Colossians 2:1

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;

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
would	Θέλω Thelō	G2309	to determine (as an active option from subjective impul… · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
that	εἴδω eídō	G1492	used only in certain past tenses
ye	ὑμᾶς hymâs	G5209	you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
knew	εἴδω eídō	G1492	used only in certain past tenses
great	ἡλίκον hēlikon	G2245	as big as · interrogative pronoun — accusative singular masculine
conflict	ἀγῶνα agōna	G73	properly · noun — accusative singular masculine
have	ἔχω echō	G2192	to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
for	περί perí	G4012	properly
you	ὑμῶν hymōn	G5216	of (from or concerning) you
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
them	τῶν tōn	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — genitive plural masculine
at	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
Laodicea	Λαοδικείᾳ Laodikeia	G2993	Laodicia · noun — dative singular feminine, a place
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
as	ὅσοι hosoi	G3745	as (much · correlative pronoun — nominative plural masculine
have	ἑόρακαν he'orakan	G3708	by extension · verb — perfect active indicative, 3rd person plural
not	οὐχ ouch	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative
seen	ὁράω horáō	G3708	by extension
my	μοῦ moû	G3450	of me
face	πρόσωπόν prosōpon	G4383	the front (as being towards view) · noun — accusative singular neuter
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
flesh	σαρκί, sarki	G4561	flesh (as stripped of the skin) · noun — dative singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Philippians 1:30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Colossians 4:12-13 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…
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 c…
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 i…
Hosea 12:3-4 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
Acts 20:38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Colossians 1:24 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, whi…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Colossians 2:1-3

We may observe here the great concern which Paul had for these Colossians and the other churches which he had not any personal knowledge of. The apostle had never been at Colosse, and the church planted there was not of his planting; and yet he had as tender a care of it as if it had been the only people of his charge (Col 2:1): For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. Observe, 1. Paul's care of the church was such as amounted to a conflict. He was in a sort of agony, and had a constant fear respecting what would become of them. Herein he was a follower of his Master, who was in an agony fo…

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Adam Clarke on Colossians 2:1

What great conflict - The word αγων, which we here render conflict, is to be understood as implying earnest care and solicitude, accompanied, undoubtedly, with the most fervent application to the throne of grace in their behalf. The αγωνιζομενος of the preceding verse gave the apostle occasion to use the word αγων here. He agonized with God, and his agony was for them. Laodicea - A city of Asia Minor, on the borders of Caria, Phrygia, and Lydia. It was originally called Diospolis, or the city of Jupiter, and afterwards Rhoas; but obtained the name of Laodicea from Laodice, the wife of Antiochus. It is now called Ladik. It was formerly celebrated for its commerce, and the fine black wool of i…

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John Gill on Colossians 2:1

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you,.... This is occasioned by what he had said in Colossians 1:29, that he laboured and strove according to the energy of divine power in him, to present every man perfect in Christ; and lest these Colossians should think that these labours and strivings of his were only for all and every of those persons among whom he was, and to whom he personally preached, he would have them know, observe, and assure themselves, that the great conflict, strife, and agony, in which he was engaged, was for them also; by which he means, his fervent prayers and wrestlings with God, the conflicts he had in his own mind, with his own spirit, about the goo…

The Church Fathers

"For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea." Then lest this should seem owing to their peculiar weakness, he joined others also with them, and as yet condemned them not. But why does he say, "And as many as have not seen my face in the flesh"? He shows here after a divine manner, that they saw him constantly in the Spirit. And he bears witness to their great love.
— John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 5

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Laodicea — The city of this name mentioned in Scripture lay on the confines of Phrygia and Lydia, about 40 miles east of Ephesus (Rev. 3:14), on the banks of the Lycus. It was originally called Diospolis and…
Laodicea · Paul’s concern for — Paul’s concern for

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Colossians 2:1

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Colossians 2:1-3

Adam Clarke on Colossians 2:1

John Gill on Colossians 2:1

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Colossians 2:1

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Colossians 2:1-3

Adam Clarke on Colossians 2:1

John Gill on Colossians 2:1

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on Colossians 2:1-5

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Colossians 2:1-5