Colossians 1:29
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Study Note
Study Note
Paul describes his ministry labor as 'striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily' — a formulation that holds together human effort and divine energizing in a way that refuses to collapse either into the other. The Greek 'agonizomenos' (striving, agonizing) draws on athletic imagery for the intensity of apostolic labor, while 'kata ten energeian autou' (according to his energy) attributes the ultimate power to Christ. This synergistic description parallels Philippians 2:12-13 ('work out your salvation… for it is God who works in you') and 1 Corinthians 15:10 ('I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me'). Paul consistently maintains both poles: genuine human effort and genuine divine enabling.
Other Translations
whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
for which also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power.
And for this purpose I am working, using all my strength by the help of his power which is working in me strongly.
Cross References
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and …
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another …
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye …
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a …
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached …
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was …
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;