OET interlinear COL 2:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Γάρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπέρ ὑμῶν καί τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καί ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τό πρόσωπον μού ἐν σαρκί)

The word For introduces the reason why Paul told them in 1:29 about how hard he works. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the transition more explicit. Alternate translation: [I tell you about my hard work because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν

how_much ˓a˒_struggle ˱I˲_˓am˒_having (Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Γάρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπέρ ὑμῶν καί τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καί ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τό πρόσωπον μού ἐν σαρκί)

Here, the word struggle is directly related to the word “striving” in 1:29. Just as in that verse, it is usually used for striving to win a contest, whether athletic, legal, or military. Paul uses the word here to indicate how much he cares for the Colossians and how hard he works for their benefit. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [how much care I have in your behalf]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω

how_much ˓a˒_struggle ˱I˲_˓am˒_having

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind struggle, you could express the idea behind this abstract noun by combining it with the verb have and using a verb such as “struggle.” Alternate translation: [how much I struggle]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, καὶ τῶν ἐν Λαοδικίᾳ, καὶ ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐν σαρκί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Γάρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπέρ ὑμῶν καί τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καί ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τό πρόσωπον μού ἐν σαρκί)

This list includes the Colossians and the Laodiceans among those who have not seen Paul’s face in the flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could reverse the order of the list and include you and the ones at Laodicea among those who have not seen Paul’s face. Alternate translation: [for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, including you and those at Laodicea]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Γάρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπέρ ὑμῶν καί τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καί ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τό πρόσωπον μού ἐν σαρκί)

Paul implies that he has a great struggle in order to help you and the believers in other places. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [in order to help you]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῶν

the_‹ones›

Paul implies that these are believers, not just anyone who lives in Laodicea. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [the believers]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οὐχ ἑόρακαν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐν σαρκί

not ˓have˒_seen (Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Γάρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπέρ ὑμῶν καί τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καί ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τό πρόσωπον μού ἐν σαρκί)

In Paul’s culture, seeing a face in the flesh refers to meeting someone in person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or express the idea in plain language. Alternate translation: [I have not visited] or [have not seen me]