Now that we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all his People,

came to you. This Gospel is [now] also producing fruit all over the world [i.e., throughout the Roman Empire] and growing [in its influence], just as it is doing among you people also, since the day you [first] heard and understood God's unearned favor in [all its] truth.

He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

for I am a minister of the church by the divine commission which has been granted me in your interests, to make a full presentation of God's message ??26 of that open secret which, though concealed from ages and generations of old, has now been disclosed to the saints of God.

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

For you died [with Christ, See 2:20], and your life is [now] hidden with Christ in [fellowship with] God.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

by which there is now neither Greek, or Jew; circumcised, or uncircumcised; Barbarian, or Scythian; slave, or freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

Now therefore as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering,

And making prayer for us, that God may give us an open door for the preaching of the word, the secret of Christ, for which I am now in chains;