Devine Scripture

Colossians 1:11

What does Colossians 1:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 1:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 1:11 means

To live worthily requires divine enablement, so Paul prays they be “strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory.” The measure is not human resolve but God’s own glorious might. The purpose is endurance: “all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Patience bears up under trials; longsuffering endures difficult people; joy transforms endurance from grim stoicism into worship. Suffering is not wasted when it is met with Spirit-supplied strength. Paul recognizes that Christian growth includes seasons of hardship, and he asks God to supply what believers cannot produce on their own—perseverance that honors Christ and testifies to His sufficiency.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Full of strength in the measure of the great power of his glory, so that you may undergo all troubles with joy;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

in all might being made mighty according to the power of His glory, to all endurance and long-suffering with joy.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Strengthened with all might according to the power of his glory, in all patience and longsuffering with joy,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

strengthened with all power according to the might of his glory unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy;

Context

Verse 11 continues the prayer begun in verses 9–10, moving from knowledge and fruitfulness to strength for endurance. It prepares for verse 12’s call to thanksgiving, because God’s empowering grace deserves gratitude. The emphasis on God’s might anticipates the upcoming declaration of Christ’s cosmic supremacy (verses 15–20). If Christ is over all, His power is more than able to sustain His people through trials as they await their full inheritance (verses 12–14).

v.10to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

v.11This passage

v.12giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9

    And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • James 1:2

    Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;

  • Ephesians 3:16

    that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

  • Hebrews 11:34

    quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.

  • Ephesians 4:2

    with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

  • Philippians 4:13

    I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

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