English Standard Version
Colossians 2:1
1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,
Colossians 2:1 in other versions
- King James Version (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;
- New International Version (NIV)I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
- New Living Translation (NLT)I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.
Context of Colossians 2:1
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Read all of Colossians 2Colossians 2:1 word by word
Θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καὶ ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐν σαρκί,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- I wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- thatεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- what greatἡλίκοςhēlikos · how great?G2245
- conflictἀγώνagōn · fightG73
- I haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- forπερίperi · aboutG4012
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- themὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- atἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- LaodiceaΛαοδίκειαLaodikeia · LaodiceaG2993
- as many asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
- haveὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- notοὐou · noG3756
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
- the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
Cross-references for Colossians 2:1
- Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
- Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
- Genesis 30:8Then Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed." So she called his name Naphtali.
- Genesis 32:24And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
- Hosea 12:3In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God.
- Luke 22:44And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
- Galatians 4:19my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
- Philippians 1:30engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
- Hebrews 5:7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
- Colossians 4:13For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
- Revelation 1:11saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
- Revelation 3:14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
- Colossians 2:5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
- Acts 20:25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
- 1 Peter 1:8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
Commentaries on Colossians 2:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1What great conflict - The word , which we here render conflict, is to be understood as implying earnest care and solicitude, accompanied, undoubtedly, with the most fervent application to the throne of grace in their behalf. The of the preceding verse gave the apostle occasion to use the word here. He agonized with God, and his agony was for them. Laodicea - A city of Asia Minor, on the borders of Caria, Phrygia, and Lydia. It was originally called…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1For 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” - ̓͂ agōnaIt is not, however, the word rendered “agony” in Luke 22:44 - ̓́ agōnia- though that is derived from this. The word is rendered conflict in Philemon 1:30; contention, 1 Thessalonians 2:2; fight, 1…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle expresses his love to, and joy in believers. (1-7) He cautions against the errors of heathen philosophy; also against Jewish traditions, and rites which had been fulfilled in Christ. (8-17) Against worshipping angels; and against legal ordinances. (18-23) Verses 1-7 The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. When we not only believe with the heart, but are ready, when called, to make confession with the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5Paul wants to build a stronger relationship with the Colossians, even though he has not met them. He also aims to correct false teachings that threaten their Christian community. Laodicea was 10 miles northwest of Colossae.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-231. For--He explains in what respect he "labored striving" (Col 1:29). 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). This danger was probably…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 2:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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