Colossians 1:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, and do not move away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἴ γε ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι, καὶ μὴ μετακινούμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗ ἠκούσατε, τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει τῇ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν· οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγὼ Παῦλος διάκονος·

Transliteration

If indeed you epimenete in the pistei having been tethemeliōmenoi and hedraioi, and not being metakinoumenoi from the elpidos of the euangeliou, which you ēkousate, the having been kērychthentos in all the ktisei the under the ouranon; of which egenomēn I Paulos diakonos;

Grammar Details

• *epimenete*: present, active, indicative, 2nd person plural - you continue
• *pistei*: dative, feminine, singular - faith, sphere
• *tethemeliōmenoi*: perfect, passive, participle, nominative, masculine, plural - having been founded
• *hedraioi*: nominative, masculine, plural - steadfast
• *metakinoumenoi*: present, passive, participle, nominative, masculine, plural - being moved away
• *elpidos*: genitive, feminine, singular - of hope, source
• *euangeliou*: genitive, neuter, singular - of gospel, possessive
• *ēkousate*: aorist, active, indicative, 2nd person plural - you heard
• *kērychthentos*: aorist, passive, participle, genitive, neuter, singular - having been proclaimed
• *ktisei*: dative, feminine, singular - creation, sphere
• *ouranon*: accusative, masculine, singular - heaven, location
• *egenomēn*: aorist, middle, indicative, 1st person singular - I became
• *Paulos*: nominative, masculine, singular - proper name
• *diakonos*: nominative, masculine, singular - servant

Word Meanings

• *epimenete*: continue/remain/persist
• *pistei*: faith/trust/belief
• *tethemeliōmenoi*: having been founded/established/grounded
• *hedraioi*: steadfast/firm/stable
• *metakinoumenoi*: being moved away/shifted/removed
• *elpidos*: hope/expectation
• *euangeliou*: gospel/good news
• *kērychthentos*: having been proclaimed/preached/announced
• *ktisei*: creation/creature/what is created
• *ouranon*: heaven/sky
• *egenomēn*: became/was made/came to be
• *diakonos*: servant/minister/deacon

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature under heaven; of which I, Paul, am made a minister;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  if{G1489} so be that ye continue in{G1961} the faith,{G4102} grounded{G2311} and{G2532} stedfast,{G1476} and{G2532} not{G3361} moved away{G3334} from{G575} the hope{G1680} of the gospel{G2098} which{G3739} ye heard,{G191} which was preached{G2784} in{G1722} all{G3956} creation{G2937} under{G5259} heaven;{G3772} whereof{G3739} I{G1473} Paul{G3972} was made{G1096} a minister.{G1249}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  If{G1489} ye continue{G1961}{(G5719)} in the faith{G4102} grounded{G2311}{(G5772)} and{G2532} settled{G1476}, and{G2532} be not{G3361} moved away{G3334}{(G5746)} from{G575} the hope{G1680} of the gospel{G2098}, which{G3739} ye have heard{G191}{(G5656)}, and which{G3588} was preached{G2784}{(G5685)} to{G1722} every{G3956} creature{G2937} which is under{G5259} heaven{G3772}; whereof{G3739} I{G1473} Paul{G3972} am made{G1096}{(G5633)} a minister{G1249};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  yf ye continue grounded and stablysshed in the fayth and be not moved awaye from the hope of the gospell wher of ye have herde howe that it is preached amonge all creatures which are vnder heven wher of I Paul am made a minister.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  yf ye contynue grounded and stablished in the faith, and be not moued awaye from ye hope of the Gospell, wherof ye haue herde: which is preached amonge all creatures yt are vnder heauen, wherof I Paul am made a mynister.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  If ye continue, grounded and stablished in the faith, & be not moued away from the hope of the Gospel, whereof ye haue heard, and which hath bene preached to euery creature which is vnder heauen, whereof I Paul am a minister.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  If ye continue grounded & stablisshed in the fayth, and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell, which ye haue hearde howe it is preached to euery creature which is vnder heauen, wherof I Paul am made a minister.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that `is' under the heaven, of which I became -- I Paul -- a ministrant.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  If you keep yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

• World English Bible (2000)

  if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

Referenced Verses

• Heb 3:14 : 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if indeed we hold firmly to the beginning of our confidence steadfast until the end.
• Col 1:5-6 : 5 This faith and love spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven, which you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel. 6 That gospel has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.
• Matt 24:13-14 : 13 'But the one who endures until the end will be saved.' 14 'And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.'
• Acts 2:5 : 5 Now there were devout Jews residing in Jerusalem, from every nation under heaven.
• Rom 10:18 : 18 But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: 'Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.'
• Heb 10:38 : 38 But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, My soul will have no pleasure in him.
• Heb 3:6 : 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we boast.
• Rev 2:10 : 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
• Gal 6:9 : 9 Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
• 1 Thess 3:5 : 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor might have been in vain.
• Eph 3:17 : 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and established in love,
• Acts 14:22 : 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.'
• Mark 16:15 : 15 He said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.'
• Luke 8:13-15 : 13 The seed on the rocky ground represents those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in times of testing, they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil represents those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and produce a harvest through perseverance.
• Luke 22:32 : 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
• John 8:30-32 : 30 As he was speaking these things, many believed in him. 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
• John 15:6 : 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
• John 15:9-9 : 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
• Ps 125:5 : 5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways, the LORD will lead away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
• Ezek 18:26 : 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed, they will die.
• 2 Cor 3:6 : 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Col 1:25 : 25 I have become its servant according to the commission God gave me for you, to fully proclaim the word of God,
• Col 2:7 : 7 Be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
• 1 John 3:1-3 : 1 See how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and this is what we are! The world does not know us because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
• 1 Pet 1:5 : 5 who are being guarded by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
• 2 Pet 2:18-22 : 18 For they utter arrogant, empty words and entice those who are barely escaping from others living in error, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh and by debauchery. 19 They promise freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave to whatever has mastered them. 20 For if, after escaping the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 Of them the true proverb has come true: "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow that is washed returns to wallowing in the mud."
• 1 John 2:27 : 27 As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things—and it is true and not a lie—just as it has taught you, remain in Him.
• 1 Pet 1:3 : 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy has caused us to be born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
• Heb 4:14 : 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus, the Son of God—let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
• Heb 6:19 : 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
• 1 Thess 3:3 : 3 So that no one would be unsettled by these troubles. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.
• Eph 1:18 : 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
• Eph 2:21 : 21 In Him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
• Eph 3:7-8 : 7 Of this gospel I became a servant, according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me through the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
• Eph 4:16 : 16 From him the whole body, being joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.
• 2 Tim 4:5-6 : 5 But as for you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is near.
• Titus 3:7 : 7 so that, being justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
• 1 Thess 5:8 : 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
• 2 Thess 2:16 : 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by His grace,
• 1 Tim 1:12 : 12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.
• 1 Tim 2:7 : 7 For this purpose, I was appointed as a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
• 2 Cor 4:1 : 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we were shown mercy, we do not lose heart.
• 2 Cor 5:18-20 : 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
• 2 Cor 6:1 : 1 As workers together with Him, we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
• 2 Cor 11:23 : 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more so: in labors more abundant, in stripes beyond measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
• Gal 4:11 : 11 I fear for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been in vain.
• Gal 5:5 : 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
• Gal 5:7 : 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
• Acts 20:24 : 24 'But I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus—to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.'
• Acts 26:16 : 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you: to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and of what I will show you.
• Rom 2:7 : 7 To those who seek glory, honor, and immortality by persistence in doing good, He will give eternal life.
• Rom 5:5 : 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
• Rom 15:16 : 16 To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Cor 3:5 : 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each.
• 1 Cor 4:1-3 : 1 This is how you should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is required that those who are entrusted as stewards must prove faithful. 3 But to me, it is of little importance to be judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
• 1 Cor 15:58 : 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
• Hos 6:3-4 : 3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to know Him. His coming is as certain as the dawn, and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth. 4 What shall I do with you, Ephraim? What shall I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning cloud, like the dew that disappears early.
• Zeph 1:6 : 6 And I will remove those who turn back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of Him.
• Matt 7:24-25 : 24 Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
• Lam 3:66 : 66 You will pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD.
• Deut 2:25 : 25 This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the peoples under the heavens. When they hear reports of you, they will tremble and be in anguish because of you.'
• Deut 4:19 : 19 And be careful not to lift your eyes toward the heavens and see the sun, the moon, and the stars—all the host of heaven—and be led astray to bow down to them and worship them, things the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
• Ps 92:13-14 : 13 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. 14 Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
• Acts 1:17 : 17 He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.
• Acts 1:25 : 25 To take up the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
• Luke 6:48 : 48 They are like a person building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
• Acts 4:12 : 12 'And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among humanity by which we must be saved.'
• Acts 11:23 : 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts.
• 2 Tim 1:11-12 : 11 For this purpose, I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.