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;
Study Note
Study Note
The conditional 'if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel' is not a doubt about the Colossians' status but a description of what genuine faith looks like — it perseveres. The three-fold stability metaphor (tethemeliōmenoi — founded, hedraioi — firm, mē metakinoumenoi — not moved) addresses a specific threat: the Colossian 'philosophy' (2:8) that was potentially destabilizing the community. The phrase 'the gospel... proclaimed in all creation under heaven' reflects the same universal scope as verse 6, and Paul's role as its 'minister' (diakonos) grounds his authority to encourage steadfastness. Hebrews 3:14 uses nearly identical language: 'we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.'
Other Translations
if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that <FI>is<Fi> under the heaven, of which I became--I Paul--a ministrant.
If you keep yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
Cross References
This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that …
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the …
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of …
Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord.
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that …
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; …
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is …
And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for …