Colossians 1:9-20

Thanksgiving and Prayer

9 And so, r from the day we heard, s we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that t you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all u spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as v to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, w fully pleasing to him, x bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 y May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for z all endurance and patience a with joy, 12 b giving thanks 1 to the Father, who has qualified you 2 to share in c the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He d has delivered us from e the domain of darkness and transferred us to f the kingdom of g his beloved Son, 14 h in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

15 i He is the image of j the invisible God, k the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by 3 him all things were created, l in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether m thrones or n dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created o through him and for him. 17 And p he is before all things, and in him all things q hold together. 18 And r he is the head of the body, the church. He is s the beginning, t the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For u in him all the v fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and w through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, x making peace y by the blood of his cross.

  1. Cross References
    Colossians 1:4
    Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.
  2. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 1:11
    To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power.
  3. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:17
    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.
  4. Cross References
    Colossians 4:5
    Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
    Ephesians 1:8
    Which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
    1 Corinthians 12:8
    For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 1:1
    Book One Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.
    Psalms 1:3
    He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
    Ephesians 4:1
    I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.
  6. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:9
    So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
    Ephesians 5:10
    And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
    1 Thessalonians 4:1
    Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
  7. Cross References
    Colossians 1:6
    Which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing - as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
  8. Cross References
    Ephesians 3:16
    That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
  9. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:2
    With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 5:12
    Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
  11. Cross References
    Colossians 3:15
    And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
    Ephesians 5:20
    Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  12. Cross References
    Acts 26:18
    To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
  13. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:10
    And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
  14. Cross References
    Luke 22:53
    When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
    Ephesians 6:12
    For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
  15. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:11
    For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  16. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:6
    To the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
  17. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:7
    In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
  18. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:4
    In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
  19. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:17
    To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 89:27
    And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
    Romans 8:29
    For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
  21. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:10
    As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
  22. Cross References
    Ezekiel 10:1
    Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in appearance like a throne.
  23. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:21
    Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
  24. Cross References
    Romans 11:36
    For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
    1 Corinthians 8:6
    Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
  25. Cross References
    John 8:58
    Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.
    John 1:1
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  26. Cross References
    Hebrews 1:3
    He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
  27. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:22 - 23
    And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.
  28. Cross References
    Revelation 3:14
    And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
  29. Cross References
    Acts 26:23
    That the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.
    1 Corinthians 15:20
    But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
    Revelation 1:5
    And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
  30. Cross References
    Colossians 2:9
    For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.
  31. Cross References
    John 1:16
    And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
  32. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:18
    All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
    Ephesians 1:10
    As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
  33. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:14
    For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
  34. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:13
    But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.