歌羅西書 1

問候

1 奉上帝旨意，作基督耶穌使徒的保羅，和我們的弟兄提摩太， 2 寫信給歌羅西的聖徒，在基督裏忠心的弟兄。願恩惠、平安t從我們的父上帝歸給你們！

為信徒感謝上帝

3 我們為你們禱告的時候，常常感謝我們主耶穌基督的父上帝t， 4 因為聽見你們對基督耶穌的信心，並對眾聖徒有的愛心。 5 這都是因著那給你們存在天上的盼望，它就是你們從前所聽見真理的道，就是福音； 6 這福音傳到你們那裏，也傳到普天下，並且繼續增長，不斷結果，正如自從你們聽見福音，真正知道上帝恩惠的日子起，在你們中間也是這樣。 7 這福音是你們從我們所親愛、一同作僕人的以巴弗學到的。他為我們t作了基督的忠心僕役， 8 也把聖靈賜給你們的愛告訴我們。

基督和他的工作

9 因此，我們自從聽見的日子就不住地為你們禱告和祈求，願你們滿有一切屬靈的智慧和悟性，真正知道上帝的旨意， 10 好使你們行事為人對得起主，凡事蒙他喜悅，在一切善事上結果子，對上帝的認識更有長進。 11 願你們從他榮耀的權能中，得以在一切事上力上加力，好使你們凡事歡歡喜喜地忍耐寬容， 12 又感謝父，使你們配與眾聖徒在光明中分享基業。 13 他救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，遷移到他愛子的國度裏。 14 藉著他的愛子，我們得蒙救贖，罪得赦免。

15 愛子是那看不見的上帝之像， 是首生的t，在一切被造的以先。

16 因為萬有都是在他裏面t造的， 無論是天上的、地上的， 能看見的、不能看見的， 或是有權位的、統治的， 或是執政的、掌權的， 一概都是藉著他為著他造的。

17 他在萬有之先； 萬有也靠他而存在。

18 他是身體（教會）的頭； 他是元始， 是從死人中復活的首生者， 好讓他在萬有中居首位。

19 因為上帝喜歡使一切的豐盛在他裏面居住，

20 藉著他t，上帝使萬有與自己和好， 無論是地上的、天上的， 都藉著他在十字架上所流的血促成了和平。

21 從前你們與上帝隔絕，心思上與他為敵，行為邪惡； 22 但如今，他藉著他兒子肉身的死，已經使你們與他自己和好了t，把你們獻在他的面前，成為聖潔，沒有瑕疵，無可指責。 23 只要你們持守信仰，根基穩固，堅定不移，不致動搖，離開了你們從前所聽見的福音的盼望；這福音也是傳給天下一切被造之物的，我—保羅作了這福音的僕役。

保羅為教會的工作

24 現在我為你們受苦，倒很快樂；並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，我要在自己的肉身上補滿基督未盡的苦難。 25 我照上帝為你們所賜我的職分作了教會的僕役，要把上帝的道傳得完滿； 26 這道就是歷世歷代所隱藏的奧祕，但如今向他的聖徒顯明了。 27 上帝要讓他們知道，這奧祕在外邦人中有何等豐盛的榮耀；就是基督在你們心裏t成了得榮耀的盼望。 28 我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裏完完全全地獻上t。 29 我也為此勞苦，照著他在我裏面運用的大能盡心竭力。

COLOSSIANS 1

1 From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.

2 To God's people who live in Colossae and are faithful followers of Christ.
I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

A Prayer of Thanks

3 Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all God's people,

5 because what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You first heard about this hope when you believed the true message, which is the good news.
6 The good news is spreading all over the world with great success. It has spread in this same way among you, ever since the first day you learned the truth about God's wonderful kindness 7 t from our good friend Epaphras. He works together with us for Christ and is a faithful worker for you.t

8 He is also the one who told us about the love that God's Spirit has given you.

The Person and Work //of Christ

9 We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding his Spirit gives. 10 Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better.

11 His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.
12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting yout have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. 13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son,

14 t who forgives our sins and sets us free.

15  t Christ is exactly like God,
who cannot be seen.
He is the first-born Son,
superior to all creation.

16 Everything was created by him,
everything in heaven
and on earth,
everything seen and unseen,
including all forces
and powers,
and all rulers
and authorities.
All things were created
by God's Son,
and everything was made
for him.

17 God's Son was before all else,
and by him everything
is held together.

18  t He is the head of his body,
which is the church.
He is the very beginning,
the first to be raised
from death,
so that he would be
above all others.

19 God himself was pleased
to live fully in his Son.

20  t And God was pleased
for him to make peace
by sacrificing his blood
on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven
and on earth
would be brought back to God.
21 You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. 22 But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.

23 But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.

Paul's Service to the Church

24 I am glad I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continuet the suffering of Christ for his body, the church. 25 God's plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you. 26 For ages and ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people.

27 God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.
28 We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so all of Christ's followers will grow and become mature. 29 This is why I work so hard and use the mighty power he gives me.