OET interlinear COL 4:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-names

Ἐπαφρᾶς

Epaphras

Epaphras is the name of a man. He was the one who first preached the good news to the people in Colossae (See: Colossians 1:7).

ἀσπάζεται

˓is˒_greeting

As was customary in this culture, Paul concludes the letter by extending greetings from people who are with him and who know the people to whom he is writing. Your language may have a particular way of sharing greetings in a letter. If so, you could use that form here. Alternate translation: [asks to be remembered to] or [says hello to]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν

who_‹is› of you_all

The phrase from among you means that Epaphras used to live with the Colossians and was part of the group to whom Paul is writing the letter. To express this idea, you could use a word or phrase that indicates in your language that a person belongs to a specific group of people. Alternate translation: [He is from your town] or [He used to live with you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

πάντοτε

always

Here, always is an exaggeration that the Colossians would have understood to mean that Epaphras prays for them very often. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that indicates frequency. Alternate translation: [consistently] or [frequently]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀγωνιζόμενος ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς

striving (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Ἐπαφρᾶς ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ πάντοτε ἀγωνιζόμενος ὑπέρ ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ἵνα σταθῆτε τελειοῖ καί πεπληροφορημένοι ἐν παντί θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ)

The word striving is usually used for attempting to win a contest, whether that is athletic, military, or legal. While Epaphras is not actually participating in an athletic or military contest, Paul uses the metaphor to explain how earnestly Epaphras prays for the Colossians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [praying zealously for you] or [spending much effort on his prayers for you]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

The phrase so that could introduce: (1) the content of Epaphras’ prayers. Alternate translation: [asking that]; (2) the purpose or goal of Epaphras’ prayers. Alternate translation: [in order that]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σταθῆτε τέλειοι καὶ πεπληροφορημένοι ἐν παντὶ θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ

˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_stood (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Ἐπαφρᾶς ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ πάντοτε ἀγωνιζόμενος ὑπέρ ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ἵνα σταθῆτε τελειοῖ καί πεπληροφορημένοι ἐν παντί θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ)

Here Paul speaks as if the Colossians can stand complete and fully assured in all the will of God. By this, he means that they should consistently do God’s will, just as if God’s will served as a foundation underneath them. The words complete and fully assured explain the way in which they are supposed to stand or continue to obey. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [you may be complete and fully assured as you consistently do all the will of God]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

τέλειοι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Ἐπαφρᾶς ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ πάντοτε ἀγωνιζόμενος ὑπέρ ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ἵνα σταθῆτε τελειοῖ καί πεπληροφορημένοι ἐν παντί θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ)

The word complete in this context means that a person is what he or she is supposed to be and is able to do what he or she is called to do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that has this meaning, such as “perfect” or “excellent,” or translate complete with a short phrase. Alternate translation: [fit for what God has called you to be]

Note 8 topic: translate-unknown

πεπληροφορημένοι

˓having_been˒_fully_assured

The phrase fully assured describes people who are confident or sure of what they believe and do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea with a short phrase. Alternate translation: [convinced about what you know] or [without doubts]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν παντὶ θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ

in in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Ἐπαφρᾶς ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ πάντοτε ἀγωνιζόμενος ὑπέρ ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ἵνα σταθῆτε τελειοῖ καί πεπληροφορημένοι ἐν παντί θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind will, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “wants” or “desires.” Alternate translation: [in whatever God desires]