COL 1:7 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, 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 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,[fn]

UST This is what Epaphras told you would happen. He works with us for the Messiah, and we love him. He faithfully serves the Messiah as our representative.

BSB You learned [it] from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[fn] behalf,

BLB just as you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on behalf of us,

AICNT Just as you [[also]][fn] learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on {your}[fn] behalf,

1:7, also: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

1:7, your: NA28 BYZ TR ‖ Some manuscripts read “our.” SBLGNT THGNT

OEB It is just what you learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who, as a minister of the Christ, faithfully represents us,

WEBBE even as you learnt from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your[fn] behalf,

1:7 NU reads our

WMBB even as you learnt from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Messiah on your[fn] behalf,

1:7 NU reads our

NET You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave – a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf –

LSV as you also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful servant of the Christ for you,

FBV Our dear friend and fellow-worker Epaphras, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on our behalf, taught you about this.

TCNT You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on [fn]your behalf

1:7 your ¦ our SBL TH WH

T4T That is just what Epaphras taught you would happen. We love Epaphras. He serves Christ together with us and works for Christ faithfully for your benefit.

LEB just as you learned it[fn] from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,[fn]

1:7 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

1:7 Some manuscripts have “on your behalf”

BBE As it was given to you by Epaphras, our well-loved helper, who is a true servant of Christ for us,

Moff You got that lesson from our beloved fellow-servant Epaphras, a minister of Christ who is faithful to your interests;

Wymth as you learned it from Epaphras our dearly-loved fellow servant. He is to you a faithful minister of Christ in our stead,

ASV even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

DRA As you learned of Epaphras, our most beloved fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ Jesus;

YLT as ye also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful ministrant of the Christ,

Drby even as ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow-bondman, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you,

RV even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
(even as ye/you_all learned/learnt of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, )

SLT As also ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellowservant, who is a faithful servant of Christ for you;

Wbstr As ye also learned from Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

KJB-1769 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
(As ye/you_all also learned/learnt of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; )

KJB-1611 As yee also learned of Epaphras our deare felow seruant, who is for you a faithfull Minister of Christ:
(As ye/you_all also learned/learnt of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful Minister of Christ:)

Bshps As ye also learned of Epaphras, our deare felowe seruaunt, which is for you a faythfull minister of Christe:
(As ye/you_all also learned/learnt of Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ:)

Gnva As yee also learned of Epaphras our deare fellowe seruaunt, which is for you a faithfull minister of Christ:
(As ye/you_all also learned/learnt of Epaphras our dear fellowe servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ: )

Cvdl as ye learned of Epaphras oure deare felowe seruaunt, which is a faithfull mynister of Christ for you,
(as ye/you_all learned/learnt of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is a faithful minister of Christ for you,)

TNT as ye learned of Epaphra oure deare felowe servaunt which is for you a faythfull minister of Christ
(as ye/you_all learned/learnt of Epaphra our dear fellow servant which is for you a faithful minister of Christ )

Wycl As ye lerneden of Epafras, oure felawe most dereworthe, which is a trewe mynystre of Jhesu Crist for you;
(As ye/you_all learned/learntn of Epafras, our felawe most dear/precious, which is a true minister of Yhesu Christ for you;)

Luth Wie ihr denn gelernet habt von Epaphras, unserm lieben Mitdiener, welcher ist ein treuer Diener Christi für euch,
(How you(pl)/their/her because/than learnt have from Epaphras, ours love(v) Mitdiener, which is a loyal servant Christi for/in_favour_of you,)

ClVg sicut didicistis ab Epaphra carissimo conservo nostro, qui est fidelis pro vobis minister Christi Jesu,[fn]
(like I_learntstis away Epaphra carissimo conservo our, who/which it_is faithful for to_you(pl) minister of_Christ Yesu, )

1.7 Pro vobis, etc. Quorum salutem desiderans, cœpit Archippum adjuvare.

1.7 For to_you(pl), etc. Quorum health desiderans, he_began Archippum adyuvare.

UGNT καθὼς ἐμάθετε ἀπὸ Ἐπαφρᾶ, τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ συνδούλου ἡμῶν, ὅς ἐστιν πιστὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν διάκονος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
(kathōs emathete apo Epafra, tou agapaʸtou sundoulou haʸmōn, hos estin pistos huper haʸmōn diakonos tou Ⱪristou,)

SBL-GNT ⸀καθὼς ἐμάθετε ἀπὸ Ἐπαφρᾶ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ συνδούλου ἡμῶν, ὅς ἐστιν πιστὸς ὑπὲρ ⸀ἡμῶν διάκονος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
(⸀kathōs emathete apo Epafra tou agapaʸtou sundoulou haʸmōn, hos estin pistos huper ⸀haʸmōn diakonos tou Ⱪristou,)

RP-GNT καθὼς καὶ ἐμάθετε ἀπὸ Ἐπαφρᾶ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ συνδούλου ἡμῶν, ὅς ἐστιν πιστὸς ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν διάκονος τοῦ χριστοῦ,
(kathōs kai emathete apo Epafra tou agapaʸtou sundoulou haʸmōn, hos estin pistos huper humōn diakonos tou ⱪristou,)

TC-GNT καθὼς [fn]καὶ ἐμάθετε ἀπὸ Ἐπαφρᾶ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ συνδούλου ἡμῶν, ὅς ἐστι πιστὸς ὑπὲρ [fn]ὑμῶν διάκονος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
(kathōs kai emathete apo Epafra tou agapaʸtou sundoulou haʸmōn, hos esti pistos huper humōn diakonos tou Ⱪristou, )

1:7 και ¦ — CT

1:7 υμων ¦ ημων SBL TH WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:3–12: Paul thanked God for the Colossians and prayed for them

In this section, Paul told the Colossian Christians that he often thanked God for them. He was grateful to God that they had trusted in Christ Jesus, and that they loved all God’s people. He told them about his prayers for them—that God would cause them to be wise and help them to know what he wanted them to do.

Epaphras had come from Colossae to visit Paul in prison. He brought news to Paul about the Christian congregations in Colossae and the towns nearby. Paul was happy to hear that the Christians in Colossae were trusting firmly in Jesus. However, he was concerned to hear that there were some people among them who wanted to continue to practice their old religious beliefs, and others who said that Christians must obey the Jewish laws. In this section of his letter, Paul concentrated on the good news he had heard from Epaphras.

Paragraph 1:3–8

The theme in this section is that Paul continually thanked God for the Colossian Christians, because they had trusted in Christ Jesus and because they loved their fellow Christians.

1:7a

You learned it from Epaphras,

It was Epaphras who taught you this message.
This is what Epaphras taught you.

You learned it from Epaphras: The word it refers back to “the word of truth, the gospel” in 1:5. In some languages, it may be necessary to say “Epaphras taught this message to you” rather than You learned it from Epaphras.

Epaphras: Epaphras was the main person who had taught the message about Christ to the Colossians.

1:7b

our beloved fellow servant,

We^(excl) love him. He is a Christian worker like we^(excl) are.
He serves Christ just as we^(excl) do, and we^(excl) love him.

our: The word our refers to Paul and Timothy and perhaps other Christians who were with them.

fellow servant: When Paul said Epaphras was his fellow servant (the Greek is literally “co-slave”), he meant that Epaphras was Christ’s slave just as Paul and Timothy were.

In 1:5–7 Paul emphasized that God had given only one true message—the message about Christ that Epaphras had originally taught to the Colossians. In 1:7 Paul emphasized that just as he and Timothy were messengers of Jesus, Epaphras was also. So Paul was saying that if the Colossian Christians rejected Epaphras, they would also be rejecting him and Timothy.

1:7c

who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

He has faithfully served Christ among you as our^(excl) representative.
He represented us^(excl) when he served Christ by teaching you the gospel.

faithful minister of Christ: In 1:7b Paul called Epaphras his “fellow servant.” Here in 1:7c he called him a minister of Christ. The word minister means “worker, servant.” The words “servant” in 1:7b and minister in 1:7c translate different Greek words, but they have similar meanings.

faithful: This means that Epaphras was reliable. He continued to work for Christ—he didn’t give up when he faced pressure.

on our behalf: Some Greek manuscripts say, “on our behalf,” and others say, “on your behalf.” English versions differ as to which manuscript they follow:

The BSB says “on our behalf.” This means that Paul was saying that Epaphras faithfully served Christ among the Colossians as a representative of Paul (and Timothy). (BSB, NIV, GNT, RSV, NCV, NET, NJB, REB)
Other versions say “on your behalf.” This can mean one of two things:
1. that Epaphras was serving Christ by teaching the Colossians, that is, “for the Colossians.” (KJV, CEV).
2. that Epaphras was faithfully serving Christ by being a representative of the Colossians to Paul (and Timothy). (GW, NLT).

The first option (1) is recommended because it has the best support among the Greek manuscripts. It also fits the context, since Paul was emphasizing Epaphras’ work among the Colossians.

Parallel COL 1:7

Section 1:3–12: Paul thanked God for the Colossians and prayed for them

Paragraph 1:3–8

1:7a

1:7b

1:7c