2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ [that are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,
5because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as [it doth] in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
7even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
8who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.