Colossians 2:1 Cross References

Colossians 2:1

1: I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other friends who have never known me personally.

I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ's mighty power that works within me.

Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God.
I can assure you that he has agonized for you and also for the Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

We are in this fight together. You have seen me suffer for him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle.

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation:
"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other!
But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!
You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.

It said, "Write down what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."

I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am completing what remains of Christ's sufferings for his body, the church.

But oh, my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

"And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

Before Jacob was born, he struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God.
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him--

You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, even though we were surrounded by many who opposed us.

For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I am very happy because you are living as you should and because of your strong faith in Christ.

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn.
When the man saw that he couldn't win the match, he struck Jacob's hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket.
Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is dawn." But Jacob panted, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
"What is your name?" the man asked. He replied, "Jacob."
"Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won."

sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they accompanied him down to the ship.

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death. And God heard his prayers because of his reverence for God.

Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, "I have had an intense struggle with my sister, and I am winning!"

Please give my greetings to our Christian brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and those who meet in her house.
After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.

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