sisters in union with Christ:May God our Father give you grace and peace.
3. We always give thanks to 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 your love for all God's people.
5. When the true message, the Good News, first came to you, you heard about the hope it offers. So your faith and love are based on what you hope for, which is kept safe for you in heaven.
6. The gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world, just as it has among you ever since the day you first heard about the grace of God and came to know it as it really is.
7. You learnt of God's grace from Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is Christ's faithful worker on our behalf.
8. He has told us of the love that the Spirit has given you.
9. For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.