Colossians 1:25

Contemporary English Version

God's plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

King James Version (1611)
Whereof I am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is giuen to mee for you, to fulfill the word of God:

King James Version
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

English Standard Version
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

New American Standard Bible
I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

New Century Version
I became a servant of the church because God gave me a special work to do that helps you, and that work is to tell fully the message of God.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

Legacy Standard Bible
of which I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God given to me for you, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

Berean Standard Bible
I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,

Complete Jewish Bible
I became a servant of the Good News because God gave me this work to do for your benefit. The work is to make fully known the message from God,

Darby Translation
of which *I* became minister, according to the dispensation of God which [is] given me towards you to complete the word of God,

Easy-to-Read Version
I became a servant of the church because God gave me a special work to do. This work helps you. My work is to tell the complete message of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Whereof I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is giuen mee vnto you ward, to fulfill the word of God,

George Lamsa Translation
For which I became a minister, according to the dispensation of God which has been given to me for you, fully to preach the word of God everywhere;

Good News Translation
And I have been made a servant of the church by God, who gave me this task to perform for your good. It is the task of fully proclaiming his message,

Lexham English Bible
of which I became a minister, according to God's stewardship which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God,

Literal Translation
of which I became a minister, according to the administration of God given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God,

Amplified Bible
In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]—

American Standard Version
whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,

Bible in Basic English
Of which I became a servant by the purpose of God which was given to me for you, to give effect to the word of God,

Hebrew Names Version
of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,

International Standard Version
I became its servantminister">[fn] according to God's commission that was given to me for you, so that I might fulfill the ministry ofthe ministry of">[fn] the word of God.1 Corinthians 9:17; Galatians 2:7; Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 3:23;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
which is the church; of which I am made a minister according to the dispensation of Aloha, which was given to me for you, to accomplish the word of Aloha;

Murdock Translation
of which I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me among you, that I should fulfill the word of God,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherof I am made a minister, accordyng to the dispensation of God, which is geuen to me to youwarde, to fulfyll the worde of God:

English Revised Version
whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfill the word of God,

World English Bible
of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Of which I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given me for you, fully to preach the word of God:

Weymouth's New Testament
I have been appointed to serve the Church in the position of responsibility entrusted to me by God for your benefit, so that I may fully deliver God's Message--

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Of which Y Poul am maad mynystre bi the dispensacioun of God, that is youun to me in you,

Update Bible Version
whereof I was made a servant, according to the dispensation of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,

Webster's Bible Translation
Of which I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

New English Translation
I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God—given to me for you—in order to complete the word of God,

New King James Version
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

New Living Translation
God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.

New Life Bible
I became a preacher in His church for your good. In the plan of God I am to preach the Good News.

New Revised Standard
I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Of which, I, have become minister - according to the administration of God which hath been given unto me to you-ward, to fill up the word of God,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given me towards you, that I may fulfil the word of God:

Revised Standard Version
of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
wher of I am made a minister acordynge to the ordinaunce of god which ordinaunce was geven me vnto you warde to fulfill ye worde of god

Young's Literal Translation
of which I -- I did become a ministrant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
wherof I am made a mynister, acordinge to ye Godly office of preachinge, which is geuen vnto me amonge you, that I shulde richely preach the worde of God,

Mace New Testament (1729)
of which I have been established a minister, according to the charge which God has given me to preach his gospel faithfully among you. ---

Simplified Cowboy Version
God has given me the job and the responsibility of giving y'all the truth—the entire truth that has been hidden.

Contextual Overview

¹² I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who forgives our sins and sets us free. ¹⁵ Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation. ¹⁶ Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him. ¹⁷ God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together. ¹⁸ He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others. ¹⁹ God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. ²⁰ And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. ²¹ You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I am: Colossians 1:23, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Timothy 4:6

according: Romans 15:15-18, 1 Corinthians 9:17, Galatians 2:7, Galatians 2:8, Ephesians 3:2

to fulfil: or, fully to preach, Romans 15:19, 2 Timothy 4:2-5

Reciprocal: Matthew 13:35 - I will utter Luke 7:28 - but Acts 9:15 - to bear Acts 14:26 - the work Acts 26:16 - a minister Romans 1:1 - called 1 Corinthians 4:1 - the ministers 2 Corinthians 3:6 - hath Galatians 1:16 - that 1 Timothy 1:11 - which 1 Timothy 1:12 - putting 2 Timothy 4:5 - make full proof of

Cross-References

Genesis 1:8
and named it "Sky." Evening came and then morning—that was the second day.

Genesis 1:10
God named the dry ground "Land," and he named the water "Ocean." God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:19
Evening came and then morning—that was the fourth day.

Genesis 1:20

The Fifth Day

God said, "I command the ocean to be full of living creatures, and I command birds to fly above the earth."

Job 26:13
The heavens became bright when he breathed, and the escaping sea monster died at the hands of God.

Jeremiah 27:5
and with my power I created the earth, its people, and all animals. I decide who will rule the earth,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Whereof I am made a minister,.... Not of Christ, or of the Gospel as before, though both were true; but of the churches for whose sake he endured afflictions; and which carries in it a reason of his suffering for them: he was not a saviour of the body, nor a redeemer of the church, nor Lord of it; but a minister, a servant of it, that ministered to it in holy things, in the word and ordinances; not a deacon, as the word, sometimes signifies, nor an ordinary minister, or a pastor of a particular church; but a minister of the church in general, being an apostle sent to preach the Gospel everywhere: he was made a minister of it, not by men, or anything he received from men; nor by himself, not by usurpation, he did not thrust himself into this office, or take it upon him of himself; but was put into it by Christ, who counted him faithful, he appeared to him, and made him a minister, qualified him for this office, called him to it, and sent him to perform it: and which he executed

according to the dispensation of God: or divine economy, which denotes such an authority and administration as is used in a family. The church is God's family, it is called the house and household of God, and the household of faith, part of which is in heaven and part on earth; God is the householder or master of the family; Christ is the Son over his own house; ministers are stewards in it, and their work is to give to everyone their portion of meat in due season; their authority from God to do so, and the exercise of it, are the economy or dispensation of the Gospel committed to them: this is of God and not man, for none but God can give them a power to dispense it, and which is purely of his grace, called therefore the dispensation of the grace of God, Ephesians 3:2; and here said to be given,

which is given to me for you; not according to any merits of his, who was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an injurious person to Christ and his Gospel; but according to the pure grace of God, and that not for himself, but for the good of others, for the Gentiles especially, and so for the Colossians:

to fulfil the word of God; either the promises and prophecies contained in the word of God, respecting the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and their conversion by it; which had in a great measure their accomplishment through the ministry of the apostle: or to fill all places with the word of God and Gospel of Christ, as the apostle did from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum, diffusing the savour of the knowledge of Christ in every place; and sinners being converted, churches were planted and daily filled with such as should be saved; or to preach fully and faithfully the Gospel, keeping back nothing that was profitable, but declaring the whole counsel of God, continuing faithful to it to the end, as he did: to fill up or fulfil words is an Hebraism, and signifies to confirm them, or act according to them; see 1 Kings 1:14 and the Septuagint there.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

According to the dispensation of God - The arrangement which God has made. That is, he designed that the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and, in accordance with that arrangement, he has called me to be a minister. Notes, Ephesians 3:2.

To fulfil the word of God - Margin, “fully to preach.” The Greek is, “to fill up the word of God;” the meaning is, “fully to teach and promulgate the gospel;” compare the notes at Romans 15:19.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. Whereof I am made a minister — Having received especial commission from God to preach salvation to the Gentiles.

According to the dispensation — κατα την οικονομιαν. According to the Gospel economy or institution; the scheme or plan of salvation by Christ crucified.

To fulfil the word of God — The Greek πληρωσαι τον λογον του Θεου may be translated, fully to preach the doctrine of God. See Romans 15:19, and the note there. Were we to take the word in its common meaning, it might signify to accomplish the purpose of God, as predicted by the prophets.