COL 1:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

UST I, Paul, write this letter to you, and Timothy our fellow believer is with me. God sent me to represent the Messiah Jesus, because that is what God chose to do.

MSB Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ[fn] by [the] will of God, and Timothy [our] brother,

BLB Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,

AICNT Paul, an apostle of Christ[fn] Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,

1:1, Christ: The Greek word for Christ means (1) fulfiller of Israelite expectation of a deliverer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, (2) the personal name ascribed to Jesus, Christ. (BDAG, Χριστός)

OEB From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, also a follower of the Lord.

WEBBE Paul, an apostle of Christ[fn] Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

WMBB Paul, an emissary of Messiah[fn] Yeshua through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

1:1 “Messiah” means “Anointed One”.

NET From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

LSV Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timotheus the brother,

FBV This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the will of God, and from our brother Timothy.

TCNT Paul, an apostle of [fn]Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

1:1 Jesus Christ ¦ Christ Jesus CT

T4T I, Paul, am writing this letter to you, and our fellow believer Timothy is with me. I am an apostle who represents Christ Jesus, because that is what God wanted.

LEB Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

BBE Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the purpose of God, and Timothy our brother,

Moff Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, and brother Timotheus,

Wymth Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God—and Timothy our brother:

ASV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

DRA Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, a brother,

YLT Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timotheus the brother,

Drby Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus, by [fn]God's will, and Timotheus the brother,

1.1 Elohim

RV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

SLT Paul, sent of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,

Wbstr Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

KJB-1769 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

KJB-1611 ¶ Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ, by y^e will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christe, by the wyll of God, and Timotheus the brother.
(Paul an Apostle of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus the brother.)

Gnva Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
(Paul an Apostle of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, )

Cvdl Paul an Apostle of Iesu Christ by the will of God, and brother Timotheus.
(Paul an Apostle of Yesu Christ by the will of God, and brother Timotheus.)

TNT Paul an Apostle of Iesu Christ by the wyll of God and brother Timotheus.
(Paul an Apostle of Yesu Christ by the will of God and brother Timotheus. )

Wycl Poul, apostle of `Crist Jhesu, bi the wille of God,
(Poul, apostle of Christ Yhesu, by the will of God,)

Luth Paulus, ein Apostel JEsu Christi durch den Willen Gottes, und Bruder Timotheus:
(Paulus, a apostles Yesu Christi through the Will God’s, and brother Timotheus:)

ClVg Paulus Apostolus Jesu Christi per voluntatem Dei, et Timotheus frater:[fn]
(Paulus Apostolus Yesu of_Christ through will of_God, and Timotheus brother: )

1.1 Argumentum Colossenses, sicut et Laodicenses, sunt Asiani, et ipsi præventi erant a pseudoapostolis, nec ad hos accessit ipse Apostolus, sed eos per epistolam corrigit. Audierant enim verbum ab Archippo, qui et ministerium in eos accepit. Ergo Apostolus jam ligatus scribit eis ab Epheso per Tichicum diaconem, et Onesimum acolythum. Paulus. Solito more salutationem præmittit. Qua præmissa de bonis eorum gratias agit, et fidem et dilectionem commendans orat, ut perficiantur in Christo, cujus beneficia et primatum secundum utramque naturam commendat; deinde sui ministerii dignitatem commemorans monet ne per prophetiam vel legis cæremonias seducti a Christo recedant; tandem omnes simul secundum sexus et ætates et conditiones moraliter instruit, et in fine Archippum commonet sollicitum fore suscepti ministerii. Apostolus, etc. Nota omnibus dignitate recte hic apostolum se nominat, quia et his apostolus erat, quibus per discipulos suos prædicaverat.

1.1 Argumentum Colossenses, like and Laodicenses, are Asiani, and themselves beforeventi they_were from pseudoapostolis, but_not to these came exactly_that/himself Apostolus, but them through letterolam corrects. Listenerant because the_word/saying away Archippo, who/which and ministry in/into/on them he_received. Therefore Apostolus already tied writes to_them away Epheso through Tichicum diaconem, and Onesimum acolythum. Paulus. Solito more salutationem precedes. Qua beforemissa from/about good their graces acts, and faith and love commendans prays, as perficiantur in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah, whose benefits and primatum after/second both nature recommends; then/next self ministry dignity commemorans advises not through prophecy or law ceremonies seducti from to_Christ/Messiah they_retreat; tandem everyone at_the_same_time after/second six and ages and conditiones morally instructs, and in/into/on fine Archippum commonet sollicitum fore suscepti ministry. Apostolus, etc. Note to_all dignity correctly/straight this/here apostolum himself names, because and his apostle was, to_whom through disciples his_own beforedicaverat.

UGNT Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος Θεοῦ, καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς;
(Paulos apostolos Ⱪristou Yaʸsou dia thelaʸmatos Theou, kai Timotheos ho adelfos;)

SBL-GNT Παῦλος ἀπόστολος ⸂Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ⸃ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς
(Paulos apostolos ⸂Ⱪristou Yaʸsou⸃ dia thelaʸmatos theou kai Timotheos ho adelfos)

RP-GNT Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ, καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφός,
(Paulos apostolos Yaʸsou ⱪristou dia thelaʸmatos theou, kai Timotheos ho adelfos,)

TC-GNT Παῦλος ἀπόστολος [fn]Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ διὰ θελήματος Θεοῦ, καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφός,
(Paulos apostolos Yaʸsou Ⱪristou dia thelaʸmatos Theou, kai Timotheos ho adelfos, )

1:1 ιησου χριστου ¦ χριστου ιησου CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–2: Paul greeted the Colossian believers

1:1a

Paul,

¶ I, Paul, am writing this letter.
¶ This letter is from me, Paul.

Paul: Greek people usually began letters by just writing their name, as Paul did here. Then they would state the name of the person to whom they were writing. Today people do not usually start letters in this way, so you may need to use a greeting that is more natural in your language. For example, you could use a phrase in which Paul refers to himself in the first person. For example:

I, Paul, write this letter.

This letter is from me, Paul,

1:1b

an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

God himself chose me to represent Christ Jesus.
I am an apostle of Christ Jesus because God chose me to be an apostle.

apostle: An apostle was a person whom Jesus had appointed or commissioned to represent him and to teach his message with authority. See the term “apostle” in the glossary and in KBT. If the term you choose for apostle means simply “messenger,” make sure that it does not refer to a person who only delivers a message and then has no further responsibility for the message. An apostle not only taught the message about Christ, but he also had the authority to act on behalf of Christ. He was an ambassador for Christ.

Christ Jesus: In this letter Paul usually referred to Jesus by the name Christ Jesus or “Christ.” He used “Jesus Christ” only once (1:3). The Greek word christos, which is written “Christ” in English, means “Messiah.” However, by the time Paul wrote this letter, people were already using the word “Christ” as another name for Jesus, rather than a title. Most scholars, therefore, believe that there is no difference in meaning between the terms “Christ Jesus” and “Jesus Christ.”

Most English versions (as well as other national language translations) translate “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” using the same order as the Greek text in each instance. Throughout the Display, the names “Christ Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” follow the word order of the Greek text.

But if the people who read your translation would be confused by the different order of the names, you may decide to use the more familiar order “Jesus Christ” here and in the other places where the Greek text has “Christ Jesus.”

by the will of God: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates the will of God means what God wants and desires. Paul wanted to clarify that when he called himself an apostle, it was not because he had decided that for himself. It was God who had chosen him to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

Paul was emphasizing his authority by using the phrases “apostle of Christ Jesus” and by the will of God together. You should connect these two phrases in a way that shows this emphasis. The SSA has expressed the relationship between the two phrases as:

an apostle who represents/was-appointed-by Christ Jesus, because God chose me in order that I should be an apostle

1:1c

and Timothy our brother,

I, together with Timothy who is our^(incl) Christian brother, greet you.
I am here with our^(incl) Christian brother, Timothy.

Timothy: Timothy was with Paul when he was writing this letter. One possible reason his name was mentioned here may be that Paul dictated the letter to Timothy and Timothy wrote down what he said, but we do not know that for certain. Biblical scholars generally agree that Paul alone was the author of the letter and that Timothy did not contribute to the content.

One way you could translate this part of the verse to avoid implying that Timothy was a co-author would be to say:

I, Paul, together with our^(incl) brother Timothy, am sending this letter to you…

brother: Since God is the Father of all Christians, all Christians are like brothers and sisters. Therefore, people in the NT frequently use the word brother when referring to a fellow Christian. You should translate this term literally in your translation if possible. However, in some languages the word brother can only refer to a blood relative. If this is a problem in your language, you could use a term meaning “fellow Christian.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

Throughout this letter the words “we,” “us,” “our,” and “ours” include the Colossian believers unless noted otherwise.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

The words “you,” “your,” and “yours” refer to the Colossian believers, so they are plural unless noted otherwise.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

Παῦλος

Paul

In this culture, letter writers would give their own names first, referring to themselves in the third person. If that is confusing in your language, you could use the first person here. If your language has a particular way of introducing the author of a letter, and if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use it here. Alternate translation: [From Paul]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διά θελήματος Θεοῦ καί Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφός)

This phrase does not mean that Timothy helped Paul write this letter. Paul was the author of this letter, as he shows by using the first person singular throughout the letter. What this does mean is that Timothy is with Paul and that Timothy is in agreement with what Paul writes. If it sounds in your language like Timothy is writing the letter with Paul, you could make Timothy’s supporting role more clear. Alternate translation: [with the support of Timothy, our fellow believer]

Parallel COL 1:1

Section 1:1–2: Paul greeted the Colossian believers

1:1a

1:1b

1:1c