SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 1:24

Section 1:24–2:5

Paul told about the way he worked hard to tell the gospel to the non-Jews

Theme: Paul willingly suffered and worked hard so that the Colossians, most of whom were not Jews, would understand the true message about Christ so thoroughly that no one would be able to deceive them.

Paragraph 1:24–29

Theme: Paul willingly suffered so that the Colossians, most of whom were not Jews, would know the message about Christ.

1:24a

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you: Paul was writing about what he had suffered. Here is another way to translate this clause:

And now I am happy about my sufferings for you (Good News Translation)

I rejoice: Paul was not saying that he enjoyed suffering. Rather he was saying that he was willing to suffer for the Christians in Colossae and other places.

for you: The words for you mean “in order to help you,” or “to benefit you.” In this section, 1:24–2:5, Paul spoke mainly about his work to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (those who were not Jews), and so the pronoun you means, “you Gentile Christians.”

The reason Paul had been suffering was that when he preached the gospel, especially to the Gentiles, his enemies had often persecuted him and put him in prison.

1:24b

I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions: This is a difficult expression to understand and scholars disagree about what it means. It is not possible in these notes to explain all the different possibilities. Because of this, these notes present one major view among the many. For other views, you need to consult commentaries.

I fill up: The Greek verb antanaplērō that the Berean Standard Bible translates I fill up means, “I complete (something) by adding what is lacking.” Here it means, “I am completing what Christ has appointed for me to suffer,” or “I am completing my responsibility to suffer [on behalf of Christ].” Paul did this willingly (see the note on 1:24a).

in my flesh: This means that Paul was writing about physical suffering (see Good News Translation).

what is lacking: This clause implies what Christ taught, that is, that all Christians will suffer persecution. So here Paul meant that he was suffering what still needed to be suffered.

in regard to Christ’s afflictions: The Greek word thlipsis that the Berean Standard Bible translates afflictions is not used in the NT to refer to what Christ suffered when he died on the cross. It refers to the persecution, difficulties, and other physical and emotional hardships that Christians suffer. For example, it is used in Matthew 24:9, John 16:33, and Revelation 7:14.

Biblical scholars have different opinions about what the phrase Christ’s afflictions means in this context. The three most common opinions are as follows:

(1) “⌊I am suffering⌋ on behalf of Christ.”

(2) “⌊I am suffering⌋ the sufferings of Christ”—that is, “through my suffering, as a member of the body of Christ, it is as if Christ himself were suffering.”

(3) “⌊I am suffering⌋ in the same way Christ suffered.”

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1). Since Paul was writing about his own sufferings, it seems more likely that he was saying that he was suffering on behalf of Christ, that is, for the sake of Christ. (See Acts 9:16.)

Paul was not saying that what Christ suffered on the cross lacked something. This would imply that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to save those who believe in him. Your translation should be worded carefully to avoid suggesting this.

1:24c

His body, which is the church: See the notes on body and church in 1:18a.

© 2001 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:4

3:4

Paul contrasts 3:4 with 3:3. He was saying that now (while we are living on earth), the new life that we have because we are united with Christ is hidden (people cannot see it). But in the future, “when Christ…appears,” then our new life will no longer be hidden, everyone will be able to see it.

3:4a

Christ, who is your life: In many languages, a literal translation of this phrase will not provide the correct meaning to readers. This phrase contains the following ideas:

(a) Christ is the source of your new, spiritual life.

(b) Christ is the one who causes you to have this new life.

(d) Christ alone causes your life to have real meaning.

The first two are probably the best ways to translate the central meaning. If you need to include this implicit information, you could translate:

When Christ who ⌊gives you real/new⌋ life…
-or-
When Christ who is ⌊the source of⌋ your spiritual life

your life: There is a textual problem with this phrase:

(1) Some Greek texts say “your life.”

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts say “our life.”

(Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, King James Version, Revised English Bible)

The first option has the best support (1) and it is recommended that you translate this “your life.”

appears: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates appears can also be translated “be revealed.” Paul was referring to the future when Jesus will return to earth and show/reveal his power and glory.

3:4b

you also will appear with Him: In the future, when Christ returns to earth and is revealed to everyone, all believers will be with him and everyone will see them—their life that is united to Christ will no longer be hidden.

in glory: This is a difficult phrase to understand. There are two main interpretations:

(1) It refers to the state of Christ and his followers when they appear, that is, they will all have “glorious” bodies, perfect and free from sin.

(2) It refers to the manner in which Christ and his followers will appear. When Christ returns, he will come with all God’s visible glory—the brightness and light of heaven. The believers who are with him will share this glory.

In Colossae the false teachers were teaching that the only way for Christians to be perfect was to obey all the rules they were taught. It seems that Paul was saying that when believers appear with Christ, everyone will see that they are perfect and free from sin. The perfection is because they have died with Christ and were raised with him (3:1,3), not because of any rules they have obeyed. Therefore, it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

It probably will not be possible to include the complete meaning of this phrase in your translation. One way to include both interpretations is to say, “share his glory” (Good News Translation, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004)). Also, see “glory” in Key Biblical Terms and meaning 3 in the glossary for more information.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 4:11

4:11a

Jesus, who is called Justus: This does not refer to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was a common name for Jewish men. This is why the Good News Translation uses the name Joshua here. However it is better to use Jesus as the rest of the major English versions do.

who is called Justus: It was also common at the time Paul lived for Jews to have a Roman or Greek name as well as a Jewish name. This friend of Paul named Jesus was also called Justus.

4:11b

for the kingdom of God: The term kingdom of God (or kingdom of heaven) is used many times in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. See “kingdom of God” in Key Biblical Terms and meaning 2 in the glossary. You should translate this term here in a similar way to the way you translated it in those books.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 1:3

Section 1:3–12

Paul thanked God for the Colossians and prayed for them

In this section, Paul told the Colossian Christians that he often thanked God for them. He was grateful to God that they had trusted in Christ Jesus, and that they loved all God’s people. He told them about his prayers for them—that God would cause them to be wise and help them to know what he wanted them to do.

Epaphras had come from Colossae to visit Paul in prison. He brought news to Paul about the Christian congregations in Colossae and the towns nearby. Paul was happy to hear that the Christians in Colossae were trusting firmly in Jesus. However, he was concerned to hear that there were some people among them who wanted to continue to practice their old religious beliefs, and others who said that Christians must obey the Jewish laws. In this section of his letter, Paul concentrated on the good news he had heard from Epaphras.

Paragraph 1:3–8

The theme in this section is that Paul continually thanked God for the Colossian Christians, because they had trusted in Christ Jesus and because they loved their fellow Christians.

1:3

We: Paul said We here instead of “I” because he was including Timothy, and perhaps others who were with him.

the Father: God is not the father of Jesus in the way that a man is the biological father of a child. The use of the word Father is figurative and is used to express the unique and close relationship between God and Jesus. Calling God Father and Jesus “God’s Son” are important figures of speech throughout the NT, and you should keep these figures in your translation. If it is really impossible for you to use these figures of speech in your language, you must discuss other possibilities with your Translation Consultant to be sure you have chosen the best alternative.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2:6

Section 2:6–23

Behave as God’s people should behave and do not follow false teaching

Theme: Paul told the Colossians to behave correctly because they belong to Christ. They should not follow those who teach a false message. He also reminded them that God had accepted them completely because they belong to Christ.

In 1:13–2:5 Paul had reminded the Colossians what is true about Christ and had told them that God had always planned to make them his people. Beginning in 2:6, Paul urged them to continue to believe in Christ. He assured them that this was the same message that Epaphras and others had taught them. Therefore, they should continue to trust in Christ more and more and act in ways that honor God. They should not believe any other message.

Paragraph 2:6–7

Theme: The Colossians should continue to behave in ways that people who accept Christ Jesus as their ruler should behave.

In these verses Paul began more directly to urge the Colossian believers to continue to follow Christ and to reject the false teachings they were hearing.

2:6a

Therefore: The Greek word oun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore shows that Paul was basing what he was about to say on what he had already said: “So, based on what I have said, I urge you…”

just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord: This means “since/because you have received Christ Jesus as Lord.”

have received: This can mean either “to accept something” or “to accept instruction or teaching about something.” So there are two ways to interpret this part of the verse:

(1) The Colossians had believed the teaching that Christ Jesus was the Lord, the supreme ruler of the universe and of all his people.

(2) The Colossians had accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord, that is, as their ruler or chief, the one whom they obey.

Both of these interpretations are true, and Paul probably did not distinguish between them in his mind. However in his letters, Paul used this word most frequently to mean, “to accept teaching about something” (see 1 Corinthians 11:23, 15:3; Galatians 1:9, 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Therefore, it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

If you want to follow the second interpretation (2), you could translate this part of the verse:

So then, since you have acknowledged that Christ Jesus is your Lord…,
-or-
So then, since you have said, “Christ Jesus is my Lord,”…

The form of the word received in Greek shows that it refers to an action that had been completed, that is, at some time in the past the Colossians had heard and believed the teaching about Christ.

2:6b

continue to walk in Him: The Greek translated literally says, “walk in him.” This is a figure of speech that means, “behave every day like someone who is united to Christ.” The verb is in the present tense, meaning, “continue to behave….” Paul was writing about the way the Colossians should act/behave every day.

in Him: Paul urged his readers to walk in Him. This meant that the way they behaved should be based on the fact that they were united to Christ.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:15

Paragraph 3:15–16

Theme: Paul urged the Colossians to continue to live peacefully with one another and to thank God constantly. He urged them to be totally committed to the message of Christ.

3:15a

peace of Christ: This refers to the peace that Christ gives to a believer. Christ has caused Christians to be at peace with God and with one another. In this verse, Paul was writing about being at peace with other people, specifically with other Christians (see 3:14b, 3:15b). So one way to translate this is:

Christ has caused you to be at peace with one another.

peace: In this context, peace means “the ability to be in harmony with one another.”

rule: The Greek word brabeuō that the Berean Standard Bible translates rule means “to direct, control.”

in your hearts: This can mean either:

(1) among you, as a group, or

(2) within each of you, as individuals.

Since Paul’s next phrase reminded the Colossian believers that God expected them to live peacefully with one another, the first interpretation is preferred (1).

3:15b

for to this you were called: To be called means “God chose you ⌊to be his people⌋ so that you will be at peace with one another.” Paul was giving the basis for telling the Colossians why they should always try to live peacefully with other Christians, that is, they should do this, for one of God’s purposes in choosing them was so that they would live peacefully with one another.

as members of one body: Paul used this phrase before—see the note on 1:18a. You can translate it as a figure of speech: You are ⌊like⌋ members of one body,” or give the meaning, “You are ⌊all⌋ members of the same group.”

General Comment about 3:15

It may be better in some languages to reorder this verse. The Contemporary English Version has done this:

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together peacefully. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 1:14

1:14a

in whom: The words in whom refer to “His beloved Son” in 1:13b, that is, to Jesus. It is by means of the Son that God redeems people.

In the rest of this section, 1:14–23, Paul refers to Jesus by only a pronoun (“he,” “him,” “his”). However, in your language you may need to replace one or more of these pronouns with a name. If so, you should use “his/God’s Son,” which is the way Paul referred to Jesus in 1:13. Another way would be “Christ” or “Christ Jesus” (these are other ways Paul refers to Jesus in Colossians).

redemption: The noun redemption comes from the verb “to redeem” which means “to buy back something which once belonged to you.” It also means “to free someone from slavery by paying a price.” In the NT, the blood that Jesus shed when he died on the cross was the price that was paid to “redeem” people and free them from being slaves of Satan. See “redeem” in Key Biblical Terms for further information.

1:14b

the forgiveness of sins: In many languages, it is necessary to use a verb to translate forgiveness. God is the subject of the verb.

General Comment about 1:14

English versions do not agree about how 1:14a and 1:14b should be connected, that is, they do not agree about how Paul connected “redemption” and “forgiveness” in this verse. There are two possibilities:

(1) Some translations connect the two parts of the verse using the word “and.” In this case, Paul was saying that by means of his Son, God redeemed us and forgave our sins.

(Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible)

(2) Other versions consider that by “forgiveness,” Paul meant almost the same thing as “redemption” in 1:14a. So he was saying by means of his Son, God redeemed us, that is, he forgave our sins.

(Good News Translation, God’s Word)

Both of these options are possible. The Display follows the first option (1).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2:17

2:17a

a shadow of the things to come: This is a figure of speech. A person’s shadow shows something about what that person is like. In a similar way, the Jewish laws about food and the celebration of religious festivals helped the Jews to know, before he came, something about the Messiah, the Savior whom God had promised to send them.

2:17b

but the body that casts it belongs to Christ: This phrase continues the figure of speech from 2:17a. All the rules and customs were like a “shadow,” but Christ is like the body that makes the shadow.

General Comment about 2:17

If you need to explain this figure of speech in your translation, you could say something like:

These regulations are like a shadow that is cast by someone who is approaching; that is, they only represent the spiritual blessings that Christ himself has now given to you (adapted from SSA of 2:17).

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001