Colossians 1:29
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul isn't just saying he works hard; he's highlighting the extraordinary energy he expends, like an athlete pushing to exhaustion. This isn't his own strength, but the "energetic working" of Christ himself actively energizing him from within.
Paul is describing the intense effort he expends in his ministry, aiming to present every person mature in Christ. He's just explained that his goal is to proclaim Christ and warn everyone, teaching with divine wisdom. This verse reveals the personal cost and divine power behind his unwavering dedication to this mission.
Paul uses powerful language to describe his work for the gospel. It wasn't just busywork; it was an all-out effort.
The verse begins with Paul's intense labor. The Greek word used, 'kopiao,' signifies working to the point of extreme weariness, like an athlete pushing past their limits.
A Costly Commitment
This isn't about a casual hobby. Paul poured his entire being into spreading the gospel. He worked tirelessly, enduring hardship and opposition, not for personal gain, but for the sake of others and the glory of God.
His labor was a testament to his deep conviction and love for Christ and the church.
Paul doesn't just work hard; he 'struggles' with a divine energy that propels him forward.
The phrase 'struggling with all his energy' uses a Greek word that evokes the intense effort of an athlete in a contest, often translated as 'agonizing.' This wasn't just a physical struggle, but a deep, internal wrestling – a striving that required every ounce of his being.
A Divine Partnership
Crucially, this struggle isn't happening in Paul's own strength. He immediately clarifies it's 'according to his [Christ's] working, which worketh in me mightily.' This highlights a profound partnership:
This means our own intense efforts in serving God are not in vain, but are empowered and sustained by His dynamic presence.
Understand the original words
kopiaō · Greek Verb
To exert oneself to the point of exhaustion, emphasizing hard labor and strenuous effort, particularly in the context of ministry or spiritual service.
agōnizomai · Greek Verb
A word depicting intense exertion, struggle, or agonizing effort, often used to describe the inner conflict or the strenuous commitment required in the service of the Gospel.
energeia · Greek Noun
The effective, working power of God. It denotes dynamic force or operational strength, specifically referring to the way God enables believers to fulfill His purposes.
Paul here echoes this passage, highlighting how his own labor and achievements in ministry are entirely by the grace of God working through him, not from his own merit.
Philippians 4:13This verse provides the foundational truth for Paul's statement in Colossians, as he asserts his ability to do all things through Christ who strengthens him, enabling his tireless labor.
1 Timothy 6:12Paul uses similar athletic imagery, urging Timothy to 'fight the good fight of faith,' which parallels his own 'toil' and 'struggle' in Colossians 1:29, emphasizing perseverance and God's empowering energy.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10This passage directly relates to Paul's experience of God's power being made perfect in his weakness, a concept that underpins his ability to labor and struggle mightily through divine energy.
Romans 8:28While not a direct parallel in wording, this verse provides a theological framework, assuring that God's powerful working in believers, as seen in Paul's strenuous efforts, ultimately leads to good and aligns with His purposes.
vincentColossians 1:29: "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
I labor (κοπιῶ)Unto weariness. See on Luke 5:5. The connection with the following ἀγωνιζόμενος contending in the arena, seems to show that I labor has the special sense of labor in preparing for the contest. The same combination occurs 1 Timothy 4:10, where the correct reading is ἀγωνιζόμεθα we strive for ὀνειδιζόμεθα we suffer reproach; and there is a similar combination, Philipp…
barnesColossians 1:29: "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
Whereunto I also labour - See the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:10 . Striving - Greek agonizing. He taxed all his energies to accomplish this, as the wrestlers strove for the mastery in the Grecian games. According to his working - Not by my own strength, but by the power which God alone can give; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:10. Remarks On Colossians 1 Among the truths of practical imp…
Paul isn't just saying he works hard; he's highlighting the extraordinary energy he expends, like an athlete pushing to exhaustion. This isn't his own strength, but the "energetic working" of Christ himself actively energizing him from within.
Paul is describing the intense effort he expends in his ministry, aiming to present every person mature in Christ. He's just explained that his goal is to proclaim Christ and warn everyone, teaching with divine wisdom. This verse reveals the personal cost and divine power behind his unwavering dedication to this mission.
Paul is describing the intense effort he expends in his ministry, aiming to present every person mature in Christ. He's just explained that his goal is to proclaim Christ and warn everyone, teaching with divine wisdom. This verse reveals the personal cost and divine power behind his unwavering dedication to this mission.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Colossians 1:29 is available in the Sola app.
Where does Paul find such relentless drive? It's not from within himself, but from a powerful, divine source.
The verse culminates in the source of Paul's incredible stamina and effectiveness: 'his energy that he powerfully works within me.' The word for 'energy' here (energeia) speaks of an inherent, dynamic power – the very power God used to raise Christ from the dead.
Christ's Immanence
This isn't a distant power; it's an indwelling one. Christ's energy is actively working within Paul. This means believers are not left to their own devices but are infused with the life and power of the resurrected Christ.
This divine energy fuels our spiritual lives, enables us to overcome sin and opposition, and empowers us for service. It’s the secret to persevering through trials and continuing the work God has called us to.
"For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." — Paul isn't just saying he works hard; he's highlighting the extraordinary energy he expends, like an athlete pushing to exhaustion. This isn't his own strength, but the "energetic working" of Christ…
