Without a full stop, Paul qualifies the statement made in verse 22, since it is imperative that the Colossians recognize that they are not just passive objects of God’s reconciling work, but must actively do their part in maintaining the state in which they now find themselves. In effect he says, “this is true if you continue….” This type of contrast between the contents of verse 23 and verse 22 may also be expressed as “but you must certainly continue.”

Faithful translates the dative “(in) the faith,” and some (Revised Standard Version Moffatt Phillips Jerusalem Bible) take it as a reference to the Christian faith, that is, “in your faith” (Lightfoot, Abbott; see New International Version New English Bible Barclay Translator’s New Testament). New American Bible “hold steadfast to faith,” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible par la foi, presumably, “by means of the faith,” Goodspeed “the exercise of faith.” The implied object of faithful is probably “the gospel”; it is not likely that here the primary reference would be God or Christ. In view of the fact that in so many languages it is necessary to make explicit what is the goal or object of “faith,” one may, in this instance say “continue to put your trust in the good news” or “continue to have confidence in the gospel.”

On a firm and sure foundation translates a perfect passive participle “having been placed and remaining on a foundation” (as in Eph 3.17; see the verb also in Matt 7.25), followed by the adjective “firm, steadfast.” The foundation is to be understood as the mighty work of God in salvation, as proclaimed by the gospel.

Though the figurative expression of foundation is readily perceived and understood in the cultures of western Europe, America, and some parts of Asia, this is not true of many other regions in the world, where houses normally do not have foundations, and there seems nothing especially “firm and sure” about a foundation. One can use a type of simile with an expanded phrase such as “as it were, on something on which a house is built” but this becomes both awkward and often meaningless. It may be better in many cases to drop the figure of foundation and use merely “continue to have confidence in the gospel and thus be firm and secure.” In some languages, an equivalent metaphor is to be found in expressions relating to the central pole of a house, for example, “as unmovable as the central pole.” Other languages may use the figure of a stone consisting essentially of bedrock, that is to say, stone which is part of a rock outcrop. One might, therefore, substitute a metaphor such as “firm and secure as bedrock.” Since such a metaphor parallels substantially the concept of foundation, it may be quite appropriate.

Again, there is no point in trying to determine who is the actor in this “foundation laying”; the participle, acting as an adjective, simply means “on a firm foundation.” The thought is further expressed in the negative form and not allow yourselves to be shaken from. The verb (which occurs only here in the NT) means “to remove from”; Good News Translation and others (Phillips New International Version New English Bible Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) take it as a passive, but it may be understood as a middle; Moffatt “instead of shifting from,” Goodspeed “and never shift from,” Twentieth Century New Testament “never abandoning,” Translator’s New Testament “do not shift from,” Jerusalem Bible “never letting yourselves drift away.”

To be shaken is in evident contrast with being firm, but it may be extremely difficult to understand the relationship between to be shaken and hope. Therefore, it may be necessary to say “you must not permit yourselves to be shaken and thus no longer to have the hope” or “… to lose your hope.”

“The hope of the gospel” (Revised Standard Version) is the hope the gospel brings to those who believe it, that is, of God’s full and final deliverance in the future. Jerusalem Bible “the hope promised by the Good News.” The hope you gained when you heard the gospel may be expressed as “the hope that became yours when you heard the gospel.” However, if hope must be expressed as a verb, then it may be possible to say “to be shaken and hence no longer hope as you did when you heard the gospel.”

Having mentioned the gospel, Paul says two things about it: (1) “it has been preached to every creature under heaven” (Revised Standard Version), a biblical way of saying to everybody in the world, which is, of course, a rhetorical statement not to be taken literally; it speaks simply of the widespread dissemination of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Goodspeed “all over the world,” Translator’s New Testament “through the whole world,” Jerusalem Bible “the whole human race.” The verb “to preach” is the one used normally in the NT to describe the proclamation of the Good News. No word should be used which, like, “preach” in English, suggests a formal church service; the verb means “to announce,” “to proclaim” as a herald who went around announcing matters of importance. (2) Paul says also of the gospel, “I became its servant” (see also Eph 3.7, 2 Cor 3.6).

Despite the exaggeration suggested in the literary figure which has been preached to everybody in the world, it is important to reflect, in so far as possible, this type of statement made by Paul. However, the passive expression must often be changed into an active one, and this means introducing an agent, for example, “this gospel which various persons have announced to everyone in the world.” It would be inappropriate to introduce “apostles,” since obviously a great deal of the spreading of the gospel was performed by other persons. Therefore, some kind of indefinite subject is preferable.

The word servant (diakonos) in Colossians (also in 1.7, 25; 4.7) usually describes a relationship with a person or with God, or with an organization, such as the church (see 1.24-25, below); rarely is it used, as here, with an impersonal object (compare 2 Cor 3.6 “servants of the new covenant,” Gal 2.17 “servant of sin,” 1 Peter 1.12 the prophets “were serving” the news about the Messiah’s suffering and glory). Paul characterizes his work as that of serving the gospel, meaning that his work was that of proclaiming, spreading, announcing the Good News. The noun “minister” (Moffatt Phillips New English Bible) in American English may be misunderstood as a person ordained to an ecclesiastical position. In view of the unusual relationship between servant and gospel, it may be necessary to specify the precise relationship as “my work has been to announce this gospel” or perhaps “my task as a servant has been to proclaim this good news.”

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 .