< 歌羅西書 1 >
1 因天主的旨意作基督耶穌的宗徒的保祿與弟茂弟兄,
Paul, an emissary of Messiah Yeshua through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 致書給在哥羅森的聖徒及在基督內忠信的弟兄, 恩寵與平安由天主我們的父賜與你們!
to the kadoshim and faithful brothers in Messiah at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 我們在祈禱時,常為你們感謝我們的主耶穌基督的天主和父,
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, praying always for you,
4 因為我們聽說:你們在基督耶穌內的信德,和你們對眾徒所有的愛德:
having heard of your faith in Messiah Yeshua, and of the love which you have toward all the kadoshim,
5 這是為了那在天上給你們存留的希望,對這希望你們由福音真理的宣講人早已聽過了。
because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of truth, the Good News,
6 這福音一傳到你們那裏,就如在全世界上,不斷結果,並在真理內認識了天主的恩寵那天以來,也是一樣;
which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
7 這福音也是由我們親愛的同僕厄帕夫辣所學的,他為你們實在是基督的忠僕役,
even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Messiah on our behalf,
who also declared to us your love in the Ruach.
9 為此,自從我們得到了報告那天起,就不斷為你們祈禱,懇求天主使你們對祂的旨意有充分的認識,充滿各種屬神的智慧和見識,
For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, do not cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 好使你們的行動相稱於天主,事事叫祂喜悅,在一切善功上結出果實,在認識天主上護得進展,
that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 全力加強自己,賴他光榮的德能,含忍容受一切,欣然
strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy;
12 感謝那使我們有資格,在光明中分享聖徒福分的天父,
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the kadoshim in the light;
13 因為是祂由黑暗的權勢下救出了我們,並將我們移植在祂愛子的國內,
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;
in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins;
15 祂是不可見的天主的肖像,是一切受造物者的首生者,
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 因為在天上和在地上的一切,可見的與不可見的,或是上座者,或是宰制者,或是率領者,或是掌權者,都是在祂內受造的:一切都是藉著祂,並且是為了祂而受造的。
For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
18 祂又是身體──教會的頭:祂是元始,是死者中的首生者,為使祂在萬有之上獨佔首位,
He is the head of the body, the congregation, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,
20 並藉著祂使萬有,無論是地上的,是天上的,都與自己重歸於好,因著祂十字架的血立定了和平。
and through him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross through him, whether things on the earth or things in heaven.
21 連你們從前也與天主隔絕,並因邪惡的行為在心意上與祂為敵;
You, who once were alienated and were hostile in your minds, doing evil deeds,
22 可是現今天主卻以祂血肉的身體,藉著死亡使你們與自己和好了,把你們呈獻在祂跟前,成為聖潔,無瑕和無可指摘的,
yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him,
23 只要你們在信德上站穩,堅定不移,不偏離你們由聽福音所得的希望,這福音已傳與天下一切受造物,我保祿就是這福音的僕役。
if it is so that you continue in the faith, established and firm, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
24 如今我在為你們受苦,反覺高興,因為這樣我可在我的肉身上,為基督的身體──教會,補充基督的苦難所欠缺的;
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Messiah for the sake of his body, which is the church;
25 我依照天主為你們所授與我的職責,作了這教會的僕役,好把天主的道理充分地宣揚出去,
of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 這道理就是從世世代代以來所隱藏,而如今卻顯示給祂的聖徒的奧祕。 (aiōn )
the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his kadoshim. (aiōn )
27 天主願意他們知道,這奧祕為外邦人是有如何豐盛的光榮,這奧祕就是基督在你們中作了你們覺得光榮的希望。
To them God was pleased to make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the non-Jews, which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory;
28 我們所傳揚的,就是這位基督,因而我們以各種智慧,勸告一切人,教訓一切人,好把一切人,呈獻於天主前,成為在基督內的成全人;
whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Messiah Yeshua;
29 我就是為這事而勞苦,按祂以大能在我身上所發動的力量,盡力奮鬥。
for which I also labor, struggling according to his power, which works in me mightily.