Letters to the Churches

Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.

And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.

For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.

Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.

I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.

All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—

the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel

that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.

You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

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 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.