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Selected Verse: Colossians 1:23 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Col 1:23	Strong Concordance	If [1489] ye continue [1961] in the faith [4102] grounded [2311] and [2532] settled [1476], and [2532] be not [3361] moved away [3334] from [575] the hope [1680] of the gospel [2098], which [3739] ye have heard [191], and which [3588] was preached [2784] to [1722] every [3956] creature [2937] which is under [5259] heaven [3772]; whereof [3739] I [1473] Paul [3972] am made [1096] a minister [1249];
	King James	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;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
If--"Assuming that," &c.: not otherwise shall ye be so presented at His appearing (Col 1:22). grounded--Greek, "founded," "fixed on the foundation" (compare Note, see on Eph 3:17; Luk 6:48-49). settled--"steadfast." "Grounded" respects the foundation on which believers rest; "settled," their own steadfastness (Pe1 5:10). Co1 15:58 has the same Greek. not moved away--by the false teachers. the hope of the gospel-- (Eph 1:18). which ye have heard . . . which was preached to every creature . . . whereof I . . . am . . . a minister--Three arguments against their being "moved away from the Gospel": (1) Their having heard it; (2) The universality of the preaching of it; (3) Paul's ministry in it. For "to (Greek, 'in') every creature," the oldest manuscripts read, "in all creation." Compare "in all the world," Col 1:6; "all things . . . in earth," Col 1:20 (Mar 16:15): thus he implies that the Gospel from which he urges them not to be moved, has this mark of truth, namely, the universality of its announcement, which accords with the command and prophecy of Christ Himself (Mat 24:14). By "was preached," he means not merely "is being preached," but has been actually, as an accomplished fact, preached. PLINY, not many years subsequently, in his famous letter to the Emperor Trajan [Epistles, Book X., Epistle 97], writes, "Many of every age, rank, and sex, are being brought to trial. For the contagion of that superstition [Christianity] has spread over not only cities, but villages and the country." whereof I Paul am--rather as Greek, "was made a minister." Respect for me, the minister of this world-wide Gospel, should lead you not to be moved from it. Moreover (he implies), the Gospel which ye heard from Epaphras, your "minister" (Col 1:7), is the same of which "I was made a minister" (Col 1:25; Eph 3:7): if you be moved from it, ye will desert the teaching of the recognized ministers of the Gospel for unauthorized false teachers.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

If--"Assuming that," &c.: not otherwise shall ye be so presented at His appearing (Col 1:22).

grounded--Greek, "founded," "fixed on the foundation" (compare Note, see on Eph 3:17; Luk 6:48-49).

settled--"steadfast." "Grounded" respects the foundation on which believers rest; "settled," their own steadfastness (Pe1 5:10). Co1 15:58 has the same Greek.

not moved away--by the false teachers.

the hope of the gospel-- (Eph 1:18).

which ye have heard . . . which was preached to every creature . . . whereof I . . . am . . . a minister--Three arguments against their being "moved away from the Gospel": (1) Their having heard it; (2) The universality of the preaching of it; (3) Paul's ministry in it. For "to (Greek, 'in') every creature," the oldest manuscripts read, "in all creation." Compare "in all the world," Col 1:6; "all things . . . in earth," Col 1:20 (Mar 16:15): thus he implies that the Gospel from which he urges them not to be moved, has this mark of truth, namely, the universality of its announcement, which accords with the command and prophecy of Christ Himself (Mat 24:14). By "was preached," he means not merely "is being preached," but has been actually, as an accomplished fact, preached. PLINY, not many years subsequently, in his famous letter to the Emperor Trajan [Epistles, Book X., Epistle 97], writes, "Many of every age, rank, and sex, are being brought to trial. For the contagion of that superstition [Christianity] has spread over not only cities, but villages and the country."

whereof I Paul am--rather as Greek, "was made a minister." Respect for me, the minister of this world-wide Gospel, should lead you not to be moved from it. Moreover (he implies), the Gospel which ye heard from Epaphras, your "minister" (Col 1:7), is the same of which "I was made a minister" (Col 1:25; Eph 3:7): if you be moved from it, ye will desert the teaching of the recognized ministers of the Gospel for unauthorized false teachers.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
If ye continue in the faith - In the belief of the gospel, and in holy living. If this were done, they would be presented unblameable be fore God; if not, they would not be. The meaning is, that it will be impossible to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel. Grounded - On a firm foundation; see the notes at Eph 3:17, where the same word occurs. And settled - Greek, "firm;" as a building is that is founded on a rock; compare Mat 7:25. And be not moved away from the hope of the gospel - By the arts of philosophy, and the allurements of sin. Which was preached to every creature which is under heaven - It cannot be supposed that it was literally true that every creature under heaven had actually heard the gospel. But this may mean: (1) That it was designed to be preached to every creature, or that the commission to make it known embraced everyone, and that, so far as the provisions of the gospel are concerned, it may be said that it was a system proclaimed to all mankind; see Mar 16:15. If a vast army, or the inhabitants of a distant province, were in rebellion against a government, and a proclamation of pardon were issued, it would not be improper to say that it was made to every one of them, though, as a matter of fact, it might not be true that everyone in the remote parts of the army or province had actually heard of it. (2) the gospel in the time of Paul seems to have been so extensively preached, that it might be said that it was proclaimed to everybody. All known countries appear to have been visited; and so zealous and laborious had been the heralds of salvation, that it might be said that the message had been proclaimed to all the world; see Col 1:6; compare the notes at Mat 24:14. Whereof I Paul am made a minister - See the notes at Eph 3:1-7. Paul here pursues the same train of thought which he does in the Epistle to the Ephesians, where, having shown the exalted nature of the Redeemer, and the design of the gospel, he adverts to his own labors and sufferings in making it known. The object seems to be to show that he regarded it as the highest honor to be thus intrusted with the message of mercy to mankind, and considered it as a privilege to suffer in that cause.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Continue in the faith (ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει) The verb means to stay at or with (ἐπί). So Phi 1:24, to abide by the flesh. See on Rom 6:1. The faith is not the gospel system (see on Act 6:7), but the Colossians' faith in Christ. Your faith would be better. Grounded and settled (τεθελεωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι) For grounded, see on settle, Pe1 5:10; compare Luk 6:48, Luk 6:49; Eph 3:17. Settled, from ἕδρα a seat. Rev., steadfast. See Co1 7:37; Co1 15:58, the only other passages where it occurs. Compare ἑδραίωμα ground, Ti1 3:15. Bengel says: "The former is metaphorical, the latter more literal. The one implies greater respect to the foundation by which believers are supported; but settled suggests inward strength which believers themselves possess." Moved away (μετακινούμενοι) The present participle signifying continual shifting. Compare Co1 15:58. To every creature (ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει) Rev, correctly, in all creation. See on Co2 5:17, and compare Col 1:15.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
If ye continue in the faith - Otherwise, ye will lose all the blessings which ye have already begun to enjoy. And be not removed from the hope of the gospel - The glorious hope of perfect love. Which is preached - Is already begun to be preached to every creature under heaven.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
If ye continue in the faith - This will be the case if you, who have already believed in Christ Jesus, continue in that faith, grounded in the knowledge and love of God, and settled - made firm and perseveringly steadfast, in that state of salvation. And be not moved away - Not permitting yourselves to be seduced by false teachers. The hope of the Gospel - The resurrection of the body, and the glorification of it and the soul together, in the realms of blessedness. This is properly the Gospel Hope. To every creature which is under heaven - A Hebraism for the whole human race, and particularly referring to the two grand divisions of mankind, the Jews and Gentiles; to both of these the Gospel had been preached, and to each, salvation by Christ had been equally offered. And as none had been excluded from the offers of mercy, and Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man, and the Jews and Gentiles, in their great corporate capacity, had all been invited to believe the Gospel; therefore, the apostle concludes that the Gospel was preached to every creature under heaven, as being offered without restrictions or limitations to these two grand divisions of mankind, including the whole human race.

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⁷ Whereof [3739] I was made [1096] a minister [1249], according [2596] to the gift [1431] of the grace [5485] of God [2316] given [1325] unto me [3427] by [2596] the effectual working [1753] of his [846] power [1411].

²⁵ Whereof [3739] I [1473] am made [1096] a minister [1249], according to [2596] the dispensation [3622] of God [2316] which [3588] is given [1325] to me [3427] for [1519] you [5209], to fulfil [4137] the word [3056] of God [2316];

⁷ As [2531] ye [3129] also [2532] learned [3129] of [575] Epaphras [1889] our [2257] dear [27] fellowservant [4889], who [3739] is [2076] for [5228] you [5216] a faithful [4103] minister [1249] of Christ [5547];

¹⁴ And [2532] this [5124] gospel [2098] of the kingdom [932] shall be preached [2784] in [1722] all [3650] the world [3625] for [1519] a witness [3142] unto all [3956] nations [1484]; and [2532] then [5119] shall the end [5056] come [2240].

¹⁵ And [2532] he said [2036] unto them [846], Go ye [4198] into [1519] all [537] the world [2889], and preach [2784] the gospel [2098] to every [3956] creature [2937].

²⁰ And [2532], having made peace [1517] through [1223] the blood [129] of his [846] cross [4716], by [1223] him [846] to reconcile [604] all things [3956] unto [1519] himself [846]; by [1223] him [846], I say, whether [1535] they be things in [1909] earth [1093], or [1535] things in [1722] heaven [3772].

⁶ Which [3588] is come [3918] unto [1519] you [5209], as [2531] [2532] it is in [1722] all [3956] the world [2889]; and [2532] bringeth forth fruit [2076] [2592], as [2531] it doth also [2532] in [1722] you [5213], since [575] the [3739] day [2250] ye heard [191] of it, and [2532] knew [1921] the grace [5485] of God [2316] in [1722] truth [225]:

¹⁸ The eyes [3788] of your [5216] understanding [1271] being enlightened [5461]; that [1519] ye [5209] may know [1492] what [5101] is [2076] the hope [1680] of his [846] calling [2821], and [2532] what [5101] the riches [4149] of the glory [1391] of his [846] inheritance [2817] in [1722] the saints [40],

⁵⁸ Therefore [5620], my [3450] beloved [27] brethren [80], be ye [1096] stedfast [1476], unmoveable [277], always [3842] abounding [4052] in [1722] the work [2041] of the Lord [2962], forasmuch as ye know [1492] that [3754] your [5216] labour [2873] is [2076] not [3756] in vain [2756] in [1722] the Lord [2962].

¹⁰ But [1161] the God [2316] of all [3956] grace [5485], who [3588] hath called [2564] us [2248] unto [1519] his [846] eternal [166] glory [1391] by [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], after that ye have suffered [3958] a while [3641], [846] make [2675] you [5209] perfect [2675], stablish [4741], strengthen [4599], settle [2311] you.

⁴⁸ He is [2076] like [3664] a man [444] which [3739] built [3618] an house [3614], and [2532] digged [4626] deep [900], and [2532] laid [5087] the foundation [2310] on [1909] a rock [4073]: and [1161] when the flood [4132] arose [1096], the stream [4215] beat vehemently [4366] upon that [1565] house [3614], and [2532] could [2480] not [3756] shake [4531] it [846]: for [1063] it was founded [2311] upon [1909] a rock [4073].
⁴⁹ But [1161] he that heareth [191], and [2532] doeth [4160] not [3361], is [2076] like [3664] a man [444] that without [5565] a foundation [2310] built [3618] an house [3614] upon [1909] the earth [1093]; against [4366] which [3739] the stream [4215] did beat vehemently [4366], and [2532] immediately [2112] it fell [4098]; and [2532] the ruin [4485] of that [1565] house [3614] was [1096] great [3173].

¹⁷ That Christ [5547] may dwell [2730] in [1722] your [5216] hearts [2588] by [1223] faith [4102]; that [2443] ye, being rooted [4492] and [2532] grounded [2311] in [1722] love [26],

²² In [1722] the body [4983] of his [846] flesh [4561] through [1223] death [2288], to present [3936] you [5209] holy [40] and [2532] unblameable [299] and [2532] unreproveable [410] in his [846] sight [2714]:

¹ For this [5127] cause [5484] I [1473] Paul [3972], the prisoner [1198] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] for [5228] you [5216] Gentiles [1484],
² If [1489] ye have heard [191] of the dispensation [3622] of the grace [5485] of God [2316] which [3588] is given [1325] me [3427] to [1519] you-ward [5209]:
³ How that [3754] by [2596] revelation [602] he made known [1107] unto me [3427] the mystery [3466]; (as [2531] I wrote afore [4270] in [1722] few words [3641],
⁴ Whereby [4314] [3739], when ye read [314], ye may [1410] understand [3539] my [3450] knowledge [4907] in [1722] the mystery [3466] of Christ [5547])
⁵ Which [3739] in [1722] other [2087] ages [1074] was [1107] not [3756] made known [1107] unto the sons [5207] of men [444], as [5613] it is [601] now [3568] revealed [601] unto his [846] holy [40] apostles [652] and [2532] prophets [4396] by [1722] the Spirit [4151];
⁶ That the Gentiles [1484] should be [1511] fellowheirs [4789], and [2532] of the same body [4954], and [2532] partakers [4830] of his [846] promise [1860] in [1722] Christ [5547] by [1223] the gospel [2098]:
⁷ Whereof [3739] I was made [1096] a minister [1249], according [2596] to the gift [1431] of the grace [5485] of God [2316] given [1325] unto me [3427] by [2596] the effectual working [1753] of his [846] power [1411].

¹⁵ And [2532] he said [2036] unto them [846], Go ye [4198] into [1519] all [537] the world [2889], and preach [2784] the gospel [2098] to every [3956] creature [2937].

²⁵ And [2532] the rain [1028] descended [2597], and [2532] the floods [4215] came [2064], and [2532] the winds [417] blew [4154], and [2532] beat upon [4363] that [1565] house [3614]; and [2532] it fell [4098] not [3756]: for [1063] it was founded [2311] upon [1909] a rock [4073].

¹⁷ That Christ [5547] may dwell [2730] in [1722] your [5216] hearts [2588] by [1223] faith [4102]; that [2443] ye, being rooted [4492] and [2532] grounded [2311] in [1722] love [26],

¹⁵ Who [3739] is [2076] the image [1504] of the invisible [517] God [2316], the firstborn [4416] of every [3956] creature [2937]:

¹⁷ Therefore [5620] if any man [1536] be in [1722] Christ [5547], he is a new [2537] creature [2937]: old things [744] are passed away [3928]; behold [2400], all things [3956] are become [1096] new [2537].

¹⁵ But [1161] if [1437] I tarry long [1019], that [2443] thou mayest know [1492] how [4459] thou oughtest [1163] to behave thyself [390] in [1722] the house [3624] of God [2316], which [3748] is [2076] the church [1577] of the living [2198] God [2316], the pillar [4769] and [2532] ground [1477] of the truth [225].

³⁷ Nevertheless [1161] he [3739] that standeth [2476] stedfast [1476] in [1722] his heart [2588], having [2192] no [3361] necessity [318], but [1161] hath [2192] power [1849] over [4012] his own [2398] will [2307], and [2532] hath [2919] so [5124] decreed [2919] in [1722] his [846] heart [2588] that he will keep [5083] his [1438] virgin [3933], doeth [4160] well [2573].

¹⁷ That Christ [5547] may dwell [2730] in [1722] your [5216] hearts [2588] by [1223] faith [4102]; that [2443] ye, being rooted [4492] and [2532] grounded [2311] in [1722] love [26],

⁴⁹ But [1161] he that heareth [191], and [2532] doeth [4160] not [3361], is [2076] like [3664] a man [444] that without [5565] a foundation [2310] built [3618] an house [3614] upon [1909] the earth [1093]; against [4366] which [3739] the stream [4215] did beat vehemently [4366], and [2532] immediately [2112] it fell [4098]; and [2532] the ruin [4485] of that [1565] house [3614] was [1096] great [3173].

⁷ And [2532] the word [3056] of God [2316] increased [837]; and [2532] the number [706] of the disciples [3101] multiplied [4129] in [1722] Jerusalem [2419] greatly [4970]; and [5037] a great [4183] company [3793] of the priests [2409] were obedient [5219] to the faith [4102].

¹ What [5101] shall we say [2046] then [3767]? Shall we continue [1961] in sin [266], that [2443] grace [5485] may abound [4121]?

²⁴ Nevertheless [1161] to abide [1961] in [1722] the flesh [4561] is more needful [316] for [1223] you [5209].