Colossians 1:3-14

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 f We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of g your faith in Christ Jesus and of g the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of h the hope i laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in j the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed k in the whole world it is l bearing fruit and growing - as it also does among you, since the day you m heard it and understood n the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from o Epaphras our beloved p fellow servant. 1 He is p a faithful minister of Christ on your 2 behalf 8 and has made known to us your q love in the Spirit.

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 3 to the Father, who has qualified you 4 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.

  1. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:15 - 16
    For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints.
    Philemon 1:4
    I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.
  2. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  4. Cross References
    Colossians 1:23
    If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
    Acts 23:6
    Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.
    Titus 1:2
    In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
    Hebrews 3:6
    But Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
  5. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:8
    Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
    1 Peter 1:4
    To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
  6. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:13
    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
  7. Cross References
    Colossians 1:23
    If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
    Psalms 98:3
    He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
    Matthew 24:14
    And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
  8. Cross References
    John 15:5
    I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
    John 15:16
    You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
    Philippians 1:11
    Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
  9. Cross References
    Romans 16:26
    But has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith -
    Ephesians 4:21
    Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus.
  10. Cross References
    Acts 11:23
    When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.
  11. Cross References
    Colossians 4:12
    Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
    Philemon 1:23
    Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you.
  12. Cross References
    Colossians 4:7
    Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
  13. Cross References
    Colossians 4:7
    Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
  14. Cross References
    Romans 15:30
    I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:2
    With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. 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.
  28. 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.
  29. 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.
  30. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:6
    To the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
  31. 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.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.