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Selected Verse: Colossians 4:12 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Col 4:12 |
Strong Concordance |
Epaphras [1889], who is one of [1537] you [5216], a servant [1401] of Christ [5547], saluteth [782] you [5209], always [3842] labouring fervently [75] for [5228] you [5216] in [1722] prayers [4335], that [2443] ye may stand [2476] perfect [5046] and [2532] complete [4137] in [1722] all [3956] the will [2307] of God [2316]. |
| |
King James |
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 complete in all the will of God. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Christ--The oldest manuscripts add "Jesus."
labouring fervently--As the Greek, is the same, translate, "striving earnestly" (see on Col 1:29 and Col 2:1), literally, "striving as in the agony of a contest."
in prayers--Translate as Greek, "in his prayers."
complete--The oldest manuscripts read, "fully assured." It is translated, "fully persuaded," Rom 4:21; Rom 14:5. In the expression "perfect," he refers to what he has already said, Col 1:28; Col 2:2; Col 3:14. "Perfect" implies the attainment of the full maturity of a Christian. BENGEL joins "in all the will of God" with "stand." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Epaphras - Notes, Col 1:7.
Always laboring fervently for you in prayers - Margin, "or striving." Greek: "agonizing." The word denotes the intense desire which he had for their salvation; his fervent, earnest pleading for their welfare.
That ye may stand perfect and complete - Margin, as in Greek, filled. The desire was, that they might maintain their Christian principles unadulterated by the mixture of philosophy and error, and completely perform the will of God in every respect. This is the expression of a pious wish in regard to them, without any affirmation that any had been absolutely perfect, or that they would be perfect in this world. It is, however, a command of God that we should be perfect (see Mat 5:48), and it is the highest wish of benevolence in reference to anyone that he may be complete in moral character, and may do all the will of God; compare the notes at Co1 13:9. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
Epaphras
A touching illustration of priestly service,
(See Scofield) - (Pe1 2:9),
as distinguished from ministry of gift. Shut up in prison, no longer able to preach, Epaphras was still, equally with all believers, a priest. No prison could keep him from the throne of grace, so he gave himself wholly to the priestly work of intercession.
perfect
(See Scofield) - (Mat 5:48).
|
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Laboring fervently (ἀγωνιζόμενος)
Rev., striving. See on Col 1:29; see on Col 2:1. Compare Rom 15:30.
Perfect (τέλειοι)
See on Co1 2:6, Co1 2:7; see on Co1 1:28.
Complete (πεπληροφορημένοι)
See on most surely believed, Luk 1:1; and compare full assurance, Col 2:2. Rev., fully assured.
In all the will (ἐν παντὶ θελήματι)
Lit., in every will. Will means the thing willed, as Luk 12:47; James 5:30; Th1 5:18. Hence used sometimes in the plural, as Act 13:22, shall do all my will (θελήματα), i.e., perform all the things willed by me. Eph 2:3, desires, strictly willings. So here the sense is, everything willed by God. The connection is apparently with σταθῆτε ye may stand. For a similar construction see Joh 8:44; Rom 5:2; Co1 15:1; Co1 16:13. As Meyer observes, this connection gives stand both a modal definition (perfect and fully assured) and a local definition (in all the will). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Perfect - Endued with every Christian grace. Filled - As no longer being babes, but grown up to the measure of the stature of Christ; being full of his light, grace, wisdom, holiness. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Epaphras, who is one of you - A native of some part of Phrygia, and probably of Colosse itself.
A servant of Christ - A minister of the Gospel.
Labouring fervently for you - Αγωνιζομενος· Agonizing; very properly expressed by our translators, labouring fervently.
That ye may stand perfect and complete - Ἱνα στητε τελειοι και πεπληρμενοι. That ye may stand firm, perfectly instructed, and fully persuaded of the truth of those doctrines which have been taught you as the revealed will of God: this I believe to be the meaning of the apostle.
Instead of πεπληρωμενοι, complete or filled up, almost all the MSS. of the Alexandrian rescension, which are considered the most authentic and correct, have πεπληροφορημενοι, that ye may be fully persuaded. The word πληροφορια signifies such a complete persuasion of the certainty of a thing, as leaves the mind which has it neither room nor inclination to doubt; and πληροφορεω, the verb, has the same meaning, viz., to be thus persuaded, or to persuade thus, by demonstrative argumentation and exhibition of unquestionable facts.
This is such a persuasion as the Spirit of God, by means of the Gospel, gives to every sincere and faithful man; and from which arises the solid happiness of the genuine Christian. They who argue against it, prove, at least, that they have not got it. |
14 And [1161] above [1909] all [3956] these things [5125] put on charity [26], which [3748] is [2076] the bond [4886] of perfectness [5047].
2 That [2443] their [846] hearts [2588] might be comforted [3870], being knit together [4822] in [1722] love [26], and [2532] unto [1519] all [3956] riches [4149] of the full assurance [4136] of understanding [4907], to [1519] the acknowledgement [1922] of the mystery [3466] of God [2316], and [2532] of the Father [3962], and [2532] of Christ [5547];
28 Whom [3739] we [2249] preach [2605], warning [3560] every [3956] man [444], and [2532] teaching [1321] every [3956] man [444] in [1722] all [3956] wisdom [4678]; that [2443] we may present [3936] every [3956] man [444] perfect [5046] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424]:
5 One [3303] man [3739] esteemeth [2919] one day [2250] above [3844] another [2250]: [1161] another [3739] esteemeth [2919] every [3956] day [2250] alike. Let [4135] every man [1538] be fully persuaded [4135] in [1722] his own [2398] mind [3563].
21 And [2532] being fully persuaded [4135] that [3754], what [3739] he had promised [1861], he was [2076] able [1415] also [2532] to perform [4160].
1 For [1063] I would [2309] that ye [5209] knew [1492] what great [2245] conflict [73] I have [2192] for [4012] you [5216], and [2532] for them at [1722] Laodicea [2993], and [2532] for as many as [3745] have [3708] not [3756] seen [3708] my [3450] face [4383] in [1722] the flesh [4561];
29 Whereunto [1519] [3739] I [2872] also [2532] labour [2872], striving [75] according to [2596] his [846] working [1753], which [3588] worketh [1754] in [1722] me [1698] mightily [1722] [1411].
9 For [1063] we know [1097] in [1537] part [3313], and [2532] we prophesy [4395] in [1537] part [3313].
48 Be [2071] ye [5210] therefore [3767] perfect [5046], even [5618] as your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772] is [2076] perfect [5046].
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];
48 Be [2071] ye [5210] therefore [3767] perfect [5046], even [5618] as your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772] is [2076] perfect [5046].
9 But [1161] ye [5210] are a chosen [1588] generation [1085], a royal [934] priesthood [2406], an holy [40] nation [1484], a peculiar [1519] [4047] people [2992]; that [3704] ye should shew forth [1804] the praises [703] of him who hath called [2564] you [5209] out of [1537] darkness [4655] into [1519] his [846] marvellous [2298] light [5457]:
13 Watch ye [1127], stand fast [4739] in [1722] the faith [4102], quit you like men [407], be strong [2901].
1 Moreover [1161], brethren [80], I declare [1107] unto you [5213] the gospel [2098] which [3739] I preached [2097] unto you [5213], which [3739] also [2532] ye have received [3880], and [2532] wherein [1722] [3739] ye stand [2476];
2 By [1223] whom [3739] also [2532] we have [2192] access [4318] by faith [4102] into [1519] this [5026] grace [5485] wherein [1722] [3739] we stand [2476], and [2532] rejoice [2744] in [1909] hope [1680] of the glory [1391] of God [2316].
44 Ye [5210] are [2075] of [1537] your father [3962] the devil [1228], and [2532] the lusts [1939] of your [5216] father [3962] ye will [2309] do [4160]. He [1565] was [2258] a murderer [443] from [575] the beginning [746], and [2532] abode [2476] not [3756] in [1722] the truth [225], because [3754] there is [2076] no [3756] truth [225] in [1722] him [846]. When [3752] he speaketh [2980] a lie [5579], he speaketh [2980] of [1537] his own [2398]: for [3754] he is [2076] a liar [5583], and [2532] the father [3962] of it [846].
3 Among [1722] whom [3739] also [2532] we [2249] all [3956] had our conversation [390] in times past [4218] in [1722] the lusts [1939] of our [2257] flesh [4561], fulfilling [4160] the desires [2307] of the flesh [4561] and [2532] of the mind [1271]; and [2532] were [2258] by nature [5449] the children [5043] of wrath [3709], even [2532] as [5613] others [3062].
22 And [2532] when he had removed [3179] him [846], he raised up [1453] unto them [846] David [1138] to be [1519] their king [935]; to whom [3739] also [2532] he gave testimony [3140], and said [2036], I have found [2147] David [1138] the son of Jesse [2421], a man [435] after [2596] mine own [3450] heart [2588], which [3739] shall fulfil [4160] all [3956] my [3450] will [2307].
18 In [1722] every thing [3956] give thanks [2168]: for [1063] this [5124] is the will [2307] of God [2316] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] concerning [1519] you [5209].
47 And [1161] that [1565] servant [1401], which [3588] knew [1097] his [1438] lord's [2962] will [2307], and [2532] prepared [2090] not [3361] himself, neither [3366] did [4160] according [4314] to his [846] will [2307], shall be beaten [1194] with many [4183] stripes.
2 That [2443] their [846] hearts [2588] might be comforted [3870], being knit together [4822] in [1722] love [26], and [2532] unto [1519] all [3956] riches [4149] of the full assurance [4136] of understanding [4907], to [1519] the acknowledgement [1922] of the mystery [3466] of God [2316], and [2532] of the Father [3962], and [2532] of Christ [5547];
1 Forasmuch [1895] as many [4183] have taken in hand [2021] to set forth in order [392] a declaration [1335] of [4012] those things [4229] which are most surely believed [4135] among [1722] us [2254],
28 And [2532] base things [36] of the world [2889], and [2532] things which are despised [1848], hath [1586] God [2316] chosen [1586], yea, and [2532] things which [3588] are [5607] not [3361], to [2443] bring to nought [2673] things that are [5607]:
7 But [235] we speak [2980] the wisdom [4678] of God [2316] in [1722] a mystery [3466], even the hidden [613] wisdom, which [3739] God [2316] ordained [4309] before [4253] the world [165] unto [1519] our [2257] glory [1391]:
6 Howbeit [1161] we speak [2980] wisdom [4678] among [1722] them that are perfect [5046]: yet [1161] not [3756] the wisdom [4678] of this [5127] world [165], nor [3761] of the princes [758] of this [5127] world [165], that come to nought [2673]:
30 Now [1161] I beseech [3870] you [5209], brethren [80], for [1223] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ's [5547] sake [2257], and [2532] for [1223] the love [26] of the Spirit [4151], that ye strive together [4865] with me [3427] in [1722] your prayers [4335] to [4314] God [2316] for [5228] me [1700];
1 For [1063] I would [2309] that ye [5209] knew [1492] what great [2245] conflict [73] I have [2192] for [4012] you [5216], and [2532] for them at [1722] Laodicea [2993], and [2532] for as many as [3745] have [3708] not [3756] seen [3708] my [3450] face [4383] in [1722] the flesh [4561];
29 Whereunto [1519] [3739] I [2872] also [2532] labour [2872], striving [75] according to [2596] his [846] working [1753], which [3588] worketh [1754] in [1722] me [1698] mightily [1722] [1411].