1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ.
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 you have toward all the saints,
5because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6which has come to you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
7even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,