OET interlinear COL 1:23

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἴ γε ἐπιμένετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ γέ ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καί ἑδραῖοι καί μή μετακινούμενοι ἀπό τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπό τόν οὐρανόν οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγώ Παῦλος διάκονος)

Paul explains that the Colossians need to continue in their faith for what he said in the previous verse to be true about them. In other words, in order for them to be reconciled to God, blameless and without reproach, they need to continue in the faith. However, he does not think that this is a hypothetical situation or something that is likely not true. Instead, Paul thinks that they are continuing in their faith, and he uses this statement with if to encourage them to keep doing so. If your language does not use if in this context, you could rephrase the condition into a circumstance or an assumption. Alternate translation: [provided that you continue] or [presuming that you continue]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῇ πίστει

˱in˲_the faith

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word faith, you could express the idea behind this abstract noun in another way. Alternate translation: [to trust God] or [to believe God’s message]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

τεθεμελιωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι

˓having_been˒_established (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ γέ ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καί ἑδραῖοι καί μή μετακινούμενοι ἀπό τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπό τόν οὐρανόν οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγώ Παῦλος διάκονος)

The words founded and firm mean basically the same thing. The words not being moved repeat the idea again in a negative way. The repetition is used to emphasize that it is important for the Colossians to continue strong in their faith. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you could use one word for this idea and provide emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [very firm] or [like a rock]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τεθεμελιωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι, καὶ μὴ μετακινούμενοι ἀπὸ

˓having_been˒_established (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ γέ ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καί ἑδραῖοι καί μή μετακινούμενοι ἀπό τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπό τόν οὐρανόν οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγώ Παῦλος διάκονος)

Paul speaks of the Colossians as if they were a building that was founded and sits on a firm foundation so that it cannot be moved from its place, which means that they have good basis for their faith and will keep believing in all situations. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea with an equivalent metaphor in your culture or express it plainly. Alternate translation: [holding onto it and grasping it tightly and not letting go of]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου

the hope ˱of˲_the gospel

Paul uses to possessive to explain that hope comes from the gospel. If your language does not use this form to express that idea, you could express the idea by using a phrase such as “that comes from” or “gained from.” Alternate translation: [the hope that comes from the gospel] or [how you hope, which you gained from the gospel]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου

the hope ˱of˲_the gospel

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word hope, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [expecting God to fulfill the gospel] or [waiting for God to complete the good news]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν

˱of˲_the ¬which ˓having_been˒_proclaimed in all creation ¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ γέ ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καί ἑδραῖοι καί μή μετακινούμενοι ἀπό τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπό τόν οὐρανόν οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγώ Παῦλος διάκονος)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form. You could: (1) change proclaimed to “heard” and make every creature the subject. Alternate translation: [which every creature that is under heaven has heard] (2) specify that “fellow believers” is the subject of proclaimed. Alternate translation: [which fellow believers have proclaimed to every creature that is under heaven]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν

in all creation ¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ γέ ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καί ἑδραῖοι καί μή μετακινούμενοι ἀπό τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπό τόν οὐρανόν οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγώ Παῦλος διάκονος)

To emphasize how far the good news has spread, Paul uses an exaggeration that the Colossians would have understood. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or qualify the claim. Alternate translation: [to people in many different places] or [to people in every place we know about]

Note 9 topic: translate-unknown

τῇ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν

˱in˲_the ¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ γέ ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καί ἑδραῖοι καί μή μετακινούμενοι ἀπό τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπό τόν οὐρανόν οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγώ Παῦλος διάκονος)

In Paul’s culture, under heaven refers to the visible part of creation that humans regularly interact with. It excludes spiritual beings, the stars, and anything else in heaven. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate under heaven with a comparable expression. Alternate translation: [that is on the earth]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγὼ Παῦλος διάκονος

which ˱of˲_which became (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ γέ ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καί ἑδραῖοι καί μή μετακινούμενοι ἀπό τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπό τόν οὐρανόν οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγώ Παῦλος διάκονος)

Here, Paul speaks as if the good news were a person of whom he could become a servant. If it would be helpful in your language, you could explain that Paul is a servant of God, but his task from God is to proclaim the good news. Alternate translation: [which I, Paul, proclaim as God has commanded me, his servant, to do]