Colossians 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Original Language Analysis
ἐπιμένετε
ye continue
G1961
ἐπιμένετε
ye continue
Strong's:
G1961
Word #:
2 of 32
to stay over, i.e., remain (figuratively, persevere)
τὸν
and which
G3588
τὸν
and which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστει
in the faith
G4102
πίστει
in the faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
4 of 32
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
τεθεμελιωμένοι
grounded
G2311
τεθεμελιωμένοι
grounded
Strong's:
G2311
Word #:
5 of 32
to lay a basis for, i.e., (literally) erect, or (figuratively) consolidate
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
μὴ
be not
G3361
μὴ
be not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
9 of 32
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
μετακινούμενοι
moved away
G3334
μετακινούμενοι
moved away
Strong's:
G3334
Word #:
10 of 32
to stir to a place elsewhere, i.e., remove (figuratively)
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
11 of 32
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τὸν
and which
G3588
τὸν
and which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐλπίδος
the hope
G1680
ἐλπίδος
the hope
Strong's:
G1680
Word #:
13 of 32
expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence
τὸν
and which
G3588
τὸν
and which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὗ
whereof
G3739
οὗ
whereof
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
16 of 32
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
τὸν
and which
G3588
τὸν
and which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κηρυχθέντος
was preached
G2784
κηρυχθέντος
was preached
Strong's:
G2784
Word #:
19 of 32
to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel)
τὸν
and which
G3588
τὸν
and which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κτίσει
creature
G2937
κτίσει
creature
Strong's:
G2937
Word #:
23 of 32
original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively)
τὸν
and which
G3588
τὸν
and which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
24 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὑπὸ
which is under
G5259
ὑπὸ
which is under
Strong's:
G5259
Word #:
25 of 32
under, i.e., (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (
τὸν
and which
G3588
τὸν
and which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανόν
heaven
G3772
οὐρανόν
heaven
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
27 of 32
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
οὗ
whereof
G3739
οὗ
whereof
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
28 of 32
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἐγενόμην
am made
G1096
ἐγενόμην
am made
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
29 of 32
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
Cross References
Hebrews 3:14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;Hebrews 3:6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.Hebrews 10:38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.Galatians 6:9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.Ephesians 3:17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,Acts 14:22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.Romans 10:18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.Hebrews 6:19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;1 Thessalonians 3:5For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.Ephesians 1:18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Historical Context
By AD 60, the gospel had reached throughout the Roman Empire and beyond—from Spain to India according to tradition. This explosive expansion in hostile circumstances testified to divine power, not human ingenuity. Paul contrasts this universal, publicly proclaimed gospel with the heretics' secret knowledge available only to spiritual elites. Truth spreads; error requires obscurity.
Questions for Reflection
- What evidence exists in your life that you're continuing in faith rather than drifting from the gospel's hope?
- On what foundation is your faith built—Scripture and apostolic teaching, or subjective experiences and contemporary innovations?
- How do you evaluate new teachings—by popularity and appeal, or by conformity to the gospel you first received?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister. The conditional "if ye continue" (ei ge epimenete, εἴ γε ἐπιμένετε) doesn't introduce doubt but tests authenticity. Genuine believers persevere; apparent believers who apostatize reveal they never truly belonged (1 John 2:19). Perseverance evidences salvation; it doesn't earn salvation.
"Grounded and settled" uses architectural metaphors: tethemeliōmenoi (τεθεμελιωμένοι, "founded on foundation") and hedraioi (ἑδραῖοι, "firmly seated"). Mature faith rests on solid foundation—Christ and apostolic teaching—not shifting sand of subjective experience or philosophical novelty. "Not moved away from the hope" (mē metakinoumenoi apo tēs elpidos, μὴ μετακινούμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος) warns against doctrinal drift promoted by false teachers.
Paul appeals to the gospel's universality—"preached to every creature which is under heaven"—validating its authenticity through widespread acceptance. Localized heresies claiming special revelation cannot match the gospel's universal spread accomplished in one generation without modern communication. Paul's personal testimony ("whereof I Paul am made a minister") adds apostolic weight: this isn't secondhand tradition but divinely revealed truth.