Colossenes 1
1 Paulus Apostolus Iesu Christi per voluntatem Dei, et Timotheus frater:
This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the will of God, and from our brother Timothy.
2 eis, qui sunt Colossis, sanctis, et fidelibus fratribus in Christo Iesu.
To the believers and trusting Christians at Colossae: may you have grace and peace from God our Father.
3 Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Iesu Christo. Gratias agimus Deo, et Patri Domini nostri Iesu Christi semper pro vobis orantes:
We are always thankful to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for you, and pray for you.
4 audientes fidem vestram in Christo Iesu, et dilectionem, quam habetis in sanctos omnes
We've heard about your trust in Christ Jesus and your love for all the believers
5 propter spem, quæ reposita est vobis in cælis: quam audistis in verbo veritatis Evangelii:
because of the hope prepared for you in heaven. You already heard about this in the good news, the message of truth
6 quod pervenit ad vos, sicut et in universo mundo est, et fructificat, et crescit sicut in vobis, ex ea die, qua audistis, et cognovistis gratiam Dei in veritate,
that came to you just as it has gone throughout the whole world, spreading widely and bringing results. It's done the same for you too, ever since you heard it and realized the true nature of God's grace.
7 sicut didicistis ab Epaphra charissimo conservo nostro, qui est fidelis pro vobis minister Christi Iesu,
Our dear friend and fellow-worker Epaphras, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on our behalf, taught you about this.
8 qui etiam manifestavit nobis dilectionem vestram in spiritu:
He's also made clear to us your love in the Spirit.
9 ideo et nos ex qua die audivimus, non cessamus pro vobis orantes, et postulantes ut impleamini agnitione voluntatis eius, in omni sapientia et intellectu spiritali:
Because of this we continue to pray for you from the time we heard about you, asking God to give you understanding of what he wants you to do and to give you every kind of spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 ut ambuletis digne Deo per omnia placentes: in omni opere bono fructificantes, et crescentes in scientia Dei:
That way you'll live lives that rightly represent the Lord and please him, producing all kinds of good results and gaining greater knowledge of God.
11 in omni virtute confortati secundum potentiam claritatis eius in omni patientia, et longanimitate cum gaudio
May you be made powerfully strong by his wonderful strength, having great patience and endurance.
12 gratias agentes Deo Patri, qui dignos nos fecit in partem sortis sanctorum in lumine:
May you happily praise the Father, who has made it possible for us to share in the inheritance of God's people who live in the light.
13 qui eripuit nos de potestate tenebrarum, et transtulit in regnum filii dilectionis suæ,
He rescued us from the tyranny of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
14 in quo habemus redemptionem per sanguinem eius, remissionem peccatorum:
through whom we have been set free and our sins forgiven.
15 qui est imago Dei invisibilis, primogenitus omnis creaturæ:
The Son is the visible picture of the invisible God. He was before all creation,
16 quoniam in ipso condita sunt universa in cælis, et in terra, visibilia, et invisibilia, sive throni, sive dominationes, sive principatus, sive potestates: omnia per ipsum, et in ipso creata sunt:
for everything was created through him—in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, empires, rulers, leaders and authorities—everything was created through him and for him.
17 et ipse est ante omnes, et omnia in ipso constant.
He existed before everything, and he holds everything together.
18 Et ipse est caput corporis Ecclesiæ, qui est principium, primogenitus ex mortuis: ut sit in omnibus ipse primatum tenens.
He is also the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the first and highest of those raised from the dead, so that he is supreme in everything.
19 quia in ipso complacuit, omnem plenitudinem inhabitare:
God was pleased to have his full nature live in him,
20 et per eum reconciliare omnia in ipsum, pacificans per sanguinem crucis eius, sive quæ in terris, sive quæ in cælis sunt.
and through him brought back everything in the universe to himself, since he made peace through the blood of his cross, through him reconciling all those on the earth and in heaven.
21 Et vos cum essetis aliquando alienati, et inimici sensu in operibus malis:
You once were alienated from God, enemies in the way you thought and the way you acted,
22 nunc autem reconciliavit in corpore carnis eius per mortem, exhibere vos sanctos, et immaculatos, et irreprehensibiles coram ipso:
but now he has reconciled you through his dying human body, bringing you into his presence where you stand holy, pure, and faultless.
23 si tamen permanetis in fide fundati, et stabiles, et immobiles a spe Evangelii, quod audistis, quod prædicatum est in universa creatura, quæ sub cælo est, cuius factus sum ego Paulus minister.
But your trust in him must continue rock-solid and immovable. Don't be shaken from the hope of the good news that you heard, the good news that's been shared throughout the world—that's the work that I Paul have been doing.
24 Qui nunc gaudeo in passionibus pro vobis, et adimpleo ea, quæ desunt passionem Christi, in carne mea pro corpore eius, quod est Ecclesia:
I'm happy to have trouble for your sake, for by means of what happens to me physically I'm part of Christ's sufferings that he continues to experience for the sake of his body, the church.
25 cuius factus sum ego minister secundum dispensationem Dei, quæ data est mihi in vos, ut impleam verbum Dei:
I serve the church following the direction God gave me about you, to present fully the word of God to you.
26 mysterium, quod absconditum fuit a sæculis, et generationibus, nunc autem manifestatum est sanctis eius, (aiōn g165)
This is the mystery that was hidden down through the ages and for many generations, but it's now been revealed to God's people. (aiōn g165)
27 quibus voluit Deus notas facere divitias gloriæ sacramenti huius in Gentibus, quod est Christus, in vobis spes gloriæ,
God wanted to make known to them the glorious wealth of this mystery to the nations: Christ living in you is the glorious hope!
28 quem nos annunciamus, corripientes omnem hominem, et docentes omnem hominem, in omni sapientia, ut exhibeamus omnem hominem perfectum in Christo Iesu.
We're telling everyone about him, instructing and teaching them in the best way we know how so that we can bring everyone before God fully mature in Christ.
29 in quo et laboro, certando secundum operationem eius, quam operatur in me in virtute.
That's what I'm working for too, making every effort as I rely on his strength which is powerfully at work in me.
