1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1奉神旨意，作基督耶穌使徒的保羅和兄弟提摩太
2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
2寫信給歌羅西的聖徒，在基督裡有忠心的弟兄。願恩惠、平安從神我們的父歸與你們！
3We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
3我們感謝神、我們主耶穌基督的父，常常為你們禱告；
4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
4因聽見你們在基督耶穌裡的信心，並向眾聖徒的愛心，
5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
5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。
6which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as [it has been doing] in you also since the day you heard [of it] and understood the grace of God in truth;
6這福音傳到你們那裡，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。
7just as you learned [it] from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
7正如你們從我們所親愛、一同作僕人的以巴弗所學的。他為我們（有古卷：你們）作了基督忠心的執事，
8and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
8也把你們因聖靈所存的愛心告訴了我們。
9For this reason also, since the day we heard [of it], we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
9因此，我們自從聽見的日子，也就為你們不住的禱告祈求，願你們在一切屬靈的智慧悟性上，滿心知道神的旨意；
10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him] in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
10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，漸漸的多知道神；
11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
11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的忍耐寬容；
12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
12又感謝父，叫我們能與眾聖徒在光明中同得基業。
13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
13他救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裡；
14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
14我們在愛子裡得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
15愛子是那不能看見之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。
16For by Him all things were created, [both] in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him.
16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。
17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
17他在萬有之先；萬有也靠他而立。
18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
18他也是教會全體之首。他是元始，是從死裡首先復生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。
19For it was the [Father's] good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
19因為父喜歡叫一切的豐盛在他裡面居住。
20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say], whether things on earth or things in heaven.
20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。
21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, [engaged] in evil deeds,
21你們從前與神隔絕，因著惡行，心裡與他為敵。
22yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--
22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。
23if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
23只要你們在所信的道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移，不至被引動失去（原文是離開）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（原文是凡受造的），我保羅也作了這福音的執事。
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
24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。
25Of [this church] I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the [preaching of] the word of God,
25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，
26[that is], the mystery which has been hidden from the [past] ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
26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。
27to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
27神願意叫他們知道，這奧祕在外邦人中有何等豐盛的榮耀，就是基督在你們心裡成了有榮耀的盼望。
28We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
28我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裡完完全全的引到神面前。
29For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
29我也為此勞苦，照著他在我�面運用的大能盡心竭力。