Colossians 2:1
New International Version
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.

New Living Translation
I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.

English Standard Version
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

Berean Standard Bible
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,

Berean Literal Bible
For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

King James Bible
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;

New King James Version
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

New American Standard Bible
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

NASB 1995
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

NASB 1977
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

Legacy Standard Bible
For I want you to understand how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not seen my face in the flesh,

Amplified Bible
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face.

Christian Standard Bible
For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

American Standard Version
For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But I want you to know what struggles I have for you and for those in Laidiqia and for those others who have not seen my face in the flesh,

Contemporary English Version
I want you to know what a struggle I am going through for you, for God's people at Laodicea, and for all of those followers who have never met me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I would have you know, what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh:

English Revised Version
For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I want you to know how hard I work for you, for the people of Laodicea, and for people I have never met.

Good News Translation
Let me tell you how hard I have worked for you and for the people in Laodicea and for all others who do not know me personally.

International Standard Version
For I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen me face to face.

Literal Standard Version
For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

Majority Standard Bible
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,

New American Bible
For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face,

NET Bible
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.

New Revised Standard Version
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.

New Heart English Bible
For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Webster's Bible Translation
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;

Weymouth New Testament
For I would have you know in how severe a struggle I am engaged on behalf of you and the brethren in Laodicea and of all who have not known me personally,

World English Bible
For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Young's Literal Translation
For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Absent in Body, Present in Spirit
1For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face, 2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,…

Cross References
Philippians 1:30
since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Colossians 1:29
To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.

Colossians 4:13
For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Colossians 4:15
Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.

Colossians 4:16
After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

Revelation 1:11
saying, "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."


Treasury of Scripture

For I would that you 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;

what.

Colossians 1:24,29
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: …

Colossians 4:12
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.

Genesis 30:8
And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

conflict.

Colossians 4:13,15,16
For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis…

Revelation 1:11
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Revelation 3:14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; …

not.

Colossians 2:5
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Acts 20:25,38
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more…

1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

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Behalf Combat Conflict Desire Engaged Face Fight Flesh Great Greatly Laodicea Met Personally Severe Strive Struggle Want Wish
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Behalf Combat Conflict Desire Engaged Face Fight Flesh Great Greatly Laodicea Met Personally Severe Strive Struggle Want Wish
Colossians 2
1. Paul still exhorts them to be constant in Christ;
8. to beware of philosophy, and vain traditions;
18. worshipping of angels;
20. and legal ceremonies, which are ended in Christ.














(1-7) In these verses St. Paul declares his deep anxiety for the Colossians and Laodiceans and others who had not seen his face, that they might seek, not the false, but the true knowledge, finding "the mystery of God" in Christ alone. The reason of that anxiety is found in the "beguiling and enticing words" of an incipient Gnosticism. But "though absent in the body" he rejoices in the steadfastness of their faith, and only exhorts them to continue in it, deepening and enlarging it, but never changing its essence.

(1) What great conflict.--The word is here repeated from the "striving" of the previous verse, which is, in the original, the cognate verb. It is the same word which is used in Philippians 1:30 ("conflict"), in 1Thessalonians 2:2 ("contention"), in 1Timothy 6:12, 2Timothy 4:7 ("the good fight of faith"). Evidently it describes the intense earnestness of the whole struggle against evil which he was undergoing for them; but perhaps, looking at Colossians 4:12, we may refer it especially to "striving in prayer" for them. It is probably dwelt upon here to show why, although unknown to them personally, he yet writes so urgently to them. . . .

Verses 1-7. - SECTION IV. THE APOSTLE'S CONCERN FOR THE COLOSSI. AN CHURCH. So far the contents of the letter have been of a general and preparatory character. New the writer begins to indicate the special purpose he has in view by declaring, in connection with his concern for the welfare of the Gentile Churches at large (Colossians 1:24-29), the deep anxiety which he at present feels respecting the Colossian and neighbouring Churches. Verse 1. - For I would have you know how great a strife I have on behalf of you and those in Laodicea (Colossians 4:12, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:28, 29; Romans 1:9-13; Philippians 1:8, 25-30; 1 Thessalonians 2:17, 18; Galatians 4:20). The apostle has dwelt at such length and so earnestly upon his own position and responsibilities (Colossians 1:24-29), that the Colossians may feel how real and strong is his interest in their welfare, though personally strangers to him (see next clause). His solicitude for them is in keeping with the toil and strife of his whole ministry. "I would have you know;" a familiar Pauline phrase (1 Corinthians 11:3; Philippians 1:12; Romans 1:13, etc.). Ηλίκον ("how great') has, perhaps, a slightly exclamatory force, as in James 3:5 (only other instance of the word in the New Testament), and in classical Greek. For "strife," see note on "striving" (Colossians 1:29): the energy and abruptness of language characterizing this second chapter bear witness in the inward wrestling which the Colossian difficulty occasioned in the apostle's mind. (On the close connection of Colossae with Laodicea, comp. Colossians 4:13-17, notes; also Introduction, § 1.) The danger which had come to a head in Colassae was doubtless threatening its neighbours. The words, and as many as have not seen my face in (the) flesh (ver. 5; Colossians 1:8; Romans 1:11; Galatians 1:22; Acts 20:25), raise the question whether St. Paul had ever visited Colossae. The language of Colossians 1:7 (see note) raises a strong presumption against his being the founder of this Church, and the narrative of the Acts scarcely admits of any visit to this region in former missionary journeys. Theodoret amongst the Greeks, followed by our own Lardner and a few recent critics, contended that the apostle distinguishes here between Colossians and Laodiceans (or at least the former), and those who had not seen His face. But the disjunction is grammatically harsh and improbable (see Ellicott). (On the general question, see Introduction, § 2.) The apostle is the more anxious for this endangered Church, as the gifts that his presence might have conveyed (Romans 1:11) were wanting to them. He says, "in flesh," for "in spirit" he is closely united with them (ver. 5; Colossians 1:8: comp. 1 Corinthians 5:3, 4). The object of his strife on their behalf is -

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I want
Θέλω (Thelō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

to know
εἰδέναι (eidenai)
Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

how much
ἡλίκον (hēlikon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2245: Of which size, of what size, how small, how much. From helix; as big as, i.e. how much.

I am struggling
ἔχω (echō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

for
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[for] those
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

at
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Laodicea,
Λαοδικείᾳ (Laodikeia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2993: From a compound of laos and dike; Laodicia, a place in Asia Minor.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

for all who
ὅσοι (hosoi)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3745: How much, how great, how many, as great as, as much. By reduplication from hos; as As.

have not met
ἑόρακαν (heorakan)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

me
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

face to face,
πρόσωπόν (prosōpon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4383: From pros and ops; the front, i.e. The countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person.


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NT Letters: Colossians 2:1 For I desire to have you know (Coloss. Col Co)
Colossians 1:29
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