COL 3:2 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. τά
2. ho
3. the things
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····ANP
7. the ‹things›
8. the ‹things›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133582
1. ἄνω
2. anō
3. above
4. above
5. 5070
6. D·······
7. above
8. above
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133583
1. Φρονεῖτε
2. froneō
3. Be thinking
4. thinking
5. 54260
6. VMPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ thinking
8. ˓be˒ thinking
9. S
10. Y64
11. 133584
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133585
1. τά
2. ho
3. the things
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····ANP
7. the ‹things›
8. the ‹things›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133586
1. ἐπί
2. epi
3. on
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133587
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133588
1. γῆς
2. gē
3. earth
4. earthly
5. 10930
6. N····GFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133589

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–17: Behave in ways that please God

Theme: Paul told the Colossians that they should decide to please only God. That is, they should not do evil deeds, they should love one another, they should live peacefully with one another, and they should continually learn more and more about God.

Paragraph 3:1–4

Theme: Paul told the Colossians that they should behave as those who belong to Christ should behave.

3:2a

Set your minds on things above,

In other words, always think about the things/values associated with heaven,
Therefore be constantly wanting to behave in the way people who belong to heaven should behave,

Set your minds on things above: This means almost the same thing as 3:1b. The slight difference is that “strive for” in 3:1b refers to strongly desiring things above, whereas Set your minds on in 3:2a refers to constantly thinking about things above, making them the center of your attention. However, if it is difficult to make such a distinction in your translation, you can use a synonym or even repeat the same words, if that is natural.

3:2b

not on earthly things.

and do not continue to think about doing the evil things that are connected with the ways you once behaved/lived.
and have nothing to do with the evil deeds which people who do not know God do.

not on earthly things: This contrasts with “things above” in 3:2a. Paul was telling the Colossians that they should not constantly think about earthly things. This refers to “things associated with this world.” There are two ways to interpret this:

It could refer to the evil way people on earth behave (see SSA).
It could refer more generally to ordinary activities of daily living.

Both of these interpretations are possible. Most English versions imply the second interpretation. The first interpretation above (1) seems to show this contrast most clearly, and so the Display follows it.

If you want to follow the second interpretation (2), you could say:

Always think about the things that concern your new life from God in heaven. Do not constantly think about the things of this world.

Whichever way you translate this phrase, you should make sure that it clearly contrasts with 3:2a.

uW Translation Notes:

φρονεῖτε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τά ἄνω Φρονεῖτε μή τά ἐπί τῆς γῆς)

Alternate translation: [Focus on] or [Meditate on]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τὰ ἄνω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τά ἄνω Φρονεῖτε μή τά ἐπί τῆς γῆς)

Just as in [3:1](../03/01.md), the things above is another term for heavenly things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that the phrase refers specifically to things in heaven. Alternate translation: [the heavenly things]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τά ἄνω Φρονεῖτε μή τά ἐπί τῆς γῆς)

The things on the earth describes those things in this world that are not connected to Christ and are not the things above. Not thinking about the things on the earth does not mean that the Colossians are supposed to abandon all care for earthly things. Instead, Paul is urging them to focus on Christ and what he has promised for them, not on whatever they could gain on earth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify this contrast by further describing the things on the earth. Alternate translation: [the things that matter in this world]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Be thinking
2. thinking
3. 54260
4. S
5. froneō
6. V-MPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ thinking
8. ˓be˒ thinking
9. S
10. Y64
11. 133584
1. the things
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····ANP
7. the ‹things›
8. the ‹things›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133582
1. above
2. above
3. 5070
5. anō
6. D-·······
7. above
8. above
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133583
1. not
2. -
3. 33610
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133585
1. the things
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····ANP
7. the ‹things›
8. the ‹things›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133586
1. on
2. -
3. 19090
5. epi
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133587
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133588
1. earth
2. earthly
3. 10930
5. gē
6. N-····GFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y64
11. 133589

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear COL 3:2

SR Greek word order

Section 3:1–17: Behave in ways that please God

Paragraph 3:1–4

3:2a

3:2b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)