Colossians 2:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω περὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ, καὶ ὅσοι οὐχ ἑώρακασιν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐν σαρκί·

Transliteration

For I thelō you to eidenai what kind of agōna I echō concerning you, and of those in Laodikeia, and as many as have not heōrakasin the prosōpon of me in sarki;

Grammar Details

• *thelō*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I desire/want/wish
• *eidenai*: perfect active infinitive - to know/understand
• *agōna*: accusative, masculine, singular - conflict/struggle/contest
• *echō*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I have/hold/possess
• *Laodikeia*: dative, feminine, singular - proper name
• *heōrakasin*: perfect active indicative, 3rd person plural - they have seen
• *prosōpon*: accusative, neuter, singular - face/countenance/presence
• *sarki*: dative, feminine, singular - flesh/body/physical nature

Word Meanings

• *thelō*: wish/want/desire
• *eidenai*: to know/to understand/to comprehend
• *agōna*: struggle/conflict/contest/fight
• *Laodikeia*: city in Phrygia
• *prosōpon*: face/countenance/presence/person
• *sarki*: flesh/physical body/human nature

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For I wish 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;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} I would{G2309} have{G2192} you{G5209} know{G1492} how greatly{G2245} I {G2192} strive{G73} for{G4012} you,{G5216} and{G2532} for them{G3588} at{G1722} Laodicea,{G2993} and{G2532} for as many as{G3745} have{G3708} not{G3756} seen{G3708} my{G3450} face{G4383} in{G1722} the flesh;{G4561}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} I would{G2309}{(G5719)} that ye{G5209} knew{G1492}{(G5760)} what great{G2245} conflict{G73} I have{G2192}{(G5719)} for{G4012} you{G5216}, and{G2532} for them at{G1722} Laodicea{G2993}, and{G2532} for as many as{G3745} have{G3708} not{G3756} seen{G3708}{(G5758)} my{G3450} face{G4383} in{G1722} the flesh{G4561};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  I wolde ye knewe what fyghtinge I have for youre sakes and for them of Laodicia and for as many as have not sene my parson in the flesshe

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  I wolde ye knewe what fightinge I haue for youre sakes, and for them of Laodicea, and for as many as haue not sene my personne in the flesh,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For I woulde ye knewe what great fighting I haue for your sakes, and for them of Laodicea, and for as many as haue not seene my person in the flesh,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For I woulde that ye knew what great fight I haue for you, and for them that are at Laodicea, and for as many as haue not seene my face in the fleshe,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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 (1862/1898)

  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,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For it is my desire to give you news of the great fight I am making for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh;

• World English Bible (2000)

  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;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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.

Referenced Verses

• Col 1:29 : 29 To this end, I labor and struggle with all His energy, which so powerfully works within me.
• Phil 1:30 : 30 since you are experiencing the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
• Col 4:12-13 : 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 I can testify to him that he is passionately concerned for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
• Rev 1:11 : 11 saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
• Rev 3:14-22 : 14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, I have become wealthy, and I don’t need anything,' yet you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may become rich; white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed; and ointment to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me. 21 The one who conquers I will grant to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on His throne. 22 Let the one who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
• Col 4:15-16 : 15 Greet the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
• 1 Thess 2:2 : 2 Despite suffering and being mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to proclaim to you the gospel of God while facing intense opposition.
• Heb 5:7 : 7 During His earthly life, He offered prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.
• 1 Pet 1:8 : 8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
• Col 1:24 : 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
• Col 2:5 : 5 For even though I am absent in the body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your orderly conduct and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
• Gen 32:24-30 : 24 After he had sent them across the stream, he also sent over all his possessions. 25 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 26 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was dislocated as they wrestled. 27 Then the man said, 'Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' 28 The man asked him, 'What is your name?' 'Jacob,' he answered. 29 Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.' 30 Jacob said, 'Please tell me your name.' But he replied, 'Why do you ask my name?' Then he blessed him there.
• Hos 12:3-4 : 3 The LORD has a charge against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him for his deeds. 4 In the womb, he grasped his brother’s heel; and in his strength, he struggled with God.
• Luke 22:44 : 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
• Acts 20:25 : 25 'And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.'
• Acts 20:38 : 38 They were deeply grieved because of what he had said—that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
• Gal 4:19 : 19 My dear children, I am again suffering birth pains for you until Christ is formed in you.
• Gen 30:8 : 8 Then Rachel said, 'I have struggled greatly with my sister and I have prevailed.' So she named him Naphtali.