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.
10. Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants and will always do what pleases him. Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and you will grow in your knowledge of God.
11-12. May you be made strong with all the strength which comes from his glorious power, so that you may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to have your share of what God has reserved for his people in the kingdom of light.
13. He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son,
14. by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.
15. Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the firstborn Son, superior to all created things.
16. For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.
17. Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place.
18. He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the firstborn Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things.