Colossians 1:3-8

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints,

because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

which has come to you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.