Colossians 1:1-6

Expanded Bible

1 From Paul, an ·apostle [messenger] of Christ Jesus. ·I am an apostle because that is what God wanted [^L…by the will of God]. Also from Timothy [Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; Phil. 2:19–24; 1 and 2 Timothy], our brother.

² To the ·holy [^Tsaints] and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ that live in Colossae [a city located in the Lycus Valley in the Roman province of Phrygia, present-day central Turkey]:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.^[a]

³ In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ ·because we have [or ever since we; ^Lhaving] heard about the faith you have in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all ·of God’s people [^Tthe saints]. ⁵ You have this faith and love because of your hope, and what you hope for is ·kept safe [stored up; reserved] for you in heaven. You learned about this hope when you heard the ·message about the truth [or true message; ^Lword of truth], the ·Good News [Gospel] ⁶ that ·was told [^Lhas come] to you. [^L…just as] Everywhere in the world that ·Good News [Gospel] is ·bringing blessings [^Lbearing fruit] and is growing. This has happened with you, too, ·since [^Lfrom the day] you heard and ·understood the truth about [or truly understood] the grace of God.