2:2a

they: This refers to all the people Paul mentioned in 2:1. This includes the Christians at Colossae, to whom Paul was directly writing, so it may be clearer for your readers if you use “you(plur)” or “all of you” here and in the rest of 2:2.

encouraged in heart: The Greek verb parakaleō that the Berean Standard Bible translates encouraged can also mean “strengthened” or “comforted.” Since Paul was writing to the Colossians about their need to believe strongly in the true message about Christ, he probably meant “strengthened” or “encouraged,” not “comforted.”

in heart: Paul used the Greek word for heart to refer to the center of a person’s feelings and emotions. He meant that he wanted the Colossians to be encouraged personally, within themselves. Many English versions do not translate this part of the verse literally (see Good News Translation, God’s Word, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004)). There are several ways you could translate this:

• Translate literally and use your word for heart. You should only do this if the heart is considered the center of emotions in your culture.

• Use an idiom that has the same meaning in your culture.

• Translate the phrase directly, for example, “⌊I want to⌋ encourage you spiritually” or “⌊I want to⌋ strengthen you ⌊in your faith⌋.”

You should use the option which is most natural in your language.

2:2b

knit together in love: Paul was concerned that the false doctrines being taught in Colossae would divide the Christians. He wanted them to be united by means of the love they had for one another as they believed the true teaching about Christ. You could translate this:

I want you all to love one another and, in that way, to be united.

2:2c

full riches: Paul wanted the Colossians to have “all riches” that come from understanding and being certain about God’s message. The word riches is used as a figure of speech here. It does not mean money or other possessions, but it means the wonderful blessings and benefits that result from understanding and being certain about God’s message. This includes benefits such as joy and peace.

complete understanding: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates complete understanding is literally “the full-assurance of understanding.” Scholars understand the word plērophoria (Berean Standard Bible complete) in two ways:

(1) It means, “full assurance.” The whole expression then means that Paul wanted the Colossians to have the “complete assurance, certainty” which would come from truly understanding the message about Christ. For example:

the full wealth of assurance which true understanding brings (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, King James Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible)

(2) It means “fullness.” The whole expression then means “complete/full understanding.” This is how the Berean Standard Bible understands it.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Century Version, SSA)

Both of these options are possible meanings for plērophoria. The Display follows the first option (1), since most commentaries support it.

2:2d

the mystery of God, namely Christ: For the meaning of mystery, see the note on 1:27a. Paul was saying that Christ is the center of God’s mystery. To know God’s mystery is to know about Christ, or to know Christ himself. In some languages it will be necessary to clarify this by placing the word Christ into a separate clause. For example:

I want you all to know the mystery of God, that is, I want you to know ⌊about⌋ Christ.

© 2001 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.