Romans 12:4-8

Easy-to-Read Version

⁴Each one of us has one body, and that body has many parts. These parts don’t all do the same thing. ⁵In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others.

⁶We all have different gifts. Each gift came because of the grace God gave us. Whoever has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in a way that fits the kind of faith they have. ⁷Whoever has the gift of serving should serve. Whoever has the gift of teaching should teach. ⁸Whoever has the gift of comforting others should do that. Whoever has the gift of giving to help others should give generously. Whoever has the gift of leading should work hard at it. Whoever has the gift of showing kindness to others should do it gladly.

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Colossians 1:12-18

Easy-to-Read Version

¹²and give thanks to the Father. He has made you able to have what he has promised to give all his holy people, who live in the light. ¹³God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. ¹⁴The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins.

The Son of God Is the Same as God

¹⁵No one can see God,
    but the Son is exactly like God.
    He rules over everything that has been made.^[a]
¹⁶Through his power all things were made:
    things in heaven and on earth, seen and not seen—
all spiritual rulers, lords, powers, and authorities.
    Everything was made through him and for him.

¹⁷The Son was there before anything was made.
    And all things continue because of him.
¹⁸He is the head of the body, which is the church.
    He is the beginning of everything else.
And he is the first among all who will be raised from death.^[b]
    So in everything he is most important.

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Footnotes

Colossians 1:15 He … made Literally, “He is the firstborn of all creation.” See “firstborn” in the Word List.
Colossians 1:18 first … death Literally, “firstborn from the dead.”