Colossians

[John Reece]

John,
I appreciate your work here, and am following it.
Would you think it disruptive to answer a few questions along the way, interpersed with your sholarly work?
CP

On the contrary (to being "disruptive"), I welcome your questions along the way.

[Cow Poke]

On the contrary (to being "disruptive"), I welcome your questions along the way.

Good -- I'm doing an overview of the GEPC epistles on Wednesday Nights.
(I had an old Sunday School Teacher many many years ago who taught me "General Electric Power Company" to remember "Gal, Eph, Phil, Col)

Anyway, this week will be an overview of the book of Ephesians. Central, of course, would be Salvation by grace through faith. How else would you characterize on the "50,000 foot altitude" level, the book of Ephesians.

How would you, personally, distinguish it from the other three epistles I mentioned?

[John Reece]

Good -- I'm doing an overview of the GEPC epistles on Wednesday Nights.
(I had an old Sunday School Teacher many many years ago who taught me "General Electric Power Company" to remember "Gal, Eph, Phil, Col)

Anyway, this week will be an overview of the book of Ephesians. Central, of course, would be Salvation by grace through faith. How else would you characterize on the "50,000 foot altitude" level, the book of Ephesians.

How would you, personally, distinguish it from the other three epistles I mentioned?

Wow.

I thought you were proposing questions re the text of Colossians (the subject of this thread).

I don't have sufficient energy to deal with 'characterizations on the "50,000 foot altitude" level of the book of Ephesians.'

I have plenty of thoughts about the book of Ephesians (my favorite book in the Bible ― whenever as a pastor I began serving a new-to-me parish, I started out preaching my way through Ephesians).

However, in terms of age & health, I'm past the point of being able to process into words/posts all that's in my heart and mind on the subject of Ephesians; I can only handle small bits of text at a time.

Besides, I'd run the risk of being banned from TWeb if I were to start down that track, given the way my "50,000 foot altitude" level of understanding of the book of Ephesians relates to my perspective with regard to the relationship between eschatology and teleology in the Bible.

[Cow Poke]

Wow.

I thought you were proposing questions re the text of Colossians (the subject of this thread).

I don't have sufficient energy to deal with 'characterizations on the "50,000 foot altitude" level of the book of Ephesians.'

I have plenty of thoughts about the book of Ephesians (my favorite book in the Bible ― whenever as a pastor I began serving a new-to-me parish, I started out preaching my way through Ephesians).

However, in terms of age & health, I'm past the point of being able to process into words/posts all that's in my heart and mind on the subject of Ephesians; I can only handle small bits of text at a time.

Besides, I'd run the risk of being banned from TWeb if I were to start down that track, given the way my "50,000 foot altitude" level of understanding of the book of Ephesians relates to my perspective with regard to the relationship between eschatology and teleology in the Bible.

Well, Colossians comes up three wednesday nights from now, so I'll continue following this thread in prep for that. I do appreciate what little you DID say in this response concerning Ephesians, though.

If something comes to mind, I'm here!

[John Reece]

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:29):

εἰς ὃ καὶ κοπιῶ ἀγωνιζόμενος κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν αὐτοῦ τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐν δυνάμει.

Transliteration:

eis ho kai kopiō agōnizomenos kata tēn energeian autou tēn energoumenēn en emoi en dynamei.

Translation (ESV)

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Analysis (Zerwick):

εἰς ὅ : to which end, for this.
καί : after a relative, sometimes without special significance.
κοπιάω : labor.
ἀγωνιζόμενος : striving, participle of ἀγωνίζομαι take part in a contest (ἀγών).
ἐνέργεια : working, power.
ἐνεργουμένην : middle participle of ἐνεργέω with impersonal subject, be at work, effective.
ἐν δυνάμει : with power, powerfully.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:1):

Θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καὶ ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐν σαρκί

Transliteration:

Thelō gar hymas eidenai hēlikon agōna echō hyper hymōn kai tōn en Laodikeia̧ kai hosoi ouch heorakan to prosōpon mou en sarki

Translation (ESV)

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

Analysis (Zerwick):

εἰδέναι : infinitive of perfect-present οἶδα know.
ἡλίκος : how great.
ἀγών, ἀγῶνος, ὁ : contest in the arena, any struggle.
ὅσοι = ποσῶν ὅσοι : all who, all the others who (καί being inclusive of foregoing).
ἑόρακαν : perfect of ὁράω see ; ἑόρακαν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐν σαρκί have not seen me in person.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:2):

ἵνα παρακληθῶσιν αἱ καρδίαι αὐτῶν συμβιβασθέντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ καὶ εἰς πᾶν πλοῦτος τῆς πληροφορίας τῆς συνέσεως, εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ θεοῦ, Χριστοῦ

Transliteration:

hina paraklēthōsin hai kardiai autōn symbibasthentes en agapȩ̄ kai eis pan ploutos tēs plērophorias tēs syneseōs, eis epignōsin tou mystēriou tou theou, Christoui

Translation (ESV)

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ

Analysis (Zerwick):

παρακληθῶσιν : aorist passive subjunctive of παρακαλέω encourage.
συμβιβασθέντες : aorist passive participle of συμβιβάζω : bring together, unite.
πλοῦτος : wealth.
πληροφορία : full assurance, certainty, conviction.
σύνεσις : understanding.
ἐπίγνωσις : knowledge.
μυστήριον : mystery, secret of God's plan of salvation.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:3):

ἐν ᾧ εἰσιν πάντες οἱ θησαυροὶ τῆς σοφίας καὶ γνώσεως ἀπόκρυφοι.

Transliteration:

en ō̧h eisin pantes hoi thēsauroi tēs sophias kai gnōseōs apokryphoi.

Translation (ESV)

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Analysis (Zerwick):

θησαυρός : treasure.
σοφία : wisdom.
γνῶσις : knowledge.
ἀπόκρυφος : hidden (away), predicate.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:4):

Τοῦτο λέγω, ἵνα μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς παραλογίζηται ἐν πιθανολογίᾳ.

Transliteration:

Touto legō, hina mēdeis hymas paralogizētai en pithanologia̧.

Translation (ESV)

I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Analysis (Zerwick):

παραλογίζηται : passive subjunctive of παραλογίζομαι misconstrue, so delude.
πιθανολογία : plausible argument(s).

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:5):

εἰ γὰρ καὶ τῇ σαρκὶ ἄπειμι, ἀλλὰ τῷ πνεύματι σὺν ὑμῖν εἰμι, χαίρων καὶ βλέπων ὑμῶν τὴν τάξιν καὶ τὸ στερέωμα τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν πίστεως ὑμῶν.

Transliteration:

ei gar kai tȩ̄ sarki apeimi, alla tō̧ pneumati syn hymin eimi, chairōn kai blepōn hymōn tēn taxin kai to stereōma tēs eis Christon pisteōs hymōn.

Translation (ESV)

For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Analysis (Zerwick):

εἰ ... καί : if, though.
τῇ σαρκί : in body, physically, dative of manner.
ἄπειμι : be absent.
ἀλλά : yet introducing the apodosis.
χαίρων : participle of χαίρω rejoice.
βλέπων : participle of βλέπω see.
τάξις : military formation, hence order, discipline.
στερέωμα : a solid body, so of army presenting a solid front ; metonymy firmness, steadfastness.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:6):

Ως οὖν παρελάβετε τὸν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν κύριον, ἐν αὐτῷ περιπατεῖτε

Transliteration:

Ōs oun parelabete ton Christon Iēsoun ton kyrion, en autō̧ peripateite

Translation (ESV)

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him

Analysis (Zerwick):

παρελάβετε : aorist of παραλαμβάνω receive (as a tradition).
περιπατεῖτε : present imperative of περιπατέω (continue to) walk, i.e. live 1:10.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:7a):

ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ ἐποικοδομούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει

Transliteration:

errizōmenoi kai epoikodomoumenoi en autō̧ kai bebaioumenoi tȩ̄ pistei

Translation (ESV)

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith

Analysis (Zerwick):

ἐρριζωμένοι : rooted, perfect passive participle of ῥιζόω cause to root.
ἐποικοδομούμενοι : passive participle of ἐποικοδομέω build on (present referring to a progressive building).
βεβαιούμενοι : passive participle of βεβαιόω make firm (βέβαιος), establish.
τῇ πίστει : in the faith.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 2:7b):

καθὼς ἐδιδάχθητε, περισσεύοντες ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ.

Transliteration:

kathōs edidachthēte, perisseuontes en eucharistia̧.

Translation (ESV)

just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Analysis (Zerwick):

καθώς : (just) as.
ἐδιδάχθητε : aorist passive of διδάσκω teach.
περισσεύοντες : participle of περισσεύω (intransitive) to be in abundance, abound (BDAG).
εὐχαριστία : thanksgiving.

[Rdr. Arsenios]

εἰς ὅ : to which end, for this.
καί : after a relative, sometimes without special significance.
κοπιάω : labor.
ἀγωνιζόμενος : striving, participle of ἀγωνίζομαι take part in a contest (ἀγών).
ἐνέργεια : working, power.
ἐνεργουμένην : middle participle of ἐνεργέω with impersonal subject, be at work, effective.
ἐν δυνάμει : with power, powerfully.

John, my Brother - Blessings for the new year... May Spring find you on the green side of the grass!

I was looking at your wonderful work here - I hope you can find someone to pdf the whole of it together by chapter and book - And it occurred to me that one of the things that would perhaps be helpful would be if you were to include after the definitions, perhaps in parentheses, an English word based on the Greek term... For instance, in the above:

ἀγωνιζόμενος : striving, participle of ἀγωνίζομαι take part in a contest (ἀγών).

Were you to include the English verb agonize and the noun agony for ἀγωνιζόμενος and ἀγω, you would serve the greater interests of the vast hordes of those who are mnemonically challenged, among whom I stand in the front row...

Likewise with:
ἐνέργεια : working, power. (energy)

ἐν δυνάμει : with power, powerfully (dynamically)

I know you already provide an English transliteration of the Greek terms, but a good English word based on it (IF there IS one, mind you) would be valuable for a lot of us...

Just a thought - Keep up the good work my friend...

And please keep me in your prayers...

Arsenios