Greeting, Thanksgiving, and Prayer for Spiritual Strength
Colossians 1:1-14
Col.1.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αποστολος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- θεληματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Τιμοθεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αδελφος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 1:1 (verbal): Opens with the same apostolic formula—Paul identified as apostle of Christ Jesus 'by the will of God' (very close verbal correspondence).
- 2 Corinthians 1:1 (verbal): Nearly identical greeting: 'Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother' (same wording and inclusion of Timothy).
- Ephesians 1:1 (verbal): Paul again styled 'an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God'—same divine‑will language in the salutation.
- Philemon 1:1 (structural): Paul names Timothy alongside himself ('and Timothy our brother'), matching Colossians' co‑sender formula and communal apostolic partnership.
- Romans 1:1 (thematic): Affirms Paul's apostolic calling and divine commissioning—themes of apostleship and divine initiative underlie both openings (though Romans uses 'called to be an apostle' phrasing).
Alternative generated candidates
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Col.1.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- Κολοσσαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- αγιοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πιστοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- αδελφοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω·χαρις: NOUN,dat,sg,m+NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- ειρηνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- απο: PREP
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- Romans 1:7 (verbal): Paul addresses 'to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints' and uses the greeting 'grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,' echoing Colossians' saints/faithful and the grace‑peace formula.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2-3 (verbal): Address to 'those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints' followed by 'grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ'—parallels Colossians' 'saints and faithful brethren in Christ' and the same greeting.
- Ephesians 1:1-2 (structural): Similar epistolary opening: address to 'the saints' (in Ephesus) 'in Christ' and the blessing 'grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,' mirroring Colossians' structure and theology of identity in Christ.
- Philippians 1:1-2 (verbal): Paul's greeting to 'all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi' plus 'grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' closely parallels Colossians' combination of 'in Christ' language and the grace/peace benediction.
- Galatians 1:3 (verbal): Uses the concise greeting 'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,' reflecting the same Pauline benediction found in Colossians 1:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
- To the saints and faithful brothers who are in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
Col.1.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ευχαριστουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- πατρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- παντοτε: ADV
- περι: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- προσευχομενοι: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Philippians 1:3-4 (verbal): Paul opens by thanking God whenever he remembers the Philippians and says he prays for them in every petition—closely parallel wording and practice of continual thanksgiving and prayer.
- Ephesians 1:16 (verbal): Paul reports that he never stops giving thanks for the Ephesian believers, remembering them in his prayers—similar language of ongoing thanksgiving and intercession.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2 (verbal): "We always thank God for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers" mirrors Colossians 1:3's formula of continual thanksgiving and prayer for the recipients.
- Philemon 1:4 (verbal): Paul says, "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers," a very close verbal parallel in phrasing and sentiment to Colossians 1:3.
- Colossians 1:9 (structural): Immediate continuation of 1:3—where 1:3 states Paul’s ongoing thanksgiving and prayer, 1:9 specifies the content of those prayers, linking the statements structurally within the same letter.
Alternative generated candidates
- We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
- We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you,
Col.1.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ακουσαντες: PTCP,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πιστιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εχετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αγιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Ephesians 1:15 (verbal): Nearly identical wording—Paul reports having heard of the recipients' faith in the Lord Jesus and love for the saints.
- Philemon 1:5 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel: Paul commends the addressee's love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (thematic): Paul links 'work of faith' and 'labor of love' in thanksgiving for the church—similar pairing of faith and love in apostolic praise.
- Galatians 5:6 (verbal): Pairs faith and love explicitly ('faith working through love'), echoing the theological connection between the two qualities in Christian life.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 (thematic): Highlights faith and love (with hope) as abiding Christian virtues, paralleling Colossians' emphasis on the community's faith and love.
Alternative generated candidates
- for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints,
- since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.
Col.1.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- δια: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ελπιδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αποκειμενην: PART,pres,mid,acc,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- προηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αληθειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ευαγγελιου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Colossians 1:4-6 (structural): Immediate context: 1:4–6 links faith, love, and 'the hope laid up for you in heaven' with the gospel heard; 1:5 continues this thought and echoes the same phraseology and argument.
- 1 Peter 1:3-5 (verbal): Speaks of a 'living hope' and 'an inheritance... reserved in heaven for you'—language closely parallel to Col. 1:5's 'hope laid up for you in the heavens.'
- Ephesians 1:13-14 (thematic): Connects hearing the word of truth, belief in Christ, and the promised inheritance/hope (the Spirit as guarantee), paralleling Colossians' linkage of the gospel, heard word, and heavenly hope.
- Titus 1:2 (thematic): Speaks of 'the hope of eternal life' which God promised—echoes Colossians' emphasis on hope grounded in God's saving word and promise.
- Hebrews 6:17-19 (allusion): Describes God's promise and the hope set before us as a sure, steadfast anchor 'entered within the veil'—resonates with Colossians' motif of a promised/laid-up heavenly hope.
Alternative generated candidates
- because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth—the gospel,
- This is because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel,
Col.1.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- παροντος: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- καθως: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- παντι: PRON,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κοσμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- καρποφορουμενον: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ptc,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- αυξανομενον: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ptc,nom,sg,n
- καθως: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- αφ᾽ης: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- επεγνωτε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- αληθεια·: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 6:7 (verbal): Speaks of 'the word of God increasing' and the multiplication of disciples—parallels Colossians' language of the message 'bearing fruit and increasing.'
- Romans 1:8 (verbal): Paul notes the recipients' faith is 'proclaimed throughout the whole world,' echoing Colossians' claim that the message is present and active 'in all the world.'
- Ephesians 1:13 (verbal): Refers to having 'heard the word of truth' and believed—parallels Colossians' 'since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.'
- Luke 8:15 (thematic): Parable of the sower: those who hear the word with an honest heart 'bring forth fruit'—thematically similar to the gospel 'bearing fruit and increasing' after being heard.
Alternative generated candidates
- which has come to you and is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world, even as it has been doing among you since the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth.
- which has come to you — just as it is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world — and so it has been bearing fruit among you from the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
Col.1.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- καθως: CONJ
- εμαθετε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- απο: PREP
- Επαφρα: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αγαπητου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- συνδουλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- πιστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- διακονος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 4:12 (allusion): The same Epaphras is mentioned again; Colossians 4:12 expands on his role (his prayerful struggle) and identifies him as a devoted servant on behalf of the Colossians.
- Philemon 1:23 (allusion): Epaphras appears in Paul’s greeting here as a fellow worker/companion, corroborating his association with Paul and his ministry among the same recipients.
- Ephesians 6:21 (verbal): Tychicus is described with the same cluster of terms—beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord—paralleling the language used for Epaphras in Colossians 1:7.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1 (thematic): Paul’s characterization of apostles as 'servants/minister(s) of Christ' and stewards of God's mysteries echoes the vocational designation 'faithful minister of Christ' applied to Epaphras.
- Romans 16:1 (thematic): Phoebe is called a 'servant' (diakonos) of the church, illustrating the same servant/minister motif applied to those who serve Christian communities, as in Colossians 1:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
- Just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
Col.1.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- δηλωσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Romans 5:5 (thematic): Paul teaches that God’s love is poured into believers’ hearts 'through the Holy Spirit,' paralleling Colossians’ locating the believers’ love as 'in the Spirit' (both tie love to the agency of the Spirit).
- Romans 15:30 (verbal): Paul appeals 'by the love of the Spirit' (διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ πνεύματος), a close verbal parallel to Colossians’ phrase 'your love in the Spirit,' both explicitly linking love with the Spirit’s work.
- Philemon 1:5 (verbal): Paul says he has heard of Philemon’s love (and faith); like Colossians 1:8, it describes news reported to Paul about a church leader’s or community’s love (reporting/hearing of love).
- Ephesians 1:15-16 (thematic): Paul reports having heard of the Ephesians’ faith and love and gives thanks—themewise similar to Colossians 1:8, which records a report to Paul about the Colossians’ love in the Spirit.
- Galatians 5:22 (thematic): 'The fruit of the Spirit is love' links love directly to the Spirit’s fruit-bearing activity, conceptually echoing Colossians’ identification of the believers’ love as 'in the Spirit.'
Alternative generated candidates
- and who also has told us of your love in the Spirit.
- and who also has told us of your love in the Spirit.
Col.1.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- αφ᾽ης: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ηκουσαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- ου: PART,neg
- παυομεθα: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,pl
- υπερ: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- προσευχομενοι: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αιτουμενοι: VERB,part,pres,mid,nom,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- πληρωθητε: VERB,aor,pass,subj,2,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- επιγνωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεληματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- σοφια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- συνεσει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πνευματικη: ADJ,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Ephesians 1:17 (verbal): Paul's prayer for the 'Spirit of wisdom and revelation' so that believers may know God — closely parallels asking to be filled with knowledge of God's will and spiritual wisdom.
- Philippians 1:9 (verbal): Paul prays that love may abound 'in knowledge and all discernment,' echoing the desire for growth in knowing and understanding God's will.
- Colossians 1:10 (structural): Immediate continuation of Colossians 1:9 — being filled with knowledge of God's will leads to walking worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him, and bearing fruit.
- Colossians 2:2-3 (thematic): Expresses the aim that believers 'may know the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,' resonating with the emphasis on spiritual wisdom and understanding.
- Romans 12:2 (thematic): Calls for transformation by the renewal of the mind to discern God's will — thematically related to being equipped with knowledge and understanding of God's will.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this reason we too, from the day we heard it, have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- For this reason we also, from the day we heard, have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Col.1.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- περιπατησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αξιως: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- πασαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- αρεσκειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- παντι: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εργω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αγαθω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
- καρποφορουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αυξανομενοι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,part,nom,pl,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- επιγνωσει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Eph.4:1 (verbal): Uses the same verb phrase 'walk worthy' (περιπατεῖτε ἀξίως) — a closely parallel exhortation to conduct worthy of one’s calling, echoing the ethical summons in Colossians 1:10.
- Phil.1:27 (verbal): Another Pauline injunction to 'walk worthy' (περιπατεῖτε ἀξίως) — here of the gospel — linking worthy conduct with fidelity and communal witness, like Colossians’ call to pleasing works.
- Col.1:9 (structural): Immediate context: Paul’s prayer for spiritual wisdom and knowledge of God leads directly to the exhortation in 1:10—the knowledge prayed for is the basis for fruitfulness and growth.
- John 15:4-8 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching about abiding in the vine and bearing much fruit parallels Colossians’ emphasis on being 'fruitful in every good work' as the mark of a life rightly related to God.
- 2 Pet.1:5-8 (thematic): Calls for growth in virtues culminating in knowledge and effective fruitfulness; like Colossians, it ties moral/ethical progress and increasing knowledge of God to tangible spiritual fruit.
Alternative generated candidates
- so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- so that you may walk worthily of the Lord, fully pleasing him — bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God;
Col.1.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- δυναμει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- δυναμουμενοι: VERB,pres,mp,part,nom,pl,m
- κατα: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- κρατος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- πασαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- υπομονην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- μακροθυμιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μετα: PREP
- χαρας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Ephesians 3:16 (verbal): Paul prays that believers be 'strengthened with might'—language very close to Colossians' 'εν παση δυναμει δυναμουμενοι' and both formulas tie the strengthening to God's glory/power.
- Ephesians 1:19 (verbal): Speaks of 'the exceeding greatness of his power... according to the working of his mighty power,' paralleling Colossians' 'κατα το κρατος της δοξης αυτου' (according to the power of his glory).
- Philippians 4:13 (thematic): 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me' echoes the theme of divine strengthening empowering believers for endurance and service.
- Colossians 1:29 (structural): Same letter and author: Paul describes laboring 'according to his working, which worketh in me mightily,' a parallel way of expressing God’s energizing power at work in believers and ministers.
- James 1:2-4 (thematic): James links rejoicing in trials to the production of patience/endurance—this parallels Colossians' pairing of 'patience and longsuffering with joy' as the fruit associated with divine strengthening.
Alternative generated candidates
- being strengthened with all power, according to the glory of his might, for every endurance and patient perseverance with joy;
- being strengthened with all power, according to the glory of his might, for all endurance and patience, with joy;
Col.1.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ευχαριστουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πατρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ικανωσαντι: VERB,aor,act,part,dat,sg,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- μεριδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κληρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αγιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- φωτι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Ephesians 1:3-4 (thematic): Paul gives thanks to the Father who blesses believers with every spiritual blessing and chose them as saints — parallels thanksgiving and the idea of being granted a place/privilege among the holy.
- Ephesians 1:18 (verbal): Asks that the eyes of hearts be enlightened to know the hope of God's calling and the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints — connects explicitly with 'inheritance' and 'light' imagery.
- Colossians 1:13 (verbal): Same letter: God has delivered believers from the domain of darkness and transferred them into the kingdom of his Son — relates to being 'in the light' and inclusion in God's realm/inheritance.
- Romans 8:16-17 (thematic): The Spirit testifies that believers are children of God and heirs with Christ — complements the theme of being granted a share in the inheritance of the saints.
- 1 Peter 1:3-4 (thematic): God has caused believers to be born again to a living hope and an imperishable inheritance kept in heaven — parallels the concept of a divinely secured inheritance for the holy.
Alternative generated candidates
- giving thanks to the Father, who has made you worthy to share in the inheritance of the saints in light,
- giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light;
Col.1.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ερρυσατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εξουσιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- σκοτους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- μετεστησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αγαπης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 26:18 (allusion): Paul's commission language: to open eyes and turn people 'from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God' echoes Colossians' rescue from the 'domain of darkness' and transfer into the Son's kingdom.
- Ephesians 2:1-6 (thematic): Speaks of former deadness in sin and being made alive with Christ and raised and seated with him—parallels Colossians' emphasis on deliverance from darkness and transfer into Christ's reign.
- 1 Peter 2:9 (verbal): Describes believers as called 'out of darkness into his marvelous light,' a near verbal and theological parallel to being rescued from the domain of darkness and placed in Christ's kingdom.
- Ephesians 5:8 (thematic): Contrasts former darkness with present status as 'light in the Lord,' reflecting Colossians' theme of a decisive transfer from darkness into the realm of Christ.
- Colossians 1:12-14 (structural): Immediate context: vv.12–14 frame thanksgiving and describe God 'qualifying' believers, rescuing them from darkness and transferring them into the Son's kingdom—this verse is integral to the paragraph's soteriological thrust.
Alternative generated candidates
- who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
- who has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Col.1.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- απολυτρωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αφεσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αμαρτιων·: NOUN,gen,pl,f
Parallels
- Eph.1.7 (verbal): Uses the same pair of concepts—redemption and the forgiveness of sins—in Christ, closely paralleling language and theological point (redemption/forgiveness in/through him).
- Acts 13.38-39 (verbal): Explicit proclamation that through Jesus is offered forgiveness/remission of sins and justification for all who believe—echoes Colossians’ emphasis on forgiveness in Christ.
- Rom.3.24-25 (thematic): Speaks of redemption/justification through Christ/His sacrifice; connects Colossians’ claim of redemption and forgiveness to the Pauline doctrine of justification and atonement.
- 1 Pet.1.18-19 (thematic): Describes believers’ redemption/ransom and the price paid (precious blood of Christ), thematically paralleling Colossians’ affirmation that redemption and forgiveness are located in Christ.
- Col.2.13 (structural): In the same letter, Paul ties believers’ being made alive to God’s having forgiven all trespasses—an internal parallel that develops the same soteriological point as 1:14.
Alternative generated candidates
- in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy our brother,
To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying continually for you,
because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.
This is because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you formerly heard in the word of truth—the gospel—
which has come to you and is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth.
You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
and who also made known to us your love in the Spirit.
For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
being strengthened with all power, according to the glory of his might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
He has rescued you from the domain of darkness and transferred you into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom you have redemption—the forgiveness of sins.