Chapter
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Verse

Colossians 1:28

ESV Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
NIV He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
NASB We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ.
CSB We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
NLT So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
KJV Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
NKJV Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

What does Colossians 1:28 mean?

In this verse, Paul notes four ways he communicates Christ. First, the idea of proclaiming involved communicating to a large audience, similar to an announcement made to a city or village.

Second, Paul notes he communicated Christ through "warning." This word in Greek is nouthetountes, which can also be translated "counseling." This refers to the use of the gospel and biblical teaching to help people with problem areas in life. Third, Paul communicated through teaching or instruction, offering information to help others know the gospel and understand a Christian worldview.

Fourth, Paul was not content with only converting people to Christ; he also desired maturity. Ephesians 4:12–14 notes a goal of church leaders is to "equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."
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