Colossians 1:23

1:23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, ¹  without shifting ²  from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

Colossians 2:7

2:7 rooted ³  and built up in him and firm ⁴  in your ⁵  faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:1

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, ⁶  and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. ⁷ 

Colossians 2:15

2:15 Disarming ⁸  the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ⁹ 

Titus 1:13

1:13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith

Titus 2:2

2:2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, ¹⁰  sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. ¹¹ 

Titus 2:1

Conduct Consistent with Sound Teaching

2:1 But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with ¹²  sound teaching.

Titus 1:9

1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, ¹³  so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching ¹⁴  and correct those who speak against it.

¹ tn BDAG 276 s.v. ἑδραῖος suggests “firm, steadfast.”

² tn BDAG 639 s.v. μετακινέω suggests “without shifting from the hope” here.

³ tn Or “having been rooted.”

⁴ sn The three participles rooted, built up, and firm belong together and reflect three different metaphors. The first participle “rooted” (perfect tense) indicates a settled condition on the part of the Colossian believers and refers to horticulture. The second participle “built up” (present passive) comes from the world of architecture. The third participle “firm [established]” (present passive) comes from the law courts. With these three metaphors (as well as the following comment on thankfulness) Paul explains what he means when he commands them to continue to live their lives in Christ. The use of the passive probably reflects God’s activity among them. It was he who had rooted them, had been building them up, and had established them in the faith (cf. 1 Cor 3:5-15 for the use of mixed metaphors).

⁵ tn The Greek text has the article τῇ (th), not the possessive pronoun ὑμῶν (Jumwn), but the article often functions as a possessive pronoun and was translated as such here (ExSyn 215).

⁶ tn Or “I want you to know how hard I am working for you…”

⁷ tn Grk “as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.”

⁸ tn See BDAG 100 s.v. ἀπεκδύομαι 2.

⁹ tn The antecedent of the Greek pronoun αὐτῷ (autw) could either be “Christ” or the “cross.” There are several reasons for choosing “the cross” as the antecedent for αὐτῷ in verse 15: (1) The nearest antecedent is τῷ σταυρῷ (tw staurw) in v. 14; (2) the idea of ἐδειγμάτισεν ἐν παρρησία (edeigmatisen en parrhsia, “made a public disgrace”) seems to be more in keeping with the idea of the cross; (3) a reference to Christ seems to miss the irony involved in the idea of triumph – the whole point is that where one would expect defeat, there came the victory; (4) if Christ is the subject of the participles in v. 15 then almost certainly the cross is the referent for αὐτῷ. Thus the best solution is to see αὐτῷ as a reference to the cross and the preposition ἐν (en) indicating “means” (i.e., by means of the cross) or possibly (though less likely) location (on the cross).

¹⁰ tn Or “sensible.”

¹¹ sn Temperate…in endurance. See the same cluster of virtues in 1 Thess 1:3 and 1 Cor 13:13.

¹² tn Grk “say what is fitting for sound teaching” (introducing the behavior called for in this chapter.).

¹³ tn Grk “the faithful message in accordance with the teaching” (referring to apostolic teaching).

¹⁴ tn Grk “the healthy teaching” (referring to what was just mentioned).