Paul’s Suffering and the Mystery of Christ for the Church
Colossians 1:24-2:5
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Chapter 1
24Now I rejoice in the sufferings for you, and I fill up the deficiencies of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the church,25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship of God given to me for you to fulfill the word of God,26the mystery, which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations—but now it has been revealed to his holy ones,27to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the nations is, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.28whom we proclaim, admonishing every human and teaching every human in all wisdom, that we may present every human perfect in Christ.29for which I also toil, struggling according to his working, which is being worked in me in power.
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Chapter 2
1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and those in Laodicea and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,2that their hearts may be encouraged, being united in love and into all the riches of the fullness of understanding, into knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4I say this so that no one may beguile you with persuasive speech.5For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet in the Spirit I am with you, rejoicing and seeing your order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.