the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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King James Version
Colossians 1:29
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For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His working, which He works in me in power.
That's why I've ridden ten thousand miles and worked so hard. I did it by depending on Christ's mighty strength that dwells within me.
And for this purpose I am working, using all my strength by the help of his power which is working in me strongly.
Whereunto also I toil, combating according to his working, which works in me in power.
I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.
for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
For which also I labour, striving according to his mighty working, who worketh in me mightily.
To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me.
Whereunto I also labour, striuing according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
for which also I labor, struggling according to the working of Him who works in me in power.
Wherin I also laboure, and stryue acordinge to the workynge of him which worketh mightely in me.
this is what I earnestly strive to effect, by virtue of that power, which effectually operates in me.
For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.
whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me.
Wherin I also laboure and stryve even as farforth as hys workynge worketh in me myghtely.
to which I labor also, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
For which I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
for which also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power.
To do this, I work and struggle, using Christ's great strength that works so powerfully in me.
Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.
To this end I labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
That's why I work so hard and use the mighty power he gives me.
It is for this that I toil, striving with all the energy that he stirs up in me so mightily.
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Whereunto I also labour & striue, according to his working which worketh in me mightily.
And to this end, I labour and strive through the help of the power which is given to me.
for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
I work hard and struggle to do this according to his energy that powerfully works in me.1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 1:19; Colossians 2:1;">[xr]
for which also I labour and contend, according to the help of the power which is given to me.
And for this also, I toil and strive, with the aid of the strength that is imparted to me.
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me.
This is the reason I am working. God's great power is working in me.
whereunto I labour also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.
Unto which I am even toiling, contending according to his energy which is energising itself in me with power.
Wherein also I labour, striving according to his working which he worketh in me in power.
for which purpose also I labor, striving according to his working which is at work powerfully in me.
Wherunto I also labour striuyng, according to his workyng which worketh in me mightylie.
To do this, I work and struggle using the great strength that Christ gives me. That strength is working in my life.
For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power which works mightily within me.
To get this done I toil and struggle, using the mighty strength which Christ supplies and which is at work in me.
In which thing also Y trauele in stryuynge bi the worching of hym, that he worchith in me in vertu.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
labour: Colossians 4:12, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 6:5, 2 Corinthians 11:23, Philippians 2:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 2 Timothy 2:10, Revelation 2:3
striving: Colossians 2:1, Luke 13:24, Romans 15:20, Romans 15:30, 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 1:30, Hebrews 12:4
his: 1 Corinthians 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:11, Ephesians 1:19, Ephesians 3:7, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:21
mightily: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, 2 Corinthians 13:3
Reciprocal: Nehemiah 4:21 - So we Nehemiah 7:5 - put into mine Job 33:29 - all Psalms 63:8 - thy Ezekiel 33:7 - thou shalt Daniel 5:12 - an excellent Matthew 25:20 - behold Luke 10:2 - the labourers Luke 19:16 - Lord John 3:21 - that his John 6:27 - Labour not Acts 7:25 - God Acts 18:25 - fervent Acts 21:19 - he declared Romans 1:9 - whom Romans 12:3 - I say Romans 12:7 - or he Romans 16:12 - labour 1 Corinthians 3:10 - to the 1 Corinthians 9:26 - so 2 Corinthians 5:11 - we persuade 2 Corinthians 8:1 - the grace Galatians 2:8 - the same Galatians 2:9 - the grace 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - labour 2 Timothy 2:5 - strive 2 Timothy 4:2 - reprove
Cross-References
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Whereunto I also labour,.... In the word and doctrine, by preaching Christ, warning sinners of their danger, teaching them the way of salvation, and their duty; with this view, that, in thee great day of account, he might bring a large number of them, and set them before Christ as the seals of his ministry, as instances of the grace of Christ, and as perfect in him:
striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily; meaning either in his prayers, earnestly entreating of God that he would succeed his labours, and bless them to the conversion of many; which sense is favoured by the Syriac version, which renders it,
ומתכשף, "and make supplication"; that is, with that effectual fervent prayer, which was powerfully wrought in him: or in his ministry, combating with many enemies, fighting the good fight of faith; not in his own strength, but through the power of Christ; which enabled him to preach the Gospel far and near, in season and out of season; which supported his outward man, and strengthened his inward man for that service, and made it effectual to the good of the souls of many: some refer this to the signs, wonders, and miracles, which Christ wrought by him, for the confirmation of the Gospel; but the other sense, which takes in both the power by which he was assisted in preaching, both in body and soul, and that which went along with his ministry to make it useful to others, is to be preferred.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Whereunto I also labour - See the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:10.
Striving - Greek agonizing. He taxed all his energies to accomplish this, as the wrestlers strove for the mastery in the Grecian games.
According to his working - Not by my own strength, but by the power which God alone can give; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:10.
Remarks On Colossians 1:0
Among the truths of practical importance taught by this chapter are the following:
1. We should rejoice in the piety of others; Colossians 1:2-8. It should be to us a subject of unfeigned gratitude to God; when others are faithful to their high calling, and when they so live as to adorn the blessed gospel. In all their faith, and love, and joy, we should find occasion for thankfulness to God. We should not envy it, or be disposed to charge it to wrong motives, or suspect it of insincerity or hypocrisy; but should welcome every account of the zeal and faithfulness of those who bear the Christian name - no matter who the persons are, or with what denomination of Christians they may be connected. Especially is this true in relation to our friends, or to those for whose salvation we have labored. The source of high, est gratitude to a Christian, in relation to his friends, should be, that they act as becomes the friends of God; the purest joy that can swell the bosom of a minister of Christ, is produced by the evidence that they to whom he has ministered are advancing in knowledge and love.
2. We should earnestly pray that they who have been much favored should be prospered more and more; Colossians 1:9-11.
3. It is a good time to pray for Christians when they are already prosperous, and are distinguished for zeal and love; Colossians 1:9-11. We have then encouragement to do it. We feel that our prayers will not be in vain. For a man that is doing well, we feel encouraged to pray that he may do still better. For a Christian who has true spiritual joy, we are encouraged to pray that he may have more joy. For one who is aiming to make advances in the knowledge of God, we are encouraged to pray that he may make still higher advances; and if, therefore; we wish others to pray for us, we should, show them by our efforts that there is some encouragement for them to do it.
4. Let us cherish with suitable gratitude the remembrance of the goodness of God, who has translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son; Colossians 1:12-13. By nature we, like others, were under the power of darkness. In that kingdom of sin, and error, and misery, we were born and reared, until God, in great compassion, brought us out from it, and made us heirs of light. Now, if we are true Christians, we belong to a kingdom of holiness, and knowledge, and happiness. No words can express appropriately the goodness of God in thus making us heirs of light; and not an hour of our lives should pass without a thoughtful remembrance of his mercy.
5. In the affections of our hearts let the Saviour in all things have the pre-eminence; Colossians 1:15-18. He is the image of God; and when we think of him, we see what God is - how holy, pure, benevolent. He is the first-born of all things; the Son of God; exalted to the highest seat in the universe. When we look on the sun, moon, and stars, let us remember that he created them all. When we think of the angels, let us remember that they are the workmanship of his hands. When we look on the earth - the floods, the rivers, the hills, let us remember that all these were made by his power. The vast universe is still sustained by him. Its beautiful order and harmony are preserved by him; and all its movements are under his control. So the church is under him. It is subject to his command; receives its laws from his lips, and is bound to do his will. Over all councils and synods; over all rule and authority in the church, Christ is the Head; and whatever may be ordained by man, his will is to be obeyed. So, when we think of the resurrection, Christ is chief. He first rose to return to death no more; he rose as the pledge that his people should also rise. As Christ is thus head over all things, so let him be first in the affections of our hearts; as it is designed that in every thing he shall have the pre-eminence, so let him have the pre-eminence in the affections of our souls. None should be loved by us as Christ is loved; and no friend, however dear, should be allowed to displace him from the supremacy in our affections.
6. In all our wants let us go to Christ; Colossians 1:19, “It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” We do not have a need which he cannot supply; there is not a sorrow of our lives in which he cannot comfort us; not a temptation from which he cannot deliver us; not a pain which he cannot relieve, or enable us to hear. Every necessity of body or mind he can supply; and we never can go to him, in any circumstance of life in which we can possibly be placed, where we shall fail of consolation and support because Christ is not able to help us. True piety learns day by day to live more by simple dependence on the Saviour. As we advance in holiness, we become more and more sensible of our weakness and insufficiency, and more and more disposed to live by the faith of the Son of God.”
7. By religion we become united with the angels; Colossians 1:20. Harmony is produced between heaven and earth. Alienated worlds are reconciled again, and from jarring elements there is rearing one great and harmonious empire. The work of the atonement is designed to remove what separated earth from heaven; men from angels; man from God. The redeemed have substantially the same feelings now, which they have who are around the throne of God; and though we are far inferior to them in rank, yet we shall be united with them in affection and purpose, for ever and ever. What a glorious work is that of the gospel! It reconciles and harmonizes distant worlds, and produces concord and love in millions of hearts which but for that would have been alienated forever.
8. By religion we become fitted for heaven; Colossians 1:12, Colossians 1:22. We are made “meet” to enter there; we shall be presented there unblamable and unreprovable. No one will accuse us before the throne of God. Nor Satan, nor our own consciences nor our fellowmen will then urge that we ought not to be admitted to heaven. Redeemed and pardoned, renewed and sanctified, the universe will be satisfied that we ought to be saved, and will rejoice. Satan will no longer charge the friends of Jesus with insincerity and hypocrisy; our own minds will be no longer troubled with doubts and fears; and holy angels will welcome us to their presence. Not a voice will be lifted up in reproach or condemnation, and the Universal Father will stretch out his arms and press to his bosom the returning prodigals. Clothed in the white robes of salvation, we shall be welcome even in heaven, and the universe will rejoice that we are there.
9. It is a privilege to suffer for the welfare of the church; Colossians 1:24. Paul regarded it as such and rejoiced in the trials which came upon him in the cause of religion. The Saviour so, regarded it, and shrank not from the great sorrows involved in the work of saving his people. We may suffer much in promoting the same object. We may be exposed to persecution and death. We may be called to part with all we have - to leave country and friends and home, to go and preach the gospel to benighted people. On a foreign shore, far from all that we hold dear on earth, we may lie down and die, and our grave, unmarked by sculptured marble, may be soon forgotten. But to do good; to defend truth; to promote virtue; to save the souls of the perishing, is worth all which it costs, and he who accomplishes these things by exchanging for them earthly comforts, and even life, has made a wise exchange. The universe gains by it in happiness; and the benevolent heart should rejoice that there is such a gain, though attended with our individual and personal suffering.
10. Ministers ave a noble office Colossians 1:24-29. It is their privilege to make known to men the most glorious truths that can come before the human mind; truths which were hidden from ages and generations, but which are now revealed by the gospel. These great truths are intrusted to the ministry to explain and defend, and are by them to be carried around the world. The ministers of religion strive not for gold and honor and worldly pleasures; they strive in the noble effort to show to every man that he has a Saviour; that there is a heaven to which he may come; and to present everyone perfect before God. With all its sacrifices and self-denials, therefore, it is an inestimable privilege to he a minister of the gospel - for there is no man who diffuses through a community so much solid happiness; there is no one, the result of whose labors reaches so far into future ages. To a benevolent heart there is no higher privilege than to be permitted to go to every man - to the poor, the tempted, the oppressed, the slave, the penitent, and the dying sinner, and to say to him that he has a Saviour, that Christ died for him, and that, if he will have it so, he may have a home in heaven.
No matter whom he meets; no matter how debased and degraded he may be to whom he ministers, no matter though it be the poor slave, or the lonely wanderer on pathless sands, or the orphan, or the outcast, the herald of salvation may tell him that there is a heaven for him - a Saviour who died for him - a God who is ready to pardon and save his soul. In such a work it is a privilege to exhaust our strength; in the performance of the duties of such an office, it is an honor to be permitted to wear out life itself. Doing this, a man when he comes to die will feel that he has not lived in vain; and whatever self-denial he may practice in it; however much comfort, or however many friends he may forsake, all these things will give him no pang of regret when from a bed of death he looks out on the eternal world.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Colossians 1:29. Whereunto I also labour — In order to accomplish this end, I labour with the utmost zeal and earnestness; and with all that strength with which God has most powerfully furnished me. Whoever considers the original words, αγωνιζομενος κατα την ενεργειαν αυτου την ενεργουμενην - εν δυναμει, will find that no verbal translation can convey their sense. God worked energetically in St. Paul, and he wrought energetically with God; and all this was in reference to the salvation of mankind.
1. THE preceding chapter contains the highest truths in the Christian religion, conveyed in language peculiar to this apostle; a language never taught by man, clothing ideas as vast as the human mind can grasp, and both coming immediately from that inspiration of the Almighty which giveth understanding.
2. What the apostle says on the Godhead of Christ has already been distinctly noted; and from this we must conclude that, unless there be some secret way of understanding the 16th and 17th verses, Colossians 1:16; Colossians 1:17 which God has nowhere revealed, taken in their sober and rational sense and meaning they must for ever settle this very important point. Let any man of common sense and reason hear these words, whose mind had not been previously warped by any sentiment on the subject, and who only knew, in religious matters, this one great truth, that there is a God, and that he made and governs all things; and then let him be asked, Of whom doth the apostle speak this? Would he not immediately answer, He speaketh of God? As to the difficulties on this subject, we must consider them difficulties rather to our limited intellect, than as belonging to the subject. We can know but little of an infinite and eternal Being; nothing, properly speaking, but what himself is pleased to reveal. Let us receive, this with gratitude and reverence. See my discourse on the sum and substance of apostolic preaching.
