Colossians 1 · Verse 10

Colossians 1:10

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:10, King James Version

Colossians 1:10 in other translations

BSBso that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
WEBthat you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
ASVto walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
YLTto your walking worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, in every good work being fruitful, and increasing to the knowledge of God,
DARBYso as to walk worthily of the Lord unto all well-pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing by the true knowledge of God;
BBELiving uprightly in the approval of the Lord, giving fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
WebsterThat ye may walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What does Colossians 1:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Greek, "So as to walk"; so that ye may walk. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it. worthy of the Lord--(Ep 4:1). unto--so as in every way to be well-pleasing to God. pleasing--literally, "desire of pleasing." being fruitful--Greek, "bearing fruit." This is the first manifestation of their "walking worthy of the Lord." The second is, "increasing (growing) in the knowledge of God (or as the oldest manuscripts read, 'growing BY the full knowledge of God')"; thus, as the Gospel word (Col 1:6) was said to "bring forth fruit," and to "grow" in all the world, even as it did in the Colossians, ever since the day they knew the grace of God, so here it is Paul's prayer that they might continue to "bring forth fruit," and "grow" more and more by the full knowledge of God, the more that "knowledge" (Col 1:9) was imparted to them. The full knowledge of God is the real instrument of enlargement in soul and life of the believer [Alford]. The third manifestation of their walk is (Col 1:11), "Being strengthened with all might," &c. The fourth is (Col 1:12), "Giving thanks unto the Father," &c.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord. That you may live as becomes the followers of the Lord. How this was to be done he states in this and the following verses.

Unto all pleasing. So as to please him in all things. Comp. Heb 11:5.

Being fruitful in every good work. This is one way in which we are to walk worthy of the Lord, and so as to please him. Jn 15:8. And increasing in the knowledge of God. This is another way in which we may walk worthy of the Lord, and so as to please him. It is by endeavouring to become better acquainted with his true character. God is pleased with those who desire to understand what he is; what he does; what he purposes; what he commands. Hence he not only commands us to study his works, (comp. Ps 111:2,) but he has made a world so beautiful as to invite us to contemplate his perfections as reflected in that world. All good beings desire that others should understand their character, and God delights in those who are sincerely desirous of knowing what he is, and who inquire with humility and reverence into his counsels and his will. Men are often displeased when others attempt to look into their plans, for they are sensible they will not bear the light of investigation. God has no plans which would not be seen to be, in the highest degree, glorious to him.

(e) "worthy of the Lord" Php 1:27 (f) "pleasing" 1Thes 4:1 (g) "fruitful" Jn 15:8,16 (h) "increasing in the knowledge" 2Pet 3:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord - Suitably to your Christian profession, exemplifying its holy doctrines by a holy and useful life. See the notes on Eph 4:1; and on Phi 1:27 (note). Unto all pleasing - Doing every thing in the best manner, in the most proper time, and in a becoming spirit. Even a good work may be marred and rendered fruitless by being done improperly, out of season, or in a temper of mind that grieves the Holy Spirit. Being fruitful in every good work - See on Col 1:6 (note). St. Paul exhorts the Christians at Colosse, 1. To walk - to be active in their Christian calling. 2. To walk worthily - suitably to the dignity of that calling, and to the purity of that God who had called them into this state of salvation. 3. To do every thing unto all pleasing; that God might be pleased with the manner, the time, the motive, disposition, design, and object of every act. 4. That they should be fruitful; mere harmlessness would not be sufficient; as God had sown good seed, he expected good fruit. 5. That every work should be good; they must not be fruitful in some works and fruitless in others. 6. That they should increase in religious knowledge as time rolled on, knowing, by genuine Christian experience, more of God, of his love, and of his peace, day by day.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 1:9-14

The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes…

Read the full comment on Colossians 1:9-14 →

Colossians 1:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

περιπατῆσαιperipatēsaito walkG4043
ἀξίωςaxiōsworthilyG516
τοῦtouof theG3588
κυρίουkuriouLordG2962
εἰςeisinG1519
πᾶσανpasanallG3956
ἀρεσκείανareskeianpleasingG699
ἐνeninG1722
παντὶpantieveryG3956
ἔργῳergōworkG2041
ἀγαθῷagathōgoodG18
καρποφοροῦντεςkarpophorountesbringing forth fruitG2592
καὶkaiandG2532
αὐξανόμενοιauxanomenoigrowingG837
τῇtēa<the>G3588
ἐπιγνώσειepignōseiknowledgeG1922
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ,theouof God,G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Colossians 1:10

  • Ephesians 4:1

    I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

  • Hebrews 13:21

    Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

  • 2 Peter 1:2-3

    Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

  • John 15:16

    Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

  • 1 John 3:22

    And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:1

    Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

  • Hebrews 13:16

    But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

  • John 15:8

    Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

  • Galatians 5:22-23

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

  • Titus 3:14

    And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

  • Proverbs 16:7

    When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

  • 2 Peter 3:18

    But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye.
2:6; 4:5; Mic 4:5; Ro 4:12; 6:4; Eph 4:1; 5:2,15; Php 1:27; 1Th 2:12
all.
3:20; Pr 16:7; Php 4:18; 1Th 4:1; 2Ti 2:4; Heb 11:5; 13:16; 1Jo 3:22
fruitful.
Joh 15:8,16; Ga 5:22,23; Eph 2:10; Php 1:11; Tit 3:1,14; Heb 13:21
2Pe 1:8
increasing.
2:19; Isa 53:11; Da 12:4; Hab 2:14; Joh 17:3; 2Co 2:14; 4:6; 9:8
Eph 1:17; 4:13; 2Pe 1:2,3; 3:18; 1Jo 5:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Colossians 1:9

    For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

  • Colossians 1:10

    That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

  • Colossians 1:11

    Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Read all of Colossians 1

Colossians 1:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Para que andéis como es digno del Señor, agradándo le en todo, fructificando en toda buena obra, y creciendo en el conocimiento de Dios:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		pour marcher d’une manière digne du Seigneur pour lui plaire à tous égards, portant du fruit en toute bonne œuvre, et croissant par la connaissance de Dieu:
German
Elberfelder 1871		um würdig des Herrn zu wandeln zu allem Wohlgefallen, in jedem guten Werke fruchtbringend, und wachsend durch die Erkenntnis Gottes,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut ambuletis digne Deo per omnia placentes: in omni opere bono fructificantes, et crescentes in scientia Dei: