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For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:13 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
  • KJV For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
  • BSB For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
  • NKJV For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
  • NLT I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Paul testifies to Epaphras's deep concern and hard work for the believers in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. It matters because it affirms the genuine, wide-reaching care of a faithful gospel minister.

Overview

Paul vouches for Epaphras's 'great zeal' on behalf of the three neighboring Lycus Valley churches. This commendation strengthens Epaphras's standing and reputation among them. It illustrates the costly, earnest care that pastors and intercessors devote to the people of Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • Col 2:1For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
  • Rom 10:2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
  • 2 Cor 8:3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
  • Rev 1:11saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
  • Rev 3:14–18“To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:
  • Col 4:15–16Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Colossians videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Colossians 4:13YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ColossiansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The image of the invisible God, firstborn over creation, in whom all things hold together and all the fullness of God dwells bodily — supreme over every power.

How Colossians 4:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.