Thursday, November 5, 2026 Julian: October 23 Tone 5 No fast Martyrs Galacteon and Wife Epistemis
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Bible Book

Colossians

Chapter 1

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.1989

Thanksgiving and prayer

3We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we always pray for you. 4We have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and about the love which you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope which is prepared for you in heaven. Of this hope you have heard before in the word1990 of the truth of the Good News 6which has come to you, even as it is [spreading] in the whole world. It has been bearing fruit and growing [everywhere], as it has done in you too since the day you heard and experienced the grace of God in truth. 7This is what you also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bondservant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf. 8He has informed us of your love in [the] Spirit.1991 9For this reason, since the day we heard this, we do not cease praying and making requests for you, so that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s1992 will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10We also pray that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11May you be strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, [to be prepared] for all [kinds of] endurance and perseverance with joy! 12May you give thanks to God the Father, who has granted us1993 to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love. 14In him, we have our redemption,1994 the forgiveness of our sins.

About Christ—The mystery: Christ in you

15He is the image1995 of the invisible God, the firstborn1996 of all creation. 16For in him, all things were created, in the heavens and on earth, things visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.1997 18He is the head of the body, the Church; [he is] the first cause,1998 the firstborn from the dead, so that in all [things] he might have the first place.1999 19For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile all things to himself, both earthly and heavenly, having made peace through the blood of his cross.

21In the past, you were alienated and hostile in mind by your evil actions. 22But now, he has reconciled [you] in the body of his flesh through death, in order to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him. 23This is [for you] if you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard. I, Paul, became a servant of this Good News that is being proclaimed throughout all creation under heaven.

24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body which is the Church. 25I have become her servant, according to God’s commission which I received for you, in order to fulfill the word of God. 26This is the mystery which was hidden for ages and generations. But now, it has been revealed to his saints. 27To them, God was pleased to reveal the glorious generosity2000 of this mystery among the Gentiles. This mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28This is what we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ Jesus. 29This is what I also work for, struggling with his energy2001 which is powerfully at work in me.

Spiritual struggles—Against false teachers

  1. CT omits “and the Lord Jesus Christ”
  2. Or “message”
  3. Or “spirit”
  4. Greek “his”
  5. CT reads “you”
  6. TR adds “through his blood”
  7. Greek “icon” (eivkw.n tou/ qeou/)
  8. Greek prwto,tokoj
  9. The Greek (sune,sthken) can also mean “have their proper place/are formed/consist”
  10. Greek avrch, (also means “origin/beginning/ruler/principle”)
  11. Or “preeminence”
  12. Or “wealth of glory”
  13. Greek evne,rgeian (“supernatural working”)

Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.