Colossians 1:9-23 - Prayer For Maturity Based On Christ's Preeminence

⁹ For this cause from the day we heard it, we do not cease to pray also for you, and to desire that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ That ye may walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness: ¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins:

¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the first begotten of every creature. ¹⁶ For through him were created all things, that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist, And he is the head of his body the church; ¹⁸ who is the beginning, the first-begotten from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father, that all fulness should dwell in him: ²⁰ And by him to reconcile all things to himself (having made peace by him, through the blood of the cross) whether things on earth, or things in heaven.

²¹ And you that were once alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, ²² he hath now reconciled, By the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and spotless, and unreproveable in his sight: ²³ If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and are not removed from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, which is preached to every creature that is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.