Colossians 1:23
What does Colossians 1:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Colossians 1:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Colossians 1:23 means
They are reconciled “if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” Perseverance is the pathway that proves reality. The gospel they heard is the same message “preached in all creation under heaven,” showing its universal scope and authenticity. Paul identifies himself as a minister of this gospel, tying their perseverance to apostolic teaching. The conditional does not undermine assurance; it describes the nature of saving faith—it endures. Being grounded and steadfast guards against drift toward alluring alternatives. Remaining in the hope of the gospel keeps believers anchored in Christ’s sufficiency.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000if 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611If 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;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901if 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If 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.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862if 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 <FI>is<Fi> under the heaven, of which I became--I Paul--a ministrant.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If so ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and immoveable from the hope of the gospel which you have heard, which is preached in all the creation that is under heaven: whereof I Paul am made a minister.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890if 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.
Context
Verse 23 follows reconciliation (verse 22) with a call to steadfastness. It links their perseverance to the globally proclaimed gospel and to Paul’s own ministry. This prepares for verses 24–29, where Paul explains his sufferings and stewardship in serving the church with this very message. The flow shows that continuing in the faith is nourished by faithful ministry that proclaims Christ and warns against deviations.
v.22yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
v.23This passage
v.24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 4:19
and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Jehovah thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven.
- Ephesians 4:16
from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.
- Ezekiel 18:26
When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
- Colossians 2:7
rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
- John 15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
- 2 Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
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