SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001 – Page 11

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.

© 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 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).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 4:1

4:1a

supply your slaves with what is right and fair: Paul was writing not only about giving slaves things like food and clothing, but also about how masters should treat slaves. He said that masters should treat their slaves in a right and fair manner. There were no laws to protect slaves at that time—their masters could treat them in any way they chose. Paul was appealing to Christian slave owners to treat their slaves in a way that would please God.

right: The Greek word dikaios that the Berean Standard Bible translates right means “just, righteous.”

fair: The Greek word isotēs that the Berean Standard Bible translates fair is similar in meaning to the word translated “right.” It means “equally.”

4:1b

you also: In Greek these words are emphatic. One way to express this emphasis in English is: “Even you who are masters, remember you also have a Master in heaven.”

have a Master in heaven: In some languages it is more natural to say, “you serve a Master in heaven,” or “you are slaves of a Master in heaven.”

Master in heaven: In 3:22 Paul told slaves to obey their “earthly masters.” Here he reminded Christian slave owners that they also have a Master. Of course, Paul meant the Lord Jesus who is in heaven. The context clarifies this, so you will probably not need to make this explicit. If you do need to make it explicit, here is one way you could do so:

Remember that you also serve a master who is in heaven. He is the Lord…

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 1:25

1:25a

I became its servant: The pronoun its refers back to “church” in 1:24. In 1:23 Paul had said that he had become a servant of the gospel. Here he said that he had become a servant of the church. Paul had become someone who worked to help the community of those who believed in Jesus.

1:25b–c

by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you: In the Greek text, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates to you is in the middle of the verse. Therefore, scholars do not agree about how it is connected to the rest of the verse. There are two main ways to understand this phrase:

(1) It is connected to what precedes it, that is, God gave Paul a commission for the Colossians, that is, for their benefit, in order to help them.

(Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It is connected to what follows, that is, God gave Paul a commission to present the word of God to the Colossians.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1) since most commentaries support it and it is the clearest way to understand the Greek structure.

the commission God gave: To give a commission to someone means to appoint him to do a job, to entrust him with a duty, and make him responsible to do it. The job/commission God entrusted to Paul was to serve the church in Colossae.

to fully proclaim to you the word of God: One of the ways that God wanted Paul to serve the church was to fully proclaim…the word of God. Paul’s job was to “fully proclaim God’s message,” or “to tell people about God’s message.”

the word of God: This refers to the message from God, the gospel. In this context it does not mean only the written word of God, the Scriptures.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:5

Paragraph 3:5–11

Theme: Paul commanded the Colossians not to do what was evil.

3:5a

Put to death: This is a figure of speech that means: “have nothing to do with,” “do not associate with,” “refuse to do,” or “eliminate completely.” Paul was saying that the Colossians should no longer act in these ways, in fact, they should totally reject such behavior. It is as if such ways of behaving are “dead” and therefore these old ways no longer control the believers. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

So put all evil things out of your life (New Century Version)

therefore: This word connects this paragraph to what Paul had said before. Here Paul began to instruct the Colossians about how they should and should not behave, but he based his commands on the previous paragraphs. These paragraphs described the new life the Colossians now had because they had trusted in Christ.

the components of your earthly nature: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as earthly is literally “on the earth.” It is the same phrase Paul used in 3:2b. It means the evil deeds and desires that come from the old sinful nature. Paul was telling the Colossians that they must put to death anything that belongs to that old sinful nature. In other words, they should no longer behave the way they used to behave before they trusted in Christ.

3:5b–c

In 3:5b–c Paul lists five kinds of evil behavior as examples of “the components of your earthly nature.”

3:5b

sexual immorality, impurity, lust: The first three kinds of evil behavior that Paul listed were sexual sins.

sexual immorality: The Greek word porneia that the Berean Standard Bible translates sexual immorality is a general term that means any kind of unlawful sexual behavior. This includes people having sex before they are married or having sex with someone other than their own husband or wife.

impurity: The second term, impurity, also refers to sexual sin. It is often mentioned together with porneia, “sexual immorality,” in the NT. It can be translated, “doing indecent things,” or “doing shameful things.”

lust: The last term, lust, means “strong desire, passion.” In this verse, it probably means strong sexual desire.

It is difficult to make differences between these three terms in some languages. If you do not have different terms for each of these ideas in your language, here are some ways you could combine them:

Do not commit adultery or do other deeds that people are ashamed to talk about.
-or-
Do not behave in any sort of sexually immoral way.

evil desires: The fourth term, evil desires, is a general term. It probably refers not only to evil sexual desires, but also to any kind of evil desire. Here is another way to translate this term:

Do not desire to do what is evil (SSA)

Since Paul has just referred to sexual sins, you may want to translate it like this:

and do not desire to do other kinds of evil

3:5c

greed: The fifth term, greed, means desiring to get more and more things, such as money or other possessions.

which is idolatry: Paul said here that “greed” is the same as idolatry. Idolatry usually means, “the worship of idols rather than God.”

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001