Paragraph 2:1–5

Theme: Paul was deeply committed to helping the Colossians to understand God’s message about Christ. He knew it was important for them to understand it fully so that no one would deceive them.

2:1a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces more information about how hard Paul works (1:29). Some English versions do not translate this conjunction.

how much I am struggling: The Greek word agōna that the Berean Standard Bible translates struggling has the same root as the word that Paul used in 1:29b. It refers to a physical struggle, for example, an athletic contest or a battle, but also emphasizes the emotions that are involved: “I am struggling/agonizing.” In 1:28–29 Paul had said that he was struggling so that everyone might be perfect in Christ. Here in 2:1 he said that he was struggling specifically for the Christians in Colossae and for others whom he had never met and therefore had never taught.

Because Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter, he could not literally work for the Colossians by preaching or helping them in other ways, so he probably was referring to struggling by praying intensively and letter writing. You could translate this verse part as:

I want you to know how concerned I am for you.

2:1b

Laodicea: Laodicea was a town northwest of Colossae, further down the Lycos river. Paul probably mentioned Laodicea because it was close to Colossae, and because he knew that the believers in Laodicea would later read this letter (see 4:16b).

2:1c

and for all who have not met me face to face: Paul had never preached the gospel in either Colossae or Laodicea, but he was still concerned for believers there and in other places where he had not personally worked. In your translation, you may need to clarify that the believers in Colossae and Laodicea are included in the larger group of all who have not met me face to face. One way to do this is to translate 2:1c as:

…and for all other believers who have not met me.

Another way to do this is to reverse the order of the clauses in 2:1. For example:

I want to tell you how hard I have worked for all the believers who have never met me personally, including you there in Colossae and also the believers in Laodicea.

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