Colossians 1 · Verse 5

Colossians 1:5

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Colossians 1:5, King James Version

Colossians 1:5 in other translations

BSBthe faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel
WEBbecause of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News
ASVbecause of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
YLTbecause of the hope that is laid up for you in the heavens, which ye heard of before in the word of the truth of the good news,
DARBYon account of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens; of which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the glad tidings,
BBEThrough the hope which is in store for you in heaven; knowledge of which was given to you before in the true word of the good news,
WebsterFor the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which ye have heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

What does Colossians 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. For--to be joined with the words immediately preceding: "The love which ye have to all the saints because of (literally, 'on account of') the hope," &c. The hope of eternal life will never be in us an inactive principle but will always produce "love." This passage is abused by Romanists, as if the hope of salvation depended upon works. A false argument. It does not follow that our hope is founded on our works because we are strongly stimulated to live well; since nothing is more effectual for this purpose than the sense of God's free grace [Calvin]. laid up--a treasure laid up so as to be out of danger of being lost (2Ti 4:8). Faith, love, and hope (Col 1:4, 5), comprise the sum of Christianity. Compare Col 1:23, "the hope of the Gospel." in heaven--Greek, "in the heavens." whereof ye heard before--namely, at the time when it was preached to you. in the word, &c.--That "hope" formed part of "the word of the truth of the Gospel" (compare Ep 1:13), that is, part of the Gospel truth preached unto you.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven. That is, "I give thanks that there is such a hope laid up for you." The evidence which he had that this hope was theirs, was founded on the faith and love to the saints which he heard they had evinced. He fully believed that where there was such faith and love, there was a well-founded hope of heaven. The word "hope" here is used, as it often is, for the thing hoped for. The object of hope--to wit, eternal happiness--was reserved for them in heaven.

 Whereof ye heard before. When the gospel was first preached to you. You were told of the blessed rewards of a life of faith in heaven.

In the word of the truth of the gospel. In the true word of the gospel.

(e) "laid up for you" 2Ti 4:8, 1Pet 1:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 1:1-8

All true Christians are brethren one to another. Faithfulness runs through every character and relation of the Christian life. Faith, hope, and love, are the three principal graces in the Christian life, and proper matter for prayer and thanksgiving. The more we fix our hopes on the reward in the other world, the more free shall we be in doing good with our earthly treasure. It was treasured up for them, no enemy…

Read the full comment on Colossians 1:1-8 →

Colossians 1:5 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.

διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐλπίδαelpidahopeG1680
τὴνtēnwhichG3588
ἀποκειμένηνapokeimenēnis being laid upG606
ὑμῖνhuminfor youG4771
ἐνeninG1722
τοῖςtoistheG3588
οὐρανοῖςouranoisheavensG3772
ἣνhēnwhichG3739
προηκούσατεproēkousateyou heard of beforeG4257
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
λόγῳlogōwordG3056
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἀληθείαςalētheiasof truthG225
τοῦtoutheG3588
εὐαγγελίουeuangeliougospelG2098

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

Cross references for Colossians 1:5

  • 1 Peter 1:3-4

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

  • Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

  • 2 Timothy 4:8

    Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

  • Titus 1:2

    In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

  • Colossians 1:27

    To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

  • 1 Peter 2:2

    As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

  • 1 Corinthians 15:19

    If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

  • 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;

  • Hebrews 7:19

    For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

  • Galatians 5:5

    For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

  • 1 John 3:3

    And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the hope.
23,27; Ac 23:6; 24:15; 26:6,7; 1Co 13:13; 15:19; Ga 5:5; Eph 1:18,19
2Th 2:16; Heb 7:19; 1Pe 3:15; 1Jo 3:3
laid.
Ps 31:19; Mt 6:19,20; Lu 12:33; 2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 1:3,4
the word.
3:16; Ac 10:36; 13:26; Ro 10:8; 2Co 5:19; 6:7; Eph 1:13; 1Th 2:13
1Ti 1:15; 1Pe 2:2

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

Context

  • Colossians 1:4

    Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

  • Colossians 1:5

    For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

  • Colossians 1:6

    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:

Read all of Colossians 1

Colossians 1:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A causa de la esperanza que os está guardada en los cielos, de la cual habéis oído ya por la palabra verdadera del evangelio:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		à cause de l’espérance qui vous est réservée dans les cieux et dont vous avez déjà entendu parler dans la parole de la vérité de l’évangile,
German
Elberfelder 1871		wegen der Hoffnung, die für euch aufgehoben ist in den Himmeln, von welcher ihr zuvor gehört habt in dem Worte der Wahrheit des Evangeliums,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		propter spem, quæ reposita est vobis in cælis: quam audistis in verbo veritatis Evangelii: