Colossians - Chapters 1-2

Colossians - Chapter 1

Welcome, I have written this for children, based solely on the Word of God, but condensed for them... and used Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary for clarification of some words. My added comments are in italics, and there is a Memory Verse for each chapter.

Colossians Chapter 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we always pray for you since we heard of y our faith in Christ Jesus, and the love that you have to all the saints. For the hope (of redemption) that you heard before, the truth of the gospel. Which came to you, as it is (doing) in all the world, and brings forth fruit (that means that when the gospel is preached, it is believed and people receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour).

It was Ephaphras who is a faithful minister of Christ for you, and he told us your love in the Spirit. And because of this since the day we hear it, we do not stop praying for you, and desiring that you will be filled with the knowledge of his will in being wise, and in understanding spiritual things, so that you walk worthy of the Lord, having good works (doing the things that are well pleasing to the Lord, not to be saved, but because you are saved and the Spirit is leading you to doing these good things.) and growing in the knowledge of God. Being strengthened by his power to being patient and joyful when others provoke you.

Giving thanks to the Father who has delivered us from the power of darkness (Satan) and has brought us (by faith) into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by him (Christ) all things were created, things in heaven, things in earth, both seen and unseen: all things were created by him and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things exist (and are supported and maintained.

And he is the head of the body, the church (all those who are saved by faith in Christ, those who looked forward to his coming, and those looking back on his perfect sinless life, death on the cross for our sins, and resurrection from the dead) who is the beginning, the firstborn from dead (Christ's resurrection) that in all things he might have the superior place. For it pleased the Father that in him (Christ) should all fulness dwell. (that means that in Christ everything is complete, and perfect, nothing is lacking or desired)

Having made peace through the blood of his cross, so that all things were reconciled (called back to fellowship after being separated by sin) whether things in heaven, or things in earth. And he has reconciled you, that were enemies by your sins, that through the body of his death (on the cross) you are presented holy and blameless if you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel (of eternal life with Christ) which you have heard.

I, Paul, am filled with joy even in my sufferings for you. I am made a minister by God for you, to fulfill the word of God, even this mystery that was hidden in the past but now is made known to those who believe on Jesus (as their Saviour).. That mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory: who we preach, warning every man, and teaching wisdom to every man, so that we might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

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Memory Verse: Colossians 1:14 "in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins"

V. Gross/October'06