Colossians 1:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

NIV: To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

NASB: For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power which works mightily within me.

CSB: I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.

NLT: That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

KJV: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

NKJV: To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Paul ends this section describing his work as a minister, describing the hard work he was putting into serving Christ. He viewed his ministry as work, calling it "toil." Just as a farmer must constantly work his land and care for his livestock, Paul viewed his service to the church as an ongoing ministry that involved much effort. The term agōnizomenos is translated as "struggling, striving, or fighting." Paul is willing not only to work, but to work hard and at great cost on behalf of his fellow Christians.

Paul both "toiled" and struggled to care for the many believers he served. It was not a part-time effort, but rather something that required "all his energy." Paul often worked to the point of exhaustion on behalf of those he served. Yet he did not serve in his own human strength. God provided the power. God expects us to be fully devoted to Him and in service to others (Matthew 22:37–40), yet our power is from Him, not our own works (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Colossians 1:24–29 completes this passage with an emphasis on Paul's work as a minister. According to Paul, his suffering is a service he offers for the sake of Christ, on behalf of the other believers. Paul's work for the sake for the church is just that: work. He is striving, fighting, and ''toiling'' on behalf of his faith. All the same, Paul recognizes that anything he accomplishes is only through the power given through Christ.

In chapter 1, Paul introduces himself, along with his co-author Timothy. As he often does, Paul gives thanks for what he hears about the faith of the believers in Colossae. Paul includes a prayer for their growth and spiritual strength. The letter then transitions to praise of Jesus, describing Him as absolutely supreme. All created things were made through, by, and for Him. And, since it was His sacrifice which saved us from sin, we can have confidence in our eternal destiny.

Colossians chapter 1 is mostly focused on describing Christ as supreme. Jesus is not only the God of creation, He is the ultimate authority over all created things. The penalty for sin has been completely removed because of His perfect sacrifice. These are foundational ideas which Paul will use to set up his later points. In chapters 2, 3, and 4, Paul will explain why contrary claims are untrue, and show the right way for Christians to live out what we believe about Jesus.

The book of Colossians describes Christ as superior to all other teachers, faiths, and philosophies. In this letter, written from prison, Paul once again tackles false teachings. Among these errors are claims that Christians need to give up all physical enjoyments, that they should worship angels, and that they need to rely on the wisdom of an elite few. These problems are consistent with an ancient heresy known as Gnosticism. In response, Paul explains that Christ is supreme, and sufficient for our salvation.

Accessed 5/4/2024 2:39:43 PM