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Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up ([a]reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel,

Which has come to you. Indeed, in the whole world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit and still is growing [b][by its own inherent power], even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. [You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it.]

You so learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ in our stead and as our representative and [c]yours.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:5 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
  2. Colossians 1:6 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.
  3. Colossians 1:7 Many ancient manuscripts read “yours.”

You live like that because you hope to receive good things from God.[a] You know that God has prepared those good things for you. He is keeping them safe in heaven. You learned that when people first told you God's true message, his good news.

You have heard this good news, like people all over the world have heard it. It has caused good results among you since the time when you heard it first. At that time, you understood the true message about how kind God really is. As a result, God is blessing you more and more, like he blesses his people everywhere. It was our good friend Epaphras who first told you this good news. Like us, he is Christ's servant. He serves Christ on our behalf.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:5 In the Bible, to ‘hope’ means to trust God for what will happen. We wait to receive the good things that he has promised to give us. We know that we will live with Christ for ever. As believers we can be completely sure that these things will happen to us.

the faith and love that spring from the hope(A) stored up for you in heaven(B) and about which you have already heard in the true message(C) of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit(D) and growing throughout the whole world(E)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras,(F) our dear fellow servant,[a] who is a faithful minister(G) of Christ on our[b] behalf,

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:7 Or slave
  2. Colossians 1:7 Some manuscripts your

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

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because of the hope (A)which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, (B)as it has also in all the world, and (C)is bringing forth [a]fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew (D)the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from (E)Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is (F)a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:6 NU, M add and growing