elf to me. [1:20]Yes, brother, let me be
profited by you in the Lord; refresh my soul in Christ.

3 [1:21]I have written to you, having confidence in your obedience,
knowing that you will do even more than I say. [1:22]But at the same
time also prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I
shall be given to you. [1:23]Epaphras, who is my fellow-captive in
Christ Jesus, [1:24]Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-laborers,
salute you. [1:25]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit.

THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS 25:4.)

CHAPTER I.

PAUL'S PRAYERS FOR THE COLOSSIANS, THE DIGNITY OF CHRIST, PAUL'S
MINISTRY, FALSE TEACHERS, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy
the brother, [1:2]to the saints in Colosse and the faithful brothers in
Christ. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father.

2 [1:3]We thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying
always for you, [1:4]having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the
love which you have for all the saints, [1:5]on account of the hope
laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the true word
of the gospel [1:6]which is present with you as also in all the world,
and is fruitful and increases, as also with you, from the day that you
heard and knew the grace of God in truth; [1:7]as you learned from
Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of
Christ for you, [1:8]and who made known to us your love in the Spirit.

3 [1:9]Therefore we also, from the day that we heard, cease not to pray
for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his
will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, [1:10]that you may walk
worthily of the Lord in all that is pleasing [to him], being fruitful
in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; [1:11]being
strengthened with all power, according to his glorious power, for all
patience and long suffering with joy; [1:12]giving thanks to the Father
who has made us fit for a portion in the inheritance of the saints in
light, [1:13]who delivered us from the power of darkness and translated
us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, [1:14]in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins, [1:15]who is the likeness of the
invisible God, the first-born of all creation, [1:16]for by him were
all things created which are in heaven and on the earth, the visible
and the invis