奉神旨意，作基督耶穌使徒的
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
奉神旨意，作基督耶穌使徒的
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
寫信給
To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
我們感謝神我們主耶穌基督的父，常常為你們禱告；
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
因聽見你們在基督耶穌裏的信心，並向眾聖徒的愛心，
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
是為那給你們存在天上的盼望；這盼望就是你們從前在福音真理的道上所聽見的。
because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
這福音傳到你們那裏，也傳到普天之下，並且結果，增長，如同在你們中間，自從你們聽見福音，真知道神恩惠的日子一樣。
which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing — as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,
正如你們從我們所親愛、一同作僕人的
just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf
也把你們因聖靈所存的愛心告訴了我們。
and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
因此，我們自從聽見的日子，也就為你們不住地禱告祈求，願你們在一切屬靈的智慧悟性上，滿心知道神的旨意；
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
好叫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，漸漸地多知道神；
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
照他榮耀的權能，得以在各樣的力上加力，好叫你們凡事歡歡喜喜地忍耐寬容；
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
又感謝父，叫我們能與眾聖徒在光明中同得基業。
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
他救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏；
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
我們在愛子裏得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
愛子是那不能看見之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
因為萬有都是靠他造的，無論是天上的，地上的；能看見的，不能看見的；或是有位的，主治的，執政的，掌權的；一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的。
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.
他在萬有之先；萬有也靠他而立。
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
他也是教會全體之首。他是元始，是從死裏首先復生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
因為父喜歡叫一切的豐盛在他裏面居住。
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
既然藉著他在十字架上所流的血成就了和平，便藉著他叫萬有──無論是地上的、天上的──都與自己和好了。
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
你們從前與神隔絕，因著惡行，心裏與他為敵。
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
但如今他藉著基督的肉身受死，叫你們與自己和好，都成了聖潔，沒有瑕疵，無可責備，把你們引到自己面前。
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
只要你們在所信的道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移，不致被引動失去〔原文作「離開」〕福音的盼望。這福音就是你們所聽過的，也是傳與普天下萬人聽的〔「萬人」原文作「凡受造的」〕，我──
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
現在我為你們受苦，倒覺歡樂；並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
我照神為你們所賜我的職分作了教會的執事，要把神的道理傳得全備，
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
這道理就是歷世歷代所隱藏的奧祕；但如今向他的聖徒顯明了。
the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
神願意叫他們知道，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成了有榮耀的盼望。
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
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引到神面前。
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
我也為此勞苦，照著他在我裏面運用的大能盡心竭力。
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.