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Verse

Colossians 1:6

ESV which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing — as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,
NIV that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
NASB which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth;
CSB that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.
NLT This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
KJV Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
NKJV which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

What does Colossians 1:6 mean?

Paul notes that the gospel has already come to this community. Paul is not writing to unbelievers, but to an existing church. Verse 7 will state that Epaphras was the person responsible for the growth of Christianity in this city. In addition to those in Colossae, the gospel was reaching many other regions at this time. From Paul's perspective, the specific "world" he had in mind was likely modern-day Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, all of which were experiencing Christian growth by this time. Paul primarily served as a missionary in the Middle East and Europe, writing to the Colossian believers while under house arrest in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.

The gospel was growing among the people of Colossae, and had been ever since it was first accepted by people of the city. The "day" is likely a general reference meaning "since the time." This implies a prompt and positive response to the gospel under the leadership of Epaphras. Both grace and truth are presented together, a theme presented elsewhere by John (John 1:14, 17).
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