Colossians 2 · Verse 5

Colossians 2:5

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:5, King James Version

Colossians 2:5 in other translations

BSBFor although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
WEBFor though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
ASVFor though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
YLTfor if even in the flesh I am absent--yet in the spirit I am with you, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in regard to Christ;
DARBYFor if indeed in the flesh I am absent, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
BBEFor though I am not present in the flesh, still I am with you in the spirit, seeing with joy your order, and your unchanging faith in Christ.
WebsterFor though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

What does Colossians 2:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. For--argument against their suffering themselves to be beguiled, drawn from a regard to his personal authority as though he were present. joying and beholding--beholding with joy. order--your good order; answering to "knit together" (Col 2:2) as a well-organized body; the same Greek as that for knit together, is used of the body" of the Church compacted," in Ep 4:16. Compare 1Co 14:33, 40. steadfastness--Greek, "the firm (or 'solid') foundation." As "order" expresses the outward aspect of the Church; so "steadfastness" expresses the inner basis on which their Church rested. The Greek literally implies not an abstract quality, but the thing in the concrete; thus their "faith" here is the solid thing which constituted the basis of their Church.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit. That is, I seem to see you; I feel as if I were there, and were looking upon you; and I have the same solicitude as if I were there, and saw all the danger which exists that your beautiful order and harmony should be disturbed by the influence of false philosophy. 1Cor 5:3. The word "spirit" here does not refer to the Holy Spirit, or to any inspiration by which the apostle was enabled to see them; but it is equivalent to what we mean when we say, "My heart is with you. He seemed to be beholding them.

Joying and beholding your order. That is, I rejoice as if I saw your order. He had such confidence that everything would be done among them as became Christians, that he could rejoice as if he actually saw it.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 For though I be absent in the flesh - It is hardly possible that such words as these in this verse could have been used to perfect strangers; they argue a considerable knowledge of the people, and a knowledge founded on personal acquaintance. The original is exceedingly soft and musical: - Ει γαρ και τη σαρκι απειμι, Αλλα τῳ πνευματι συν ὑμιν ειμι, Χαιρων και βλεπων ὑμων την ταξιν, κ.τ.λ. The whole verse shows that this Church was sound in doctrine, and strict in discipline. They had steadfast faith in Christ, and regular order or discipline among themselves.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 2:1-7

The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. When we not only believe with the heart, but are ready, when called, to make confession with the mouth. Knowledge and faith make a soul rich. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the more will our comfort be. The treasures of wisdom are hid, not from us, but for us, in Christ. These were hid from proud unbelievers, but…

Read the full comment on Colossians 2:1-7 →

Colossians 2:5 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.

εἰeiIfG1487
γὰρgartrulyG1063
καὶkaievenG2532
τῇtēain theG3588
σαρκὶsarkifleshG4561
ἄπειμι,apeimiI am absent,G548
ἀλλὰallayetG235
τῷtō<the>G3588
πνεύματιpneumatiin spiritG4151
σὺνsunwithG4862
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
εἰμι,eimiI am,G1510
χαίρωνchairōnrejoicingG5463
καὶkaiandG2532
βλέπωνblepōnseeingG991
ὑμῶνhumōnyourG4771
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
τάξινtaxingood orderG5010
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸtotheG3588
στερέωμαstereōmafirmnessG4733
τῆςtēsof theG3588
εἰςeisinG1519
ΧριστὸνChristonChristG5547
πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102
ὑμῶν.¶humōnof you.G4771

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

Cross references for Colossians 2:5

  • 1 Corinthians 5:3-4

    For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:17

    But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:13

    Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

  • 2 Peter 3:17-18

    Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 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.

  • 1 Peter 5:9

    Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:40

    Let all things be done decently and in order.

  • Hebrews 3:14

    For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • 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;

  • Psalms 78:37

    For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:8

    For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

  • Psalms 78:8

    And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
be.
1; 1Co 5:3,4; 1Th 2:17
and beholding.
2Ch 29:35; 1Co 11:34; 14:40
and the.
Ru 1:18; Ps 78:8,37; Ac 2:42; 1Co 15:58; 16:13; 1Th 3:8; Heb 3:14
Heb 6:19; 1Pe 5:9; 2Pe 3:17,18

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

Context

  • Colossians 2:4

    And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

  • Colossians 2:5

    For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

  • Colossians 2:6

    As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Read all of Colossians 2

Colossians 2:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque aunque estoy ausente con el cuerpo, no obstante con el espíritu estoy con vosotros, gozándome y mirando vuestro concierto, y la firmeza de vuestra fe en Cristo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car lors même que je suis absent de corps, toutefois je suis avec vous en esprit, me réjouissant et voyant votre ordre, et la fermeté de votre foi en Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wenn ich auch dem Fleische nach abwesend bin, so bin ich doch im Geiste bei euch, mich freuend und sehend eure Ordnung und die Festigkeit eures Glaubens an Christum.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nam etsi corpore absens sum, sed spiritu vobiscum sum: gaudens, et videns ordinem vestrum, et firmamentum ejus, quæ in Christo est, fidei vestræ.