Revised
Standard Version
1.24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings
for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions
for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister
according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the
word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations
but now made manifest to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known
how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning
every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every
man mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, striving with all the energy
which he mightily inspires within me.
2.1 For I want you to know
how greatly I strive for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for all who
have not seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are
knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding
and the knowledge of God's mystery, of Christ, 3 in whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may
delude you with beguiling speech. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet
I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness
of your faith in Christ. |
New
Revised Standard Version
1.24 I am now rejoicing in my
sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking
in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
25 I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to
me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery that has
been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed
to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles
are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching
everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
29 For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully
inspires within me.
2.1 For I want you to know
how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all
who have not seen me face to face. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged
and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding
and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself,F12
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I am
saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. 5
For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice
to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
--------
Footnotes:
F12: Other ancient authorities read [of the mystery of
God, both of the Father and of Christ] |
King
James Version
1.24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings
for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ
in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made
a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for
you, to fulfilF4 the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which
hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest
to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ inF5
you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching
every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ
Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which
worketh in me mightily.
2.1 For I would that ye
knew what great conflictF6 I have for you, and for them at Laodicea,
and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts
might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of
the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery
of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whomF7 are hid
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man
should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the
flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order,
and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
--------
Footnotes:
F4: to fulfil...: or, fully to preach the word
F5: in: or, among
F6: conflict: or, fear, or, care
F7: In whom: or, Wherein |
New
King James Version
1.24
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is
the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship
from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26
the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now
has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what
are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: whichF4
is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man
and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect
in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His
working which works in me mightily.
2.1 For I want you to know
what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as
many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be
encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of
the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of
God, both of the Father andF5 of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone
should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the
flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and
the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
--------
Footnotes:
F4: M-Text reads who.
F5: NU-Text omits both of the Father and. |
American
Standard Version
1.24 Now I rejoice in
my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking
of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is
the church; 25 whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation
of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, 26 [even]
the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath
it been manifested to his saints, 27 to whom God was pleased to make known
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we proclaim, admonishing every
man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man
perfect in Christ; 29 whereunto I labor also, striving according to his
working, which worketh in me mightily.
2.1 For I would have you
know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as
many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be
comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the
full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God,
[even] Christ, 3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
hidden. 4 This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of
speech. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the
spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith
in Christ. |
New
American Standard Bible
1.24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I doF33
my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what
is lacking inF34 Christ's afflictions. 25 Of this church I wasF35
made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for
your benefit, so that I might fullyF36 carry out the preaching
of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from
the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,F37
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man withF38
all wisdom, so that we may present every man completeF39 in
Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power,F40
which mightilyF41 works within me.
2.1 For I want you to know
how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea,
and for all those who have not personallyF42 seen my face, 2
that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love,
and attaining to all the wealth thatF43 comes from the full
assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery,
that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive
argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with
you in spirit, rejoicing toF44 see yourF45 good discipline
and the stability of your faith in Christ.
--------
Footnotes:
F33: Or {representatively...fill up}
F34: Lit {of}
F35: Lit {became}
F36: Lit {make full the word of God}
F37: Or {holy ones}
F38: Lit {in}
F39: Or {perfect}
F40: Lit {working}
F41: Lit {in power}
F42: Lit {in the flesh}
F43: Lit {of the full assurance}
F44: Lit {and seeing}
F45: Or {your good order} |
Living Bible
1.24 But part
of my work is to suffer for you; and I am glad, for I am helping to finish
up the remainder of Christ's sufferings for his body, the church.
1.25 God has sent me to
help his church and to tell his secret plan to you Gentiles. 26.27 He has
kept this secret for centuries and generations past, but now at last it
has pleased him to tell it to those who love him and live for him, and
the riches and glory of his plan are for you Gentiles too. And this is
the secret: that Christ in your hearts is your only hope of glory.
1.28 So everywhere we go
we talk about christ to all who will listen, warning them and teaching
them as well as we know how. We want to be able to present each one to
God, perfect because of what christ has done for each of them. 29 This
is my work, and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work
within me.
2.1 I wish you could know
how much I have struggled in prayer for you and for the church at Laodicea,
and for my many other friends who have never known me personally. 2 this
is what I have asked of God for you: that you will be encouraged and knit
together by strong ties of love, and that you will have the riche experience
of knowing Christ with real certainty and clear understanding. For God's
secret plan, now at last made known, is Christ himself. 3 In
him lie hidden all the mighty, untapped treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2.4 I am saying this because
I am afraid that someone may fool you with smooth talk. 5 For though I
am far away from you my heart is with you, happy because you are getting
along so well, happy because of you strong faith in Christ. |
New
Living Translation
1.24 I am glad when I suffer
for you in my body, for I am completing what remains of Christ's sufferings
for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving
his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you Gentiles.
26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but
now it has been revealed to his own holy people. 27 For it has pleased
God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you
Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is
your assurance that you will share in his glory. 28 So everywhere we go,
we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the
wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfectF6
in their relationship to Christ. 29 I work very hard at this, as I depend
on Christ's mighty power that works within me.
2.1 I want you to know how
much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many
other friends who have never known me personally. 2 My goal is that they
will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them
to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God's
secret plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I am telling you this so that no one will be
able to deceive you with persuasive arguments. 5 For though I am far away
from you, my heart is with you. And I am very happy because you are living
as you should and because of your strong faith in Christ.
--------
Footnotes:
F6: Or mature.
|
New International
Version
1.24 Now I rejoice in
what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking
in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of
his body, which is the
church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present
to you the word of God in its fullness -- 26 the mystery that has been
kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious
riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor,
struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
2.1 I want you to know how
much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who
have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged
in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely,
Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit
and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ
is. |
New
International Readers Version
1.24 I am happy because
of what was suffered for you. And in my body I fill up my share in Christ's
sufferings. I do it for his body, which is the church.
25 I serve the church. God appointed me to bring all of his word to
you. 26 That word contains the mystery that has been hidden for many
ages. But now it has been made known to God's people. 27 God has chosen
to make known to them the glorious riches of that mystery. He has made
it known among those who aren't Jews. And here is what it is. Christ is
in you. He is your hope of glory. 28 We preach about him. With all the
wisdom we have, we warn and teach everyone. When we bring them to God,
we want them to be perfect as people who belong to Christ. 29 That's what
I'm working for. I work hard with all of Christ's strength. His strength
works powerfully in me.
2.1 I want you to know how
hard I am working for you. I'm concerned for those who are in Laodicea.
I'm also concerned for everyone who has not met me in person. 2 I want
their hearts to be made cheerful and strong. I want them to be joined together
in love. Then their understanding will be rich and complete. They will
know the mystery of God. That mystery is Christ. 3 All the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge are hidden in him. 4 But I don't want anyone to fool
you with fast talk that only sounds good. 5 So even though I am away from
you in body, I am with you in spirit. I am glad to see that you are doing
everything in good order. And I am happy that your faith in Christ is so
strong. |
Holman
Christian Standard Bible
1.24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings
for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ's afflictions
for His body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its minister, according
to God's administration that was given to me for you, to make God's message
fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed
to His saints. 27 God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles
the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory. 28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this,
striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.
2.1 For I want you to know
how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all
who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged
and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured
understanding, and have the knowledge of God's mystery -- Christ. 3 In
Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4 I am saying
this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. 5 For I
may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your
good order and the strength of your faith in Christ. |
Bible
in Basic English
1.24 Now I have joy in
my pain because of you, and in my flesh I undergo whatever is still needed
to make the sorrows of Christ complete, for the salvation of his body,
the church; 25 Of which I became a servant by the purpose of God which
was given to me for you, to give effect to the word of God, 26 The secret
which has been kept from all times and generations, but has now been made
clear to his saints, 27 To whom God was pleased to give knowledge of the
wealth of the glory of this secret among the Gentiles, which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we are preaching; guiding and teaching
every man in all wisdom, so that every man may be complete in Christ; 29
And for this purpose I am working, using all my strength by the help of
his power which is working in me strongly.
2.1 For it is my desire
to give you news of the great fight I am making for you and for those at
Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 So that
their hearts may be comforted, and that being joined together in love,
they may come to the full wealth of the certain knowledge of the secret
of God, even Christ, 3 In whom are all the secret stores of wisdom and
knowledge. 4 I say this so that you may not be turned away by any deceit
of words. 5 For though I am not present in the flesh, still I am with you
in the spirit, seeing with joy your order, and your unchanging faith in
Christ. |
Good
News for Modern Man: Today's English Version
1.24 And now I am happy about
my sufferings for you, for by means of my physical sufferings I am helping
to complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his
body, the church. 25 And I have been made a servant of the church by God,
who gave me this task to perform for your good. It is the task of fully
proclaiming his message, 26 which is the secret he hid through all past
ages from all human beings but has now revealed to his people. 27 God's
plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious
secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in
you, which means that you will share in the glory of God. 28 So we preach
Christ to everyone. With all possible wisdom we warn and teach them in
order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature individual in union
with Christ. 29 To get this done I toil and struggle, using the mighty
strength which Christ supplies and which is at work in me.
2.1 Let me tell you how
hard I have worked for you and for the people in Laodicea and for all others
who do not know me personally. 2 I do this in order that they may be filled
with courage and may be drawn together in love, and so have the full wealth
of assurance which true understanding brings. In this way they will know
God's secret, which is Christ himself.F4 3 He is the key that
opens all the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell
you, then, do not let anyone deceive you with false arguments, no matter
how good they seem to be. 5 For even though I am absent in body, yet I
am with you in spirit, and I am glad as I see the resolute firmness with
which you stand together in your faith in Christ.
--------
Footnotes:
F4: God's secret, which is Christ himself; [some
manuscripts have] God's secret; [others have] the secret
of God the Father of Christ; [others have] the secret of the God
and Father, and of Christ. |
The
Message
1.24 I want you to know how
glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a
lot of suffering to be entered into in this world - the kind of suffering
Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's
part of that suffering. 25 When I became a servant in this church, I experienced
this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying
out the whole truth. 26 This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long
time, but now it's out in the open. 27 God wanted everyone, not just Jews,
to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their
background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell
is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing
in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message.
28 We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach
in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to
maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. 29 That's
what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best
with the energy God so generously gives me.
2.1 I want you to realize
that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the
Christians over at Laodicea. Not many of you have met me face-to-face,
but that doesn't make any difference. Know that I'm on your side, right
alongside you. You're not in this alone. 2 I want you woven into a tapestry
of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will
have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery.
3 All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that
mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery! 4 I'm telling
you this because I don't want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose
chase, after other so-called mysteries, or "the Secret." 5 I'm a long way
off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I'm on your
side, right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly
ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of
your faith in Christ. |
The
Douay-Rheims Bible
1.24 Who now rejoice in
my sufferings for you and fill up those things that are wanting of the
sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church: 25
Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which
is given me towards you, that I may fulfil the word of God: 26 The mystery
which hath been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested
to his saints, 27 To whom God would make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ, in you the hope of
glory. 28 Whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man
in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29
Wherein also I labour, striving according to his working which he worketh
in me in power.
2.1 For I would have you
know what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea
and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh: 2 That their hearts may
be comforted, being instructed in charity and unto all riches of fulness
of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and
of Christ Jesus: 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words. 5
For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you, rejoicing,
and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith which is in
Christ. |
Weymouth
New Testament
1.24 Now I can find joy
amid my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my own person whatever is
lacking in Christ's afflictions on behalf of His Body, the Church. 25 I
have been appointed to serve the Church in the position of responsibility
entrusted to me by God for your benefit, so that I may fully deliver God's
Message -- 26 the truth which has been kept secret from all ages and generations,
but has now been revealed to His people, 27 to whom it was His will to
make known how vast a wealth of glory for the Gentile world is implied
in this truth--the truth that `Christ is in you, the hope of glory.' 28
Him we preach, admonishing every one and instructing every one, with all
possible wisdom, so that we may bring every one into God's presence, made
perfect through Christ. 29 To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert
all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work
within me.
2.1 For I would have you
know in how severe a struggle I am engaged on behalf of you and the brethren
in Laodicea and of all who have not known me personally, 2 in order that
their hearts may be cheered, they themselves being welded together in love
and enjoying all the advantages of a reasonable certainty, till at last
they attain the full knowledge of God's truth, which is Christ Himself.
3 In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are stored up, hidden
from view. 4 I say this to prevent your being misled by any one's plausible
sophistry. 5 For although, as you say, I am absent from you in body, yet
in spirit I am present with you and am delighted to witness your good discipline
and the solid front presented by your faith in Christ. |
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