Colossians 2:1 BSB — MannaFest

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,

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

KJV

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

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Commentary

3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

For I would that ye knew - I wish you knew or fully understood. He supposes that this would deeply affect them if they understood the solicitude which he had had on their account. What great conflict - Margin, fear, or care. The Greek word is “agony” - ἀγῶνα agōna. It is not, however, the word rendered “agony” in Luk 22:44 - ἀγωνία agōnia - though that is derived from this. The word is rendered conflict in Php 1:30; contention, 1Th 2:2; fight, 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 4:7; and race, Heb 12:

The record, by era

The Reformation1 voice

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

I do not find fault with the rendering of Erasmus -- anxiety; but, at the same time, the force of the Greek word is to be noticed, for agon is made use of to denote contention.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Translate as Greek, "I wish you to know how great a conflict (the same Greek word as in Col 1:29, "agony of a conflict" of fervent, anxious prayer; not conflict with the false teachers, which would have been impossible for him now in prison) I have for you." them at Laodicea--exposed to the same danger from false teachers as the Colossians (compare Col 4:16).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

22 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Θέλω	Thelō	I want	G2309 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὑμᾶς	humas	you	G4771 →
εἰδέναι	eidenai	to know
ἡλίκον	hēlikon	how great	G2245 →
ἀγῶνα	agōna	a struggle	G73 →
ἔχω	echō	I am having	G2192 →
ὑπὲρ	huper	for	G5228 →
ὑμῶν	humōn	you	G4771 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
τῶν	tōn	those	G3588 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
Λαοδικείᾳ	Laodikeia	Laodicea	G2993 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ὅσοι	hosoi	as many as	G3745 →
οὐχ	ouch	not	G3756 →
ἑόρακαν	he'orakan	have seen	G3708 →
τὸ	to	the	G3588 →
πρόσωπόν	prosōpon	face	G4383 →
μου	mou	of me	G3165 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
σαρκί,	sarki	[the] flesh,	G4561 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Colossians 1:29
To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of…
- Ephesians 1:19
  and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
- 1 Corinthians 9:25–27
  Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
- Ephesians 3:7
  I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
- Philippians 2:13
  For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
Through
Philippians 1:30
since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2
  As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of…
- Acts 16:19–40
  When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
- 2 Timothy 4:7
  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Featured studies on this passage

On Colossians 2:1

The Seven Churches of Revelation

Asia Minor, late 1st century. Seven cities along a clockwise postal route — Ephesus to Laodicea — each receiving a letter from the risen Christ. Praises, rebukes, promises. A Matt-13 parallel reading discoverable for those who want it.

Open the study →