ⲔⲞⲖⲀⲤⲤⲒⲀⲤ 1
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, also a follower of the Lord.
2 ⲃ̅ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϧⲉⲛ ⲕⲟⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁⲓⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲉⲧϧⲉⲛ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲓⲏ̅ⲥ̅ ⳿ⲡ⳿ϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲙ ⳿ⲧϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲫϯ ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲉⲛ⳪ Ⲓⲏ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅.
To Christ’s people at Colossae – the followers who are faithful to him: May God, our Father, bless you and give you peace.
Whenever we pray we never fail to thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you,
now that we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all his people,
5 ⲉ̅ ⲉⲑⲃⲉ ϯϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲭⲏ ϧⲁϫⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⲑⲏ ⲉⲧⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲉⲣϣⲟⲣⲡ ⳿ⲛⲥⲟⲑⲙⲉⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲥⲁϫⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ.
because of the hope which is kept safe for you in heaven. Of this hope you heard long ago in the true message of the good news which reached you,
6 ⲋ̅ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲡ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲉϥϣⲟⲡ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲉϥϯⲟⲩⲧⲁϩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉϥⲁⲓⲁⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⲟⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲓⲥϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲧⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲟⲩⲉⲛ ⲡⲓ⳿ϩⲙⲟⲧ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫϯ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ.
bearing fruit and growing, as it does, through all the world, just as it did among you from the very day that you heard of God’s loving kindness, and understood what that loving kindness really is.
7 ⲍ̅ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⲉⲧⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲉⲡⲁⲫⲣⲁ ⲡⲓⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϣⲫⲏⲣ ⳿ⲙⲃⲱⲕ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲛⲇⲓ⳿ⲁⲕⲱⲛ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ.
It is just what you learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who, as a minister of the Christ, faithfully represents us,
and who told us of the love with which the Spirit has inspired you.
9 ⲑ̅ ⲉⲑⲃⲉⲫⲁⲓ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲱⲛ ⲓⲥϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛⲭⲱ ⳿ⲛⲧⲟⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲛⲧⲱⲃϩ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲉⲧⲓⲛ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲙⲟϩ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲥⲟⲩⲉⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲉϩⲛⲁϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲕⲁϯ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ⲙⲡ͞ⲛⲁ̅ⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ.
And therefore we, from the very day that we heard this, have never ceased praying for you, or asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God, which comes through all true spiritual wisdom and insight.
10 ⲓ̅ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲙⲟϣⲓ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲁ ⳿ⲙⲠ⳪ ϧⲉⲛ ⲣⲁⲛⲁϥ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉⲑⲛⲁⲛⲉⲩ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁⲟⲩ⳿ⲟ ⲟⲩⲧⲁϩ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲁⲓⲁⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫϯ.
Then you will live lives worthy of the Master, and so please God in every way. Your lives will be fruitful in every kind of good action, and grow into a fuller knowledge of God;
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲉⲙϫⲟⲙ ϧⲉⲛ ϫⲟⲙ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⳿ⲡⲁⲙⲁϩⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲱⲟⲩ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛϩⲏⲧ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲣⲁϣⲓ.
you will be made strong at all points with a strength worthy of the power manifested in his glory – strong to endure with patience, and even with gladness, whatever may happen to you;
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲉⲡ⳿ϩⲙⲟⲧ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲫⲓⲱⲧ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁϥ⳿ⲑⲣⲉⲛⲉⲣ⳿ⲡⲉⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲁ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲉϧⲟⲩⲛ ⳿ⲉϯⲧⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲫⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ.
and you will give thanks to the Father who made you fit to share the lot which awaits Christ’s people in the realms of light.
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲛⲁϩⲙⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁ ⳿ⲡⲉⲣϣⲓϣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲡⲕⲁⲕⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲟⲑⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲉϧⲟⲩⲛ ⳿ⲉϯⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲡϣⲏⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ.
For God has rescued us from the tyranny of darkness, and has removed us into the kingdom of his Son, who is the embodiment of his love,
and through whom we have found deliverance in the forgiveness of our sins.
For Christ is the incarnation of the invisible God – firstborn and head of all creation;
16 ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧϥ ⲁⲩⲥⲱⲛⲧ ⳿ⲛϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲛⲏⲉⲧϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲏⲉⲧϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲕⲁϩⲓ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲉ⳿ⲛⲥⲉⲛⲁⲩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⳿ⲓⲧⲉ ⲛⲓ⳿ⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⳿ⲓⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲙⲉⲧϭ̅ ⲥ̅ ⳿ⲓⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⳿ⲓⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲁⲩϣⲱⲡⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲧϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁⲩⲥⲟⲛⲧⲟⲩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
for in him was created all that is in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible – angels and archangels and all the powers of heaven.
All has been created through him and for him. He was before all things, and all things unite in him;
18 ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲧⲁⲫⲉ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲉⲕ⳿ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲧⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ϯⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⳿ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ ⳿ⲙⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲏⲉⲑⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ.
and he is the head of the church, which is his body. The firstborn from the dead, he is to the church the source of its life, that he, in all things, may stand first.
For it pleased the Father that in him the divine nature in all its fulness should live,
20 ⲕ̅ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲧϥ ⳿ⲉϩⲱⲧⲡ ⳿ⲛϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⳿ⲉⲁϥⲁⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲥⲛⲟϥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥ ̇⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲧϥ ⳿ⲓⲧⲉ ⲛⲏⲉⲧϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲕⲁϩⲓ ⳿ⲓⲧⲉ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ.
and through him to reconcile all things to himself (making peace by the shedding of Christ’s blood offered on the cross) – whether on earth or in heaven.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϩⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϣⲉⲙⲙⲟ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛϫⲁϫⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲙⲉⲩⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⲉⲧϩⲱⲟⲩ.
And it pleased God that you, once estranged from him and hostile towards him in your thoughts, intent only on wickedness –
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϩⲉⲧⲡ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲟⲩ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁϩⲉ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲁⲧⲁϭⲛⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲁⲧⲁⲣⲓⲕⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉϥ⳿ⲙⲑⲟ.
but now he has reconciled you to himself by the sacrifice of Christ’s earthly body in death – it has pleased God that you should stand in his presence holy, pure, and blameless,
23 ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ ⲓⲥϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲟⲡ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁϫⲣⲏ ⲟⲩⲧ ⳿ⲛⲥⲉⲛϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲣ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲁⲧⲕⲓⲙ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁ ϯ ϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲟⲑⲙⲉϥ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁⲩϩⲓⲱⲓϣ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲥⲱⲛⲧ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲉⲧⲥⲁⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲧⲫⲉ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲁϥ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲇⲓ⳿ⲁⲕⲱⲛ.
if only you remain true to your faith, firm and immovable, never abandoning the hope held out in the good news to which you listened, which has been proclaimed among all created things under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made an assistant.
24 ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ϯⲣⲁϣⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓ⳿ⲙⲕⲁⲩϩ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ϯϫⲱⲕ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓϭⲣⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓϩⲟϫϩⲉϫ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧⲁⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲉ ϯⲉⲕ⳿ⲕⲗⲏ ⲥⲓⲁ ⲧⲉ.
Now at last I can rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and in my own person I supplement the afflictions endured by the Christ, for the sake of his body, the church;
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲑⲁⲓ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲉⲧⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲁⲥ ⳿ⲛⲇⲓ⳿ⲁⲕⲱⲛ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ϯⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫϯ ⲉⲧⲧⲟⲓ ⲛⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉϫⲱⲕ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫϯ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
of which I myself became a minister in virtue of the office with which God entrusted me for your benefit, to declare the message of God in all its fulness –
26 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ⲡⲓⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧϩⲏⲡ ⲓⲥϫⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲓⲅⲉⲛⲉ⳿ⲁ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁϥ. (aiōn g165)
that truth which has been hidden from former ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to God’s people, (aiōn g165)
27 ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲁ ⲫϯ ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁⲙⲱⲟⲩ ϫⲉ ⲁϣ ⲧⲉ ϯⲙⲉⲧⲣⲁⲙⲁ⳿ⲟ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲡⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲉ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ϯϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲡⲱⲟⲩ.
to whom it was his pleasure to make known the surpassing glory of that hidden truth when proclaimed among the Gentiles – “Christ among you! Your hope of glory!”
28 ⲕ̅ⲏ̅ ⲫⲁⲓ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲉⲛϩⲓⲱⲓϣ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲛ⳿ⲧⲥⲁⲃⲟ ⳿ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲛϯ⳿ⲥⲃⲱ ⳿ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁϩⲉ ⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲩϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅.
This is the Christ whom we proclaim, warning everyone, and instructing everyone, with all the wisdom that we possess, in the hope of bringing everyone into God’s presence perfected by union with Christ.
It is for that I toil, struggling with all the energy which he inspires and which works powerfully within me.
