2To the saints which are at Colossa, and brethren that believe in Christ. Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Iesu Christ.

3We give thanks to God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ alway praying for you in our prayers, 4since we heard of your faith which ye have in Christ Iesu: and of the love which ye bear to all saints 5for the hope's sake which is laid up in store for you in heaven, of which hope ye have heard by the true word of the gospell, 6which is come unto you, even as it is into all the world, and is fruitful as it is among you, from the first day in the which ye heard of it, and had experience in the grace of God in the truth, 7as ye learned of Epaphra our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister in Christ, 8which also declared unto us your love, which ye have in the spirit.

9For this cause we also, since the day we heard of it have not ceased praying for you, and desiring that ye might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10that ye might walk worthy of the Lord in all things that please, being fruitful in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of God 11strengthed with all might, throwe his glorious power, unto all patience, and long suffering, with joyfulness, 12giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be part takers of the inheritance of saints in light.

13Which hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, 14in whom we have redemption thorow his blood, that is to say, forgiveness of sins,

15which is the image of the invisible God, first begotten before all creatures: 16for by him were all things created, things that are in heaven, and things that are in earth: things visible, and things invisible: whether they be majesty or lordship, either rule or power. 17All things are created by him, and in him, and he is before all things, and in him all things have their being. 18And he is the head of the body, that is to wit of the congregation, he is the beginning and first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell, 20and by him to reconcile all thinge unto himself, and to set at peace by him throw the blood of his cross both things in heaven and things in earth.

21And you (which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your minds were set in evil works) hath he now reconciled 22in the body of his flesh thorow death, to make you holy, and such as no man could complain on, and without fault in his own sight, 23if ye continue grounded and stablished in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospell, whereof ye have heard, how that it is preached among all creatures, which are under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.

24Now joy I in my passions which I suffer for you, and fulfil that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the congregation, 25whereof am I made a minister according to the ordinance of God, which ordinance was given me unto you ward, to fulfil the word of God, 26that mystery hid since the world began, and since the beginning of generations: But now is opened to his saints, 27to whom God would make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory, 28whom we preach warning all men, and teaching all men in all wisdom, to make all men perfect in Christ Iesu: 29Wherein I also labour and strive, even as far forth as his working worketh in me mightily.