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Colossians 4:13

in Colossians 4

For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For I bear him witness, that he hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.

KJV

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

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This verse in Colossians 4

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Colossians · Written before 1107.

"Zeal" and "great" – both words are placed together for emphasis. He praises Epaphras also to the Laodiceans and Hierapolitans, for they, having no doubt read the epistle, could hear about him.

This site's exposition

labouring fervently for you in prayers

on Colossians 4:12-13

Epaphras, the church's own founder, appears at his post: labouring fervently is agonizomenos, wrestling in prayer, the same striving word Paul used of his ministry at 1:29. The prayer's aim repeats the letter's, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Paul adds his sworn record of the man's zeal for all three Lycus towns, Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis, the whole valley on one intercessor's heart.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Colossians 12 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness, that he hath much zeal for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis." In the commencement of this Epistle also, he commended this man for his love; for even to praise is a sign of love; thus in the beginning he said "Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit." (Col. i. 8.) To pray for one is also a sign of love, and causeth love again. He commends him moreover in order to open a door to his teachings, for reverendness in the teacher is the disciples' advantage; and so again is his saying, "one of you," in order that they might pride themselves upon the man, as producing such men. And he saith, "always striving for you in prayers." He said not simply "praying," but "striving," trembling and fearing. "For I bear him witness," he saith, "that he hath much zeal for you." A trustworthy witness. "That he hath," he saith, "much zeal for you," that is, that he loveth you exceedingly; and burneth with passionate affection for you. "And them in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis." He commendeth him to those also. But whence were they to know this? They would assuredly have heard; however, they would also learn it when the Epistle was read. For he said, "Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans." "That ye may stand perfect," he saith. At once he both accuseth them, and without offensiveness gives them advice and counsel. For it is possible both to be perfect, and withal not to stand, as if one were to know all, and still be wavering; it is possible also not to be perfect, and yet to stand, as if one were to know a part, and stand [not ] firmly. But this man prayeth for both: "That ye may stand perfect," he saith. […]

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. The apostle proceeds with the duty of masters to their servants, which might have been joined to the foregoing chapter, and is a part of that discourse. Justice is required of them: Give unto your servants that which is just and equal (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

For I bear him record,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

For I bear him record - Paul had had abundant opportunity to know what were his feelings in regard to these churches. A great zeal for you - A great desire to promote your welfare. And them that are in Laodicea - Laodicea was the capital of Phrygia, and not far from Colossae, There was a church there. See the Introduction, and the notes at Col 4:16. And them in Hierapolis - This was also a city in Phrygia, and not far from Laodicea and Colossae.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

a great zeal--The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate have "much labor." for you--lest you should be seduced (Col 2:4); a motive why you should be anxious for yourselves. them that are in Laodicea . . . Hierapolis--churches probably founded by Epaphras, as the Church in Colosse was.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

He hath a great zeal for you - Instead of ζηλον πολυν, much zeal, ABCD**, several others, with versions and fathers, read πολυν πονον, much labor; they are here nearly of the same meaning, though the latter appears to be the better and genuine reading. Laodicea, and - Hierapolis - These were both cities of Phrygia, between which Colosse, or the city of Colassa, was situated. See Col 2:1. The latter was called Hierapolis, or the holy city, from the multitude of its temples. Apollo, Diana, Esculapius, and Hygeia, were all worshipped here, as appears by the coins of this city still extant.

The words behind it

17 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Colossians 2:1For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,4 worksGalatians 4:15What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.3 worksRomans 10:2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.3 worksColossians 4:15–16Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.2 works2 Corinthians 8:3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,2 worksRevelation 1:11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
Revelation 3:14–18To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Romans 10:2

    For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.

    it leads to

    • Acts 21:20

      When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.

    • Romans 9:31–32

      but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.

    • Proverbs 19:2

      Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.

    • Philippians 3:6

      as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

    • Philippians 1:9

      And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

  • Through

    Colossians 2:1

    For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,

    it leads to

    • Colossians 1:29

      To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 8:3

    For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

    it leads to

    • Exodus 35:29

      So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

    • Exodus 35:5

      Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;

Where this verse is studied

About Colossians

The Word Made Flesh, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Word Made Flesh, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Colossians: the study guide →Read Colossians 4 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 12; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians.

Read on in Colossians 4 →