The Daily Audio Bible

¹⁸ And He is the Head of the body of the Church. He is the Beginning; Firstborn from the dead; so that in all things He might have preeminence.

¹⁹ For in Him was all fullness pleased to dwell.

²⁰ And through Him were all things reconciled to Himself, having made peace by the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on Earth or things in Heaven.

²¹ And you also - who were in times past estranged and hostile because your minds were set on evil works - He has now reconciled

²² in the body of His flesh through death; to present you as holy and blameless and beyond reproach in His sight

²³ if you continue to be grounded and established in the faith and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you have heard (having been preached to all creation under Heaven, and to which I, Paul, am a minister).

²⁴ Now, I rejoice in my sufferings for you and fulfill in my flesh the rest of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake (which is the Church

²⁵ and whereof I am a minister) according to the dispensation of God which has been given me toward you to fulfill the word of God;

²⁶ and which is the mystery hidden from all ages and generations and now made visible to his saints;

²⁷ to whom God would make known the riches of His glorious mystery among the Gentiles – which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;

²⁸ Whom we preach, admonishing everyone, and teaching everyone in all wisdom, that we may present everyone complete in Christ Jesus.

²⁹ Toward this I also toil, striving according to His miraculous power working in me.

2 For I desire that you knew what great struggle I have for you, and for those of Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

² that their hearts might be encouraged, having been joined together in love and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding to know the mystery of God and the Father and of Christ,

³ in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

⁴ And this I say so that no one should deceive you with persuasive words.

⁵ For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order and your steadfast faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him;

⁷ being rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.