Colossians 1:9

Paul’s Prayer for the Growth of the Church

1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, ¹  have not ceased praying for you and asking God ²  to fill ³  you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Colossians 2:1

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, ⁴  and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. ⁵ 

Colossians 2:5

2:5 For though ⁶  I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see ⁷  your morale ⁸  and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Colossians 4:16

4:16 And after ⁹  you have read this letter, have it read ¹⁰  to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea ¹¹  as well.

[1:9]  ¹ tn Or “heard about it”; Grk “heard.” There is no direct object stated in the Greek (direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context). A direct object is expected by an English reader, however, so most translations supply one. Here, however, it is not entirely clear what the author “heard”: a number of translations supply “it” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV; NAB “this”), but this could refer back either to (1) “your love in the Spirit” at the end of v. 8, or (2) “your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints” (v. 4). In light of this uncertainty, other translations supply “about you” (TEV, NIV, CEV, NLT). This is preferred by the present translation since, while it does not resolve the ambiguity entirely, it does make it less easy for the English reader to limit the reference only to “your love in the Spirit” at the end of v. 8.

[1:9]  ² tn The term “God” does not appear in the Greek text, but the following reference to “the knowledge of his will” makes it clear that “God” is in view as the object of the “praying and asking,” and should therefore be included in the English translation for clarity.

[1:9]  ³ tn The ἵνα (Jina) clause has been translated as substantival, indicating the content of the prayer and asking. The idea of purpose may also be present in this clause.

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Or “I want you to know how hard I am working for you…”

[2:1]  ⁵ tn Grk “as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.”

[2:5]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ tn Grk “rejoicing and seeing.”

[2:5]  ⁹ tn The Greek word τάξις can mean “order,” “discipline,” or even “unbroken ranks” (REB).

[4:16]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “when.”

[4:16]  ¹¹ tn The construction beginning with the imperative ποιήσατε ἵνα…ἀναγνωσθῇ (poihsate Jina…anagnwsqh) should be translated as “have it read” where the conjunction ἵνα functions to mark off its clause as the direct object of the imperative ποιήσατε. The content of the clause (“reading the letter”) is what Paul commands with the imperative ποιήσατε. Thus the translation “have it read” has been used here.

[4:16]  ¹² sn This letter is otherwise unknown, but some have suggested that it is the letter known today as Ephesians.