The verse is built on four participles which modify the main verb “live” (in verse 6). To imitate the Greek construction of the sentence (verses 6-7) makes it intolerably long and difficult to follow; so it is better to break it up, as Good News Translation has done, and start a new sentence in verse 7. Since these participial constructions introduce essentially the means by which one may live in union with Christ, it is possible to begin verse 7 by saying “you can do this by keeping your roots deep in him and by building your lives….”

Paul uses two figurative expressions: (1) “to be rooted in” (only here and Eph 3.17), the figure of a tree or plant; (2) “being built upon” (compare 1 Cor 3.10, 12, 14; Eph 2.20; 1 Peter 2.5; Jude 20), the figure of a building. Christ is the “soil” into which the roots sink and also the “foundation” upon which the building stands.

The more or less unusual nature of these figurative expressions may require in a number of languages the introduction of similes instead of metaphors, for example, “you should have, as it were, your roots deep in him, and you should build, as it were, your lives on him….” The introduction of an expression such as “as it were” will immediately alert the reader to understand the expression in a figurative sense. If neither a metaphor or a simile can be employed, it may be possible to render keep your roots deep in him as “remain firmly united to him,” and one may render build your lives on him as “as you develop in your life you should be more dependent on him” or “how you live should depend more and more on what he tells you to do.”

Become stronger: the verb bebaioō (be or make firm, strong) is used by Paul elsewhere only in 1 Cor 1.6, 8; 2 Cor 1.21, and emphasizes constancy, firmness, solidity. In your faith does not refer to a body of doctrines or belief, but to a living relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord. Some (compare Lightfoot, Beare) take tē pistei as instrumental, “by means of your faith” (so Phillips); Jerusalem Bible has “held firm by the faith” (similarly Barclay).

Rather than saying become stronger in your faith, it may be more appropriate to render this expression as “believe more and more firmly” or “put your confidence in Christ all the more.” The strength of confidence may, in some instances, be expressed negatively as “become completely unmovable in your confidence.”

As you were taught: most take this to modify the three preceding participles (“being rooted … being built upon … being firm”); some, however, take it to modify only the immediately preceding one “becoming stronger in the faith.” Some join it to the noun “faith”: “the faith that you were taught” (Jerusalem Bible New English Bible Barclay), but this does not seem very likely. The teacher here would be Epaphras (see 1.7). In order to relate as you were taught to the three preceding imperatives, it may be possible to state “you were taught all this,” or “this is what you were taught,” or “you were taught to do just this.”

Be filled with thanksgiving: a typical Pauline stress on joy or thanksgiving as the hallmark of genuine Christian faith (see 3.16-17).

Some good manuscripts have here “abounding en autē (“in it,” feminine) in thanksgiving,” which gives the meaning “abounding in the faith in thanksgiving” (so King James Version); others have “abounding en autō (in him) in thanksgiving,” which means “abounding in Christ in thanksgiving” (so Vulgate). The vast majority of commentators and translations prefer the text as in United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament.

Though in both Greek and Hebrew it is quite common to speak of being “filled” with a particular emotion or experience, this is a relatively rare figurative expression in many languages. The abundance of thanksgiving may, however, be expressed by saying “be very thankful indeed,” or “express your thankfulness much,” or “show very much how thankful you are.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .