(Colossians) Small Man to the Sacred Family in Village of Giants 1

GREETINGS

1From Small Man (Paul), chosen by the Great Spirit to be a message bearer for Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, and from He Gives Honor (Timothy).

2To the Great Spirit’s holy people and sacred family members#1:2 Lit. brothers who live in Village of Giants (Colossae) and have been faithful to walk the path of the Chosen One. We greet you with the great kindness and peace that comes from our Father, the Great Spirit.

GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER

3When we send up prayers for you, we always give thanks to the Father of our Honored Chief, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. 4We thank him for the good words we have heard about your trust in Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One and your deep love for all his holy family members. 5This love and trust come from the hope you have in Creator’s promises kept safe for you in the spirit-world above. It is the same hope you heard about when you were told the words of truth found in Creator’s good story.

GOOD FRUIT COMES FROM THE GOOD STORY

6The seeds of this good story have been planted throughout the whole world, and now the message is growing and bearing good fruit. In the same way, it took root and began to grow in you, when you first heard and understood the truth about the gift of Creator’s great kindness.

7Walks in Beauty (Epaphras) was the seed planter who first taught you these things. He is a faithful servant of the Chosen One, for your sakes, and also a much-loved helper who walks beside us on the road of life. 8He is the one who told us about the love of the Spirit that is in you.

SENDING UP PRAYERS

9Ever since we heard about you, we have never stopped praying for you. When we send our voices to the Great Spirit, we ask that he will fill your heart and mind with the knowledge you need to walk in his ways with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10That you will walk in a manner that is worthy of our Honored Chief, making his heart glad and bearing good fruit as you walk the path he has chosen for you. In this way, you will grow wise in your understanding of our Great Creator.

11-12We pray that you will grow strong with the strength that comes from the honor and shining-greatness of his power. Then you will be able to stand firm in a calm and unhurried manner, as you give thanks with glad hearts to the Great Spirit who is our Father from above. For he is the one who has made you ready to take your place on this road of life, a place he prepared for you among all the holy ones who walk in his light.

SET FREE BY THE SON

13The Giver of Life has set us free from the dark ruler of this world. He has brought us safely onto his good road to walk it together with Creator’s much-loved Son. 14He is the one who paid a great price to release us from our bad hearts and broken ways.

15He is the visible representation of our invisible Creator. All that the Father has belongs to this Son. He existed before creation and is above all created things. 16For it was in him that all things in the spirit-world above and on the earth below were created, all things seen and unseen. Yes, even governments, rulers, powers, and authorities were all created by him and for him.

HE GIVES ALL THINGS THEIR FULL MEANING

17He is the one who is in first place and the head of all things. It is in him that all things come together and find their full meaning and purpose. 18He is also the head of his body on earth, the sacred family. He is in first place before all other things, the first#1:18 Lit. firstborn to rise to life from among those who have died. In this way, he remains chief in all things.

19It made our Great Father’s heart glad to have all that he is living in his Son. 20Through his Son he brought together everything in the spirit-world above and on the earth below into harmony with himself, making peace through his lifeblood poured out on the cross.

OUTSIDERS BECOME INSIDERS

21At one time you were outsiders, separated from Creator by your hostile thoughts that led to evil ways. 22But now in the physical body of the Chosen One, through his death, he has turned you from an enemy into a friend. He did this so that you can stand without shame before the Great Spirit as a people who have been made holy, washed clean from guilt and free from all accusation.

23Yes, all this is yours as you make your path straight on the road that leads to this hope, trusting in the good story that you have heard. This is the same story that is being told to all in creation who live under the spirit-world above. And I, Small Man (Paul), have dedicated my life to serve this good story.

SUFFERING WITH THE CHOSEN ONE

24Even though I have been suffering for you, it makes my heart glad. There are still many things that the Chosen One must suffer through his sacred family in his body on earth.

My suffering, in my human body,#1:24 Lit. flesh is my part in bringing full meaning and purpose to these remaining afflictions. This I gladly do for the sake of the sacred family, the body of the Chosen One.

A GREAT MYSTERY REVEALED

25The Great Spirit has given me the solemn task of serving his sacred family, the family you are now part of, by teaching you the full meaning and purpose of Creator’s message. 26This message is a mystery that was hidden for many ages and generations but now has been made clear to his holy ones.

27Creator also did this to show the Outside Nations the mystery of the beauty and honor he has bestowed on them. This mystery is that Chosen One also lives in you, the Outside Nations. For the Chosen One in you is the hope of this beauty and honor.

28Yes, he is the one we tell others about, teaching and instructing them with wise counsel, so that they may stand tall as mature human beings, like the Chosen One. 29I give all I am to this task, drawing my strength from the Great Spirit who works so powerfully in me.

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