Colossians 1:4

1:4 since ¹  we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

Colossians 2:5

2:5 For though ²  I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see ³  your morale ⁴  and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

[1:4]  ¹ tn The adverbial participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") is understood to be temporal and translated with “since.” A causal idea may also be in the apostle’s mind, but the context emphasizes temporal ideas, e.g., “from the day” (v. 6).

[2:5]  ² tn The conditional particle εἰ (ei) together with καί (kai) here indicates a first class condition in Greek and carries a concessive force, especially when seen in contrast to the following phrase which begins with ἀλλά (alla).

[2:5]  ³ tn Grk “rejoicing and seeing.”

[2:5]  ⁴ tn The Greek word τάξις can mean “order,” “discipline,” or even “unbroken ranks” (REB).