Colossians 1 · Verse 23

Colossians 1:23

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Colossians 1:23, King James Version

Colossians 1:23 in other translations

BSB	if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
WEB	if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
ASV	if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
YLT	if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that is under the heaven, of which I became--I Paul--a ministrant.
DARBY	if indeed ye abide in the faith founded and firm, and not moved away from the hope of the glad tidings, which ye have heard, which have been proclaimed in the whole creation which is under heaven, of which I Paul became minister.
BBE	If you keep yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
Webster	If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which hath been preached to every creature which is under heaven; of which I Paul am made a minister;

What does Colossians 1:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

23. If--"Assuming that," &c.: not otherwise shall ye be so presented at His appearing (Col 1:22). grounded--Greek, "founded," "fixed on the foundation" (compare Note, see on Ep 3:17; Lu 6:48, 49). settled--"steadfast." "Grounded" respects the foundation on which believers rest; "settled," their own steadfastness (1Pe 5:10). 1Co 15:58 has the same Greek. not moved away--by the false teachers. the hope of the gospel--(Ep 1:18). which ye have heard ... which was preached to every creature ... whereof I ... am ... a minister--Three arguments against their being "moved away from the Gospel": (1) Their having heard it; (2) The universality of the preaching of it; (3) Paul's ministry in it. For "to (Greek, 'in') every creature," the oldest manuscripts read, "in all creation." Compare "in all the world," Col 1:6; "all things ... in earth," Col 1:20 (Mr 16:15): thus he implies that the Gospel from which he urges them not to be moved, has this mark of truth, namely, the universality of its announcement, which accords with the command and prophecy of Christ Himself (Mt 24:14). By "was preached," he means not merely "is being preached," but has been actually, as an accomplished fact, preached. Pliny, not many years subsequently, in his famous letter to the Emperor Trajan [Epistles, Book X., Epistle 97], writes, "Many of every age, rank, and sex, are being brought to trial. For the contagion of that superstition [Christianity] has spread over not only cities, but villages and the country." whereof I Paul am--rather as Greek, "was made a minister." Respect for me, the minister of this world-wide Gospel, should lead you not to be moved from it. Moreover (he implies), the Gospel which ye heard from Epaphras, your "minister" (Col 1:7), is the same of which "I was made a minister" (Col 1:25; Ep 3:7): if you be moved from it, ye will desert the teaching of the recognized ministers of the Gospel for unauthorized false teachers.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 23. If ye continue in the faith. In the belief of the gospel, and in holy living. If this were done, they would be presented unblamable before God; if not, they would not be. The meaning is, that it will be impossible to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel.

Grounded. On a firm foundation. Eph 3:17, where the same word occurs.

And settled. Gr., firm; as a building is that is founded on a rock. Mt 7:25.

And be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. By the arts of philosophy, and the allurements of sin.

Which was preached to every creature which is under heaven. It cannot be supposed that it was literally true that every creature under heaven had actually heard the gospel. But this may mean,

(1.) that it was designed to be preached to every creature, or that the commission to make it known embraced every one, and that, so far as the provisions of the gospel are concerned, it may be said that it was a system proclaimed to all mankind. See Mk 16:15. If a vast army, or the inhabitants of a distant province, were in rebellion against a government, and a proclamation of pardon were issued, it would not be improper to say that it was made to every one of them, though, as a matter of fact, it might not be true that every one in the remote parts of the army or province had actually heard of it.

(2.) The gospel, in the time of Paul, seems to have been so extensively preached, that it might be said that it was proclaimed to everybody. All known countries appear to have been visited; and so zealous and laborious had been the heralds of salvation, that it might be said that the message had been proclaimed to all the world. Col 1:6. Comp. Mt 24:14.

Whereof I Paul am made a minister. Eph 3:1 and Eph 3:2-7. Paul here pursues the same train of thought which he does in the epistle to the Ephesians, where, having shown the exalted nature of the Redeemer, and the design of the gospel, he adverts to his own labours and sufferings in making it known. The object seems to be, to show that he regarded it as the highest honour to be thus entrusted with the message of mercy to mankind, and considered it as a privilege to suffer in that cause.

(c) "continue in the faith" Eph 3:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 23 If ye continue in the faith - This will be the case if you, who have already believed in Christ Jesus, continue in that faith, grounded in the knowledge and love of God, and settled - made firm and perseveringly steadfast, in that state of salvation. And be not moved away - Not permitting yourselves to be seduced by false teachers. The hope of the Gospel - The resurrection of the body, and the glorification of it and the soul together, in the realms of blessedness. This is properly the Gospel Hope. To every creature which is under heaven - A Hebraism for the whole human race, and particularly referring to the two grand divisions of mankind, the Jews and Gentiles; to both of these the Gospel had been preached, and to each, salvation by Christ had been equally offered. And as none had been excluded from the offers of mercy, and Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man, and the Jews and Gentiles, in their great corporate capacity, had all been invited to believe the Gospel; therefore, the apostle concludes that the Gospel was preached to every creature under heaven, as being offered without restrictions or limitations to these two grand divisions of mankind, including the whole human race.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 1:15-23

Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things…

Read the full comment on Colossians 1:15-23 →

Colossians 1:23 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.

ΕἴEiifG1487

γεgeindeedG1065

ἐπιμένετεepimeneteyou continueG1961

τῇtēa<the>G3588

πίστειpisteiin the faithG4102

τεθεμελιωμένοιtethemeliōmenoiestablishedG2311

καὶkaiandG2532

ἑδραῖοιhedraioifirmG1476

καὶkaiandG2532

μὴmēnotG3361

μετακινούμενοιmetakinoumenoibeing moved awayG3334

ἀπὸapofromG575

τῆςtēstheG3588

ἐλπίδοςelpidoshopeG1680

τοῦtouof theG3588

εὐαγγελίουeuangeliougospelG2098

οὗhouthatG3739

ἠκούσατε,ēkousateyou have heard,G191

τοῦtouwhichG3588

κηρυχθέντοςkēruchthentoshaving been proclaimedG2784

ἐνeninG1722

πάσῃpasēallG3956

κτίσειktiseicreationG2937

τῇtēa<the>G3588

ὑπὸhupounderG5259

τὸνton<the>G3588

οὐρανόν,ouranonheaven,G3772

οὗhouof whichG3739

ἐγενόμηνegenomēnhave becomeG1096

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

ΠαῦλοςPaulosPaulG3972

διάκονος.¶diakonosa minister.G1249

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

Cross references for Colossians 1:23

Hebrews 3:14
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Hebrews 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Matthew 24:13-14
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Hebrews 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Colossians 1:5-6
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Romans 10:18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Hebrews 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
John 15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

ye continue.
Ps 92:13,14; 125:5; Eze 18:26; Ho 6:3,4; Zep 1:6; Mt 24:13
Lu 8:13-15; 22:32; Joh 8:30-32; 15:9,10; Ac 11:23; 14:22; Ro 2:7
Ga 4:11; 5:7; 6:9; 1Th 3:5; Heb 3:6,14; 4:14; 10:38; 1Pe 1:5
2Pe 2:18-22; 1Jo 2:27; Re 2:10
grounded.
2:7; Mt 7:24,25; Lu 6:48; Eph 2:21; 3:17; 4:16
moved.
Joh 15:6; Ac 20:24; 1Co 15:58; 1Th 3:3
the hope.
5; Ro 5:5; Ga 5:5; Eph 1:18; 1Th 5:8; 2Th 2:16; Tit 3:7; Heb 6:19
1Pe 1:3; 1Jo 3:1-3
to.
6; Mt 24:14; Mr 16:15; Ro 10:18
under.
De 2:25; 4:19; La 3:66; Ac 2:5; 4:12
whereof.
25; Ac 1:17,25; 26:16; Ro 15:16; 1Co 4:1-3; 2Co 3:6; 4:1; 5:18-20
2Co 6:1; 11:23; Eph 3:7,8; 1Ti 1:12; 2:7; 2Ti 1:11,12; 4:5,6

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

Context

Colossians 1:22
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Colossians 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Read all of Colossians 1

Colossians 1:23 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Si empero permanecéis fundados y firmes en la fe, y sin moveros de la esperanza del evangelio que habéis oído; el cual es predicado á toda criatura que está debajo del cielo; del cual yo Pablo soy hecho ministro.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	si du moins vous demeurez dans la foi, fondés et fermes, et ne vous laissant pas détourner de l’espérance de l’évangile que vous avez entendu, lequel a été prêché dans toute la création qui est sous le ciel, et duquel moi, Paul, je suis devenu serviteur.
German Elberfelder 1871	wenn ihr anders in dem Glauben gegründet und fest bleibet und nicht abbewegt werdet von der Hoffnung des Evangeliums, welches ihr gehört habt, das gepredigt worden in der ganzen Schöpfung, die unter dem Himmel ist, dessen Diener ich, Paulus, geworden bin.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	si tamen permanetis in fide fundati, et stabiles, et immobiles a spe Evangelii, quod audistis, quod prædicatum est in universa creatura, quæ sub cælo est, cujus factus sum ego Paulus minister.