NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:25 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; <sup>to fulfil: or, fully to preach the word</sup>
33 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Of [this church] I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the [preaching of] the word of God,
34 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
33 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
34 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:25?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:25 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 1:25 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.