How greatly I strive (ηλικον αγωνα εχω). Literally, "how great a contest I am having." The old adjectival relative ηλικος (like La…

COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2.

ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER

This entire chapter may be regarded as designed to guard the Colossians against the sed…

What great conflict.—The word is repeated here from the “striving” of the previous verse, which is, in the original, the cognate v…

Paul had not met these Colossian Christians, but he had heard of their faith, and hope, and love, and he so desired their good that he had a contin…

The metaphor of the arena is implicit in this verse as Paul again uses the word “struggling” (a Greek word built on the same root as “struggling” i…

I would have you know. He declares his affection towards them, so that he may have more credit and authority; for we readily believe those…

For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you ,
&c.] This is occasioned by what he had said in ([Refe…

The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. It prospers when we not only believe with the heart but are ready, w…

Previously, Paul commended the condition of those who believe—that is, their state of grace and its Author, Christ. Here, he protects them from wha…