Revised
Standard Version
9 And so, from the day we heard
of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled
with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit
in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be
strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance
and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified
us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered
us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his
beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16
for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all
things were created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the
church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything
he might be pre-eminent. 19 For in him all the fulness of God was pleased
to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether
on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were
estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled
in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless
and irreproachable before him, 23 provided that you continue in the faith,
stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you
heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which
I, Paul, became a minister. |
New
Revised Standard Version
9 For this reason, since
the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that
you may be filled with the knowledge of God'sF4 will in all
spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may lead lives worthy
of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work
and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with
all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared
to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to
the Father, who has enabledF5 youF6 to share in the
inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power
of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.F7 15 He
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for
inF8 him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all
things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before
all things, and inF9 him all things hold together. 18 He is
the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For
in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him
God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or
in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
21 And you who were once
estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciledF10
in his fleshly bodyF11 through death, so as to present you holy
and blameless and irreproachable before him — 23 provided that you continue
securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from
the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed
to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.
--------------------
FOOTNOTES:
F4: Gk [his]
F5: Other ancient authorities read [called]
F6: Other ancient authorities read [us]
F7: Other ancient authorities add [through his blood]
F8: Or [by]
F9: Or [by]
F10: Other ancient authorities read [you have now been
reconciled]
F11: Gk [in the body of his flesh] |
King
James Version
9 For this cause we also, since
the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye
might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all
patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints
in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of hisF1 dear Son: 14 In whom
we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are
in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions,
or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he
is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead; that inF2 all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And,
having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all
things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or
things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime
alienated and enemies in your mindF3 by wicked works, yet now
hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present
you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue
in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope
of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature
which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
--------------------
FOOTNOTES:
F1: his...: Gr. the Son of his love
F2: in...: or, among all
F3: in...: or, by your mind in |
New
King James Version
9
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray
for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy
of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according
to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the
power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood,F3 the forgiveness
of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and
that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions
or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for
Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it
pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by
Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth
or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were
alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless,
and above reproach in His sight -- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith,
grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel
which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of
which I, Paul, became a minister.
--------------------
FOOTNOTES:
F3: NU-Text and M-Text omit through His blood. |
American
Standard Version
9 For this cause we also, since
the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray and make request for you, that
ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom
and understanding, 10 to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing
fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened
with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience
and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks unto the Father, who made
us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who
delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom
of the Son of his love; 14 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness
of our sins: 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
all creation; 16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and
upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through
him, and unto him; 17 and he is before all things, and in him all things
consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it was the good pleasure [of the Father] that in him should all
the fulness dwell; 20 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself,
having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, [I say],
whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
21 And you, being in time
past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22 yet now
hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you
holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23 if so be that
ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from
the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation
under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. |
New
American Standard Bible
9
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased
to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledgeF11
of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will
walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, toF12 please Him in all
respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasingF13
in the knowledgeF14 of God; 11 strengthened with all power,
according to HisF15 glorious might, forF16 the attaining
of all steadfastness and patience;F17 joyously 12 giving thanks
to the Father, who has qualified us toF18 share in the inheritance
of the saintsF19 in Light. 13 ForF20 He rescued us
from the domainF21 of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom
of HisF22 beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness
of sins. 15 HeF23 is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
R38 of all creation. 16 For byF24 Him all things were created,
both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones
or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through
Him and for Him. 17 He isF25 before all things, and in Him all
things holdF26 together. 18 He is also head of the body, the
church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He
Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For itF27
was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullnessF28 to dwell
in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made
peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things
on earth or things in heaven.F29
21 And although you were
formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He
has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present
you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach -- 23 if indeed you
continue in theF30 faith firmly established and steadfast, and
not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was
proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and R61 of which I, Paul, wasF31
made a minister.F32
--------------------
FOOTNOTES:
F11: Or {real knowledge}
F12: Lit {unto all pleasing}
F13: Or {growing by the knowledge}
F14: Or {real knowledge}
F15: Lit {the might of His glory}
F16: Lit {unto all}
F17: Or {patience with joy}
F18: Lit {unto the portion of}
F19: Or {holy ones}
F20: Lit {Who rescued}
F21: Lit {authority}
F22: Lit {the Son of His love}
F23: Lit {Who is}
F24: Or {in}
F25: Or {has existed prior to}
F26: Or {endure}
F27: Or {all the fullness was pleased to dwell}
F28: I.e. fullness of deity
F29: Lit {the heavens}
F30: Or {in faith}
F31: Lit {became}
F32: Or {servant} |
Living Bible
9 So ever since we first
heard about you we have kept on praying and asking God to help you understand
what he wants you to do; asking him to make you wise about spiritual things;
10 and asking that the way you live will always please the Lord and honor
him, so that you will always be doing good, kind things for others, while
all the time you are learning to know God better and better.
11 We are praying, too,
that you will be filled with his mighty, glorious strength so that you
can keep going no matter what happens -- always full of the joy of the
Lord, 12 and always thankful to the Father who has made us fit to share
all the wonderful things that belong to those who live in the kingdom of
light. 13 For he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan's
kingdom and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who bought
our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins.
15 Christ is the exact likeness
of the unseen God. he existed before God made anything at all, and, in
fact, 16 Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and
earth, the things we can see and the things we can't; the spirit world
with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made
by Christ for his own use and glory. 17 He was before all else began and
it is his power that holds everything together. 18 He is the Head of the
body made up of his people -- that is, his church -- which he began; and
he is the Leader of all those who arise from the dead, so that he is first
in everything; 19 for God wanted all of himself to be in his Son.
20 It was through what his
Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him -- all things
in heaven and on earth -- for Christ's death on the cross has made peace
with God for all by his blood. 21 This includes you who were once so far
away from God. You were his enemies and hated him and were separated from
him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back
as his friends. 22 He has done this through the death on the cross of his
own human body, and now as a result christ has brought you into the very
presence of God, and you are standing there before him with nothing left
against you -- nothing left that he could even chide you for; 23 the only
condition is that you fully believe the Truth, standing in it steadfast
and firm, strong in the Lord, convinced of the Good News that Jesus died
for you, and never shifting from trusting him to save you. This is the
wonderful news that came to each of you and is now spreading all over the
world. And I, Paul, have the joy of telling it to others. |
New
Living Translation
9 So we have continued praying
for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete
understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make
you wise with spiritual wisdom. 10 Then the way you live will always honor
and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for
others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. 11
We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that
you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled
with joy,
12 always thanking the Father, who has enabled you
to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in
the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom
of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. 14
God has purchased our freedom with his bloodF3 and has forgiven
all our sins. 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed
before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.F4
16 Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and
earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see – kings,
kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through
him and for him. 17 He existed before everything else began, and he holds
all creation together. 18 Christ is the head of the church, which is his
body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead,F5
so he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased
to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood
on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God.
You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions,
22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through
his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought
you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you
stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe
this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance
you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached
all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim
it.
--------------------
FOOTNOTES:
F3: Some manuscripts do not include with his blood.
F4: Greek He is the firstborn of all creation.
F5: Greek He is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead. |
New International
Version
9 For this reason, since the
day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking
God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom
and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life
worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every
good work, 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, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified
you[4] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom
of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought
us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,[5]
the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things
were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by
him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold
together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning
and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have
the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in
him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things
on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on
the cross.
21 Once you were alienated
from God and were enemies in your minds because of[6] your evil
behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through
death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
-- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from
the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and
that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I,
Paul, have become a servant.
--------------------
FOOTNOTES:
4. 1:12 Some manuscripts us
5. 1:14 A few late manuscripts redemption through
his blood |
New
International Readers Version
9 That's why we have not stopped
praying for you. We have been praying for you since the day we heard about
you. We have been asking God to fill you with the knowledge of what he
wants. We pray that he will give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 We pray that you will lead a life that is worthy of the Lord. We pray
that you will please him in every way. So we want you to bear fruit in
every good thing you do. We want you to grow to know God better. 11 We
want you to be very strong, in keeping with his glorious power. We want
you to be patient. Never give up. Be joyful 12 as you give thanks to the
Father. He has made you fit to share with all his people. You will all
receive a share in the kingdom of light.13 He has saved us from the kingdom
of darkness. He has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14
Because of what the Son has done, we have been set free. Because of him,
all of our sins have been forgiven.
15 Christ is the exact likeness
of God, who can't be seen. He is first, and he is over all of creation.
16 All things were created by him. He created everything in heaven and
on earth. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can't
be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities. Everything was
created by him and for him. 17 Before anything was created, he was already
there. He holds everything together. 18 And he is the head of the body,
which is the church. He is the beginning. He is the first to be raised
from the dead. That happened so that he would be far above everything.
19 God was pleased to have his whole nature living in Christ. 20 God was
pleased to bring all things back to himself because of what Christ has
done. That includes all things on earth and in heaven. God made peace through
Christ's blood, through his death on the cross.
21 At one time you were
separated from God. You were enemies in your minds because of your evil
ways. 22 But because Christ died, God has brought you back to himself.
Christ's death has made you holy in God's sight. So now you don't have
any flaw. You are free from blame. 23 But you must keep your faith steady
and firm. Don't move away from the hope that the good news holds out to
you. It is the good news that you heard. It has been preached to every
creature under heaven. I, Paul, now serve the good news. |
Holman
Christian Standard Bible
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, 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 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious
might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 giving thanks to the
Father, who has enabled you 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 whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
over all creation; 16 because by Him everything was created, in heaven
and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through Him and
for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
19 Because all the fullness was pleased to dwell in Him, 20 and to reconcile
everything to Himself through Him by making peace through the blood of
His cross -- whether things on earth or things in heaven.
21 And you were once alienated
and hostile in mind because of your evil actions. 22 But now He has reconciled
you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless,
and blameless before Him -- 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast
in the faith, and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that
you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven,
and I, Paul, have become a minister of it. |
Bible
in Basic English
9 For this reason, we,
from the day when we had word of it, keep on in prayer for you, that you
may be full of the knowledge of his purpose, with all wisdom and experience
of the Spirit, 10 Living uprightly in the approval of the Lord, giving
fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Full
of strength in the measure of the great power of his glory, so that you
may undergo all troubles with joy; 12 Giving praise to the Father who has
given us a part in the heritage of the saints in light; 13 Who has made
us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the
Son of his love; 14 In whom we have our salvation, the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the unseen God coming into existence before all
living things; 16 For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth,
things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers;
all things were made by him and for him; 17 He is before all things, and
in him all things have being. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church:
the starting point of all things, the first to come again from the dead;
so that in all things he might have the chief place. 19 For God in full
measure was pleased to be in him; 20 Through him uniting all things with
himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him,
I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven.
21 And you, who in the past
were cut off and at war with God in your minds through evil works, he has
now made one 22 In the body of his flesh through death, so that you might
be holy and without sin and free from all evil before him: 23 If you keep
yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good
news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under
heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. |
Good
News for Modern Man: Today's English Version
. 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 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 toF2 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 first-born 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 first-born Son,
who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first
place in all things. 19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has
in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided
to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his
Son's bloodF3 on the cross and so brought back to himself all
things, both on earth and in heaven.
21 At one time you were
far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did
and thought. 22 But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God
has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless,
into his presence. 23 You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm
and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the
hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I,
Paul, became a servant — this gospel which has been preached to everybody
in the world.
--------------------
FOOTNOTES:
F2: with patience. And with joy give thanks to;
[or] with patience and joy. And give thanks to.
F3: his Son's blood; [or] his Son's sacrificial
death. |
The
Message
9 Be assured that from the first
day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to
give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough
understanding of the ways in which God works. 10 We pray that you'll live
well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard.
As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your
work. 11 We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the
long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength
God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over
into joy, 12 thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part
in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. 13 God rescued us
from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of
the Son he loves so much, 14 the Son who got us out of the pit we were
in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. 15 We look at
this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see
God's original purpose in everything created. 16 For everything, absolutely
everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after
rank of angels - everything got started in him and finds its purpose in
him. 17 He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it
all together right up to this moment. 18 And when it comes to the church,
he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. 19 So spacious
is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without
crowding. 20 Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of
the universe - people and things, animals and atoms - get properly fixed
and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood
that poured down from the Cross.
21 You yourselves are a
case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to
God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance
you got. 22 But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually
dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives
together, whole and holy in his presence. 23 You don't walk away from a
gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly
tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There
is no other Message - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this
same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message. |
The
Douay-Rheims Bible
9 Therefore we also, from the
day that we heard it, cease not to pray for you and to beg that you may
be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding:
10 That you may walk worthy of God, in all things pleasing; being fruitful
in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God: 11 Strengthened
with all might according to the power of his glory, in all patience and
longsuffering with joy, 12 Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made
us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light: 13 Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the
kingdom of the Son of his love, 14 In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the remission of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of every creature: 16 For in him were all things created
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations,
or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him.
17 And he is before all: and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the
head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead, that in all things he may hold the primacy: 19 Because in him,
it hath well pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell: 20 And through
him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood
of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth and the things that
are in heaven.
21 And you, whereas you
were some time alienated and enemies in mind in evil works: 22 Yet now
he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you
holy and unspotted and blameless before him: 23 If so ye continue in the
faith, grounded and settled, and immoveable from the hope of the gospel
which you have heard, which is preached in all the creation that is under
heaven: whereof I Paul am made a minister. |
Weymouth
New Testament
9 For this reason we also, from
the day we first received these tidings, have never ceased to pray for
you and to entreat that you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His
will accompanied by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things;
10 so that your lives may be worthy of the Lord and perfectly pleasing
to Him, while you exhibit the results of right action of every sort and
grow into a fuller knowledge of God. 11 Since His power is so glorious,
may you be strengthened with strength of every kind, and be prepared for
cheerfully enduring all things with patience and long-suffering; 12 and
give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the
inheritance of God's people in Light. 13 It is God who has delivered us
out of the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us into the Kingdom
of His dearly-loved Son, 14 in whom we have our redemption--the forgiveness
of our sins. 15 Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God,
the Firstborn and Lord of all creation. 16 For in Him was created the universe
of things in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, thrones,
dominions, princedoms, powers--all were created, and exist through and
for Him. 17 And HE IS before all things and in and through Him the universe
is a harmonious whole. 18 Moreover He is the Head of His Body, the Church.
He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, in order that He
Himself may in all things occupy the foremost place. 19 For it was the
Father's gracious will that the whole of the divine perfections should
dwell in Him. 20 And God purposed through Him to reconcile the universe
to Himself, making peace through His blood, which was shed upon the Cross
-- to reconcile to Himself through Him, I say, things on earth and things
in Heaven.
21 And you, estranged as
you once were and even hostile in your minds, amidst your evil deeds, 22
He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring
you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence; 23 if, indeed,
you are still firmly holding to faith as your foundation, without ever
shifting from your hope that rests on the Good News that you have heard,
which has been proclaimed in the whole creation under Heaven, and in which
I Paul have been appointed to serve. |
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