Colossians 1:5
What does Colossians 1:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Colossians 1:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Colossians 1:5 means
Their faith and love are “because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens.” Hope here is a sure expectation secured by God, not wishful thinking. It is “laid up,” safely kept by God, beyond the reach of decay or opposition. This hope came through “the word of the truth of the gospel,” underlining that true hope is grounded in God’s revealed good news about Christ. Hope fuels present faithfulness and love because believers know their future is secure. The direction of causality matters: heavenly hope produces earthly fruit. By reminding them of this hope, Paul stabilizes them against teachings that substitute earthly rituals or philosophies for the sufficiency of the gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000because 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,
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901because 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,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Through 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,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because 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,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard in the word of the truth of the gospel,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890on 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,
Context
Verse 5 completes the faith–love–hope trio introduced in verse 4 and connects it to the gospel’s truthfulness. The mention of the gospel leads naturally to verse 6, where Paul celebrates its worldwide fruitfulness, including among the Colossians. This transition helps Paul affirm that what they have believed is not a local novelty but the same message growing everywhere. Then he will trace their reception of the gospel to Epaphras’s ministry (verses 7–8), anchoring their story within God’s larger mission.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13
And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.
- 1 Peter 1:3
Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- 1 Timothy 1:15
Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:
- Colossians 1:23
if 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.
- Matthew 6:19
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal:
- Psalms 31:19
Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men!
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