NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
15 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
15 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God's master plan. Together with my friend Timothy,
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
15 words
ESV
15 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:1 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
Which translation of Colossians 1:1 is best?
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.