What Does Colossians 2:1 Mean in the King James?
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;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The struggle described here is carried for you, not waged against you.
THE MEANING
You can be held within care that works on your behalf even when its bearer is beyond your sight. This verse names that care as a great struggle for you, reaching across the distance of an unseen face.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that care cannot reach you unless you have seen the caring face: unseen presence can still bear real effort on your behalf.
THE ROOT
ἀγῶνα
agōna
GROWS FROM
ἀγων-
agōn-
A contest or struggle.
“conflict” in this verse is agōna. The Greek word ἀγών (agōn, “contest” or “struggle”) names effort engaged for a purpose. The phrase “for you” shows its direction: this struggle is borne on your behalf, not against you.
ALSO GROWS
agōnizomai: To struggle or contend toward an aim.
ἀγωνίζομαι
This verb shares the same stem and appears where the struggle takes the form of prayer or disciplined effort.
agōnia: Intense struggle or distress.
ἀγωνία
This branch shows that the word family can hold the inward weight of struggle, not only an outward contest.
THE PATTERN
The struggle-root names effort directed toward another’s good or toward a purpose that requires endurance.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.THE THREAD
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.The same struggle-root returns as “labouring fervently,” now made visible as prayer carried for you. It opens the word “conflict” further: the effort described here seeks your wholeness.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us