SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:20

Paragraph 3:20–21

Theme: Paul gave instructions to parents and children: that children should obey their parents, and parents should not overcorrect their children.

3:20b

for this is pleasing to the Lord: The Greek translated literally says, “for this is pleasing in the Lord.” There are two ways to interpret this:

(1) “for this pleases the Lord”

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, King James Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004)).

(2) “for this is pleasing ⌊to God⌋ in the Lord”. This means, “for this is what God wants you to do as followers of the Lord.” Here is another way to translate this:

for this is pleasing to God and is the Christian way (Revised English Bible)

(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, SSA)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation with most of the English versions (1).

Lord: This refers to the Lord Jesus, just as in 3:18b.

© 2001 by SIL International®
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 1:19

1:19

For: Notice that the Berean Standard Bible begins 1:19 with the word For. 1:19 explains and provides a reason for the previous verses.

God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him: A literal English translation of the Greek is: “in him was-pleased all the fullness to-dwell.” The phrase in Him refers to Jesus. In Greek there is no subject of the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates was pleased. There are two main possibilities:

(1) The subject of the verb is God. This is how most English versions translate the verse.

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

(2) The subject of the verb is fullness. This is how the Revised Standard Version translates the verse.

Most scholars agree that God is the subject of the verb was pleased and so it is recommended that you follow the first option (1). Another way to translate the words God was pleased is:

God decided…

all His fullness: The Greek is literally “all the fullness.” It is not clear from this verse alone what fullness Paul meant. However, this is similar to what Paul says in 2:9: “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.” This helps us to understand that Paul was probably referring to God’s fullness in this verse. When Jesus came into the world, even though he became a man, he was still God, and he still retained all the power and characteristics of God.

in Him: This, of course, refers to Christ. In the Greek text Paul placed these words at the beginning of the clause to emphasize them. You should emphasize them in your translation in a way that is natural in your language.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2:22

2:22–23

In 2:22–23, Paul gave the basis for why the Colossian believers did not need to obey the regulations he wrote about in 2:20–21.

2:22a

These will all perish with use: The word These refers to the things these rules talk about, such as food. It does not refer to the rules themselves. Paul was saying that to obey rules about these sorts of things would not help the Colossians to grow spiritually because such rules only talk about things that are used for a short time, and then wear out or are discarded.

2:22b

because they are based on human commands and teachings: The Greek translated literally says “according to the commands and teachings of people.” This refers to the regulations in 2:20. Paul was saying that the Colossians did not need to obey these rules because they were not God’s law, but only rules invented by people.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 4:6

4:6a

Let your speech: In your language you may need to translate the word speech as a sentence. For example:

When you talk ⌊to/with unbelievers⌋

always be gracious: It is difficult to know exactly what Paul meant when he said that “conversation” should be always be gracious. Most English versions use words like “kind, pleasant.” SSA suggests words like “courteous, wise, thoughtful.” See also meaning 3 of “grace” in the glossary.

4:6b

seasoned with salt: This figure of speech is even more difficult to understand than “full of grace” in 4:6a. Paul was probably thinking about the manner in which believers should speak to unbelievers when sharing their faith. Conversation that is seasoned with salt is perhaps lively, witty speech. You probably should not keep this figure in your translation. Here are some ways to translate the meaning without the figure of speech:

interesting (Good News Translation)
-or-
effective (New Living Translation (2004))

4:6c

so that you may know how to answer everyone: This is the result of 4:6a–b. Paul was saying that if the Colossians were wise in the way they behaved towards unbelievers, and if when they spoke to them they were polite and said things to interest them, the result would be that they would know how to answer everyone.

how to answer everyone: That is, “you will know how to answer everyone ⌊who asks you about the gospel⌋.”

The emphasis here is not on what they would say when answering questions asked by unbelievers, but rather on the manner in which they were to answer, that is, that they would know the best way to answer.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2:1

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.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:10

3:10a

The phrases in 3:10a are parallel to 3:9b. They describe what happened to the Colossians when they became Christians. 3:9b described the old nature the Colossians had put off or taken off, and 3:10a described the new nature they had put on instead.

have put on the new self: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates have put on is parallel to “have taken off” in 3:9b. It normally refers to putting on clothes. Here Paul used it as a figure of speech to mean that the Christian has “put on” (started) a new way of behaving, just as a person “puts on” clothes.

the new self: This means the new life and new way of behaving that a person has once he trusts in Christ.

Paul was saying: “you have started being a new person.”

3:10b

which: This refers back to the “new self” in 3:10a.

is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator: God is the one who is doing the “renewing.” The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates is being renewed is present tense in Greek. This means that God is continually renewing believers, that is, he is constantly changing them and causing them to be more like himself.

in knowledge: Most scholars think that Paul was writing about knowing God. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in order that you might get to know God truly (SSA)
-or-
in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself (Good News Translation)

its Creator: God, the Creator, was the one who created this new nature/self, and he is the one who gives new life to everyone who trusts in Christ. Here Paul was not referring to God creating the world or physical bodies, but to God creating a new nature for each Christian. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10.)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 4:17

4:17a

Tell Archippus: Archippus was a man who lived in Colossae. In this verse Paul wrote a message especially to him. Paul did not explain what work or ministry Archippus had, but he wanted to encourage Archippus to be faithful in his ministry.

4:17b

See to it: This means almost the same thing as “make sure that” in 4:16b. See the note there. Here are some ways you can translate it:

Make sure
-or-
Be careful
-or-
You must

the ministry you have received in the Lord: There are two main possibilities about what Paul meant when he said that Archippus had received a ministry in the Lord:

(1) It means “the work the Lord gave you.” The Lord was the one who gave him the job. For example:

Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you (New Living Translation (2004))

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

(2) It means “the work you have received as one who is united to the Lord,” or “to serve the Lord,” or “as a Christian worker.” For example:

Be sure to finish the task you were given in the Lord’s service (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, SSA)

Either of these interpretations is acceptable. The Display follows the first one (1). If you prefer to follow the second one (2), you could say:

Make sure you complete the task that you were given as the Lord’s servant.

the ministry: The Greek word diakonia that the Berean Standard Bible translates ministry is the word used for service or ministry within the Christian congregation. Paul did not explain what kind of work the Lord had given to Archippus, but he was definitely writing about something Archippus was to do within the Christian community, not work like farming.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 1:9

Paragraph 1:9–12

Theme: Paul was constantly asking God to help the Colossians to know all that God wanted them to do.

In these verses Paul was not actually praying. Rather, he was telling the Colossians what he usually prayed for them. In Greek these four verses are one long sentence. You will probably need to divide this sentence into several sentences in your translation, as most English versions do. The main part of the long sentence is “we have not stopped praying for you and asking God…” (1:9a–b). The rest of these verses contain a list of what Paul was praying for the Colossians.

Study the different ways the English versions have broken 1:9–12 into different sentences. Consider how you can arrange the sentences and connect them together to make Paul’s prayer sound natural in your language. One way to do this would be to repeat, “We pray that…” at the beginning of each subject Paul prayed for the Colossians.

1:9a

For this reason: These words connect 1:9–12 with what Paul said in 1:3–8. Because of the news Paul had heard about the Colossians, he prayed for them.

we have not stopped praying for you: This is another hyperbole (see 1:6b). It does not mean that Paul prayed for the Colossian believers all day and all night and never stopped. It means that he prayed for them often and regularly. If it is more natural in your language, you could translate not stopped praying in a positive way. For example:

we have always prayed for you (Good News Translation)

See also New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004).

1:9b

to fill you with the knowledge of: This is a figure of speech. To be “filled with knowledge of something” means “to know something fully, to understand it completely.”

His will: God’s will is what God wants and desires. So Paul was praying that God would cause the Colossians to know fully what he wanted for them. He was praying that they would understand all that God wanted them to do.

1:9c

in all spiritual wisdom and understanding: The Greek preposition en that the Berean Standard Bible translates in has many possible meanings depending on the context. Because of this, commentators have three opinions of how to connect 1:9b and 1:9c:

(1) 1:9c is the means by which a person is filled with the knowledge of God’s will (1:9b). So 1:9b–c means: “[We ask God] to cause you to know fully all that he wants you to do by means of him making you very wise and enabling you to understand spiritual things.”

(New International Version, God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) 1:9c is a restatement of 1:9b. So 1:9b–c means: “[We ask God] to cause you to know fully all that he wants you to do; that is, we ask him to make you very wise and to enable you to understand spiritual things.” No English version follows this, but several commentaries support it.

(3) 1:9c is something that accompanies 1:9b. So Paul not only prayed that God would fill the Colossians with the knowledge of God’s will, but also with all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))

All these options are possible. The Display follows the first interpretation (1) because it has strong support from both English versions and commentaries. If you wish to follow the second option, you could say:

that is, ⌊that God will fill you⌋ with all spiritual wisdom and understanding

all spiritual wisdom and understanding: The order of the words in Greek here is: “all wisdom and understanding spiritual.” It is not clear from this word order how the adjectives all and spiritual are connected to the nouns wisdom and understanding. There are two main possibilities:

(1) The adjectives all and spiritual modify both nouns, so it is translated all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

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

(2) The adjective all only modifies the noun wisdom and the adjective spiritual only modifies the noun understanding. For example:

perfect (all) wisdom and spiritual understanding (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, see also SSA)

It is recommended you follow the first interpretation (1) like the majority of English versions and commentaries do. This means that Paul was not simply praying that the Colossians would be wise, but that they would be wise “spiritually.”

spiritual: There are two ways to understand spiritual in this context:

(1) It means being wise about and understanding spiritual matters, that is, about God and his ways.

(New Century Version)

(2) It means that the wisdom and understanding come from the Holy Spirit.

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)

Either of these interpretations is acceptable. Most English versions are ambiguous. The Display follows the first interpretation (1), which is supported by many commentaries. If you wish to follow the second interpretation you could say:

⌊we(excl.) ask⌋ God to make you very wise and cause you to understand ⌊his ways⌋ by means of the Holy Spirit ⌊helping you⌋

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001