Colossians 1:25
New International Version
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—

New Living Translation
God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.

English Standard Version
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

Berean Standard Bible
I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,

Berean Literal Bible
of which I became a minister according to the administration of God having been given me toward you, to complete the word of God,

King James Bible
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

New King James Version
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

New American Standard Bible
I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

NASB 1995
Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

NASB 1977
Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

Legacy Standard Bible
of which I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God given to me for you, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

Amplified Bible
In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]—

Christian Standard Bible
I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have become its servant, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known,

American Standard Version
whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Of which I am a Minister, according to the administration of God which is given to me among you, that I would fulfill the word of God,

Contemporary English Version
God's plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given me towards you, that I may fulfil the word of God:

English Revised Version
whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfill the word of God,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I became a servant of the church when God gave me the work of telling you his entire message.

Good News Translation
And I have been made a servant of the church by God, who gave me this task to perform for your good. It is the task of fully proclaiming his message,

International Standard Version
I became its servant as God commissioned me to work for you, so that I may complete my ministry of the word of God.

Literal Standard Version
of which I became a servant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

Majority Standard Bible
I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,

New American Bible
of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God,

NET Bible
I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God--given to me for you--in order to complete the word of God,

New Revised Standard Version
I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

New Heart English Bible
of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,

Webster's Bible Translation
Of which I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

Weymouth New Testament
I have been appointed to serve the Church in the position of responsibility entrusted to me by God for your benefit, so that I may fully deliver God's Message--

World English Bible
of which I was made a servant according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God,

Young's Literal Translation
of which I -- I did become a ministrant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Suffering for the Church
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. 25I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, 26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:5
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

1 Corinthians 9:17
If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

Ephesians 3:2
Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:7
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace, given me through the working of His power.

Colossians 1:23
if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.


Treasury of Scripture

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

I am.

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;

1 Thessalonians 3:2
And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

1 Timothy 4:6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

according.

Romans 15:15-18
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, …

1 Corinthians 9:17
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

Galatians 2:7,8
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; …

to fulfil.

Romans 15:19
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine…

Jump to Previous
Appointed Benefit Bestowed Carry Church Commission Complete Deliver Dispensation Divine Effect Entrusted Fulfil Fulfill Fully God's Message Minister Ministrant Office Position Preaching Present Purpose Responsibility Servant Serve Stewardship Towards Whereof Word
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Appointed Benefit Bestowed Carry Church Commission Complete Deliver Dispensation Divine Effect Entrusted Fulfil Fulfill Fully God's Message Minister Ministrant Office Position Preaching Present Purpose Responsibility Servant Serve Stewardship Towards Whereof Word
Colossians 1
1. After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith;
7. confirms the doctrine of Epaphras;
9. prays further for their increase in grace;
14. describes the supremacy of Christ;
21. encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry.














(25) Whereof I am made (or, became) a minister.--Above (in Colossians 1:23) St. Paul describes himself as a "minister of the gospel," here as a "minister (or, servant) of the Church." Elsewhere he is always the "minister of God" and "of Christ"; here of the Church, as the Body of Christ, and so indissolubly united with Christ.

The dispensation of God.--See Ephesians 3:2-9, and Notes there. The reference is to his peculiar "Apostleship of the Gentiles."

To fulfil.--The marginal reading and reference to Romans 15:19 give the explanation of the word, "fully to preach the Word of God"--to be a messenger of the perfect revelation, which had now unfolded what was previously a hidden "mystery."

Verse 25. - Of which I became a minister (2 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 2 Corinthians 11:28, 29; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4). His sufferings are, therefore, matter of duty, as well as of joy. As the Church's minister, he is bound to toil and to suffer in whatever way her welfare requires. Elsewhere he styles himself "minister of the gospel" (ver 23; Ephesians 3:7), "of God," "of Christ," "of a new covenant" (2 Corinthians 3:6). (On "minister," see note, ver. 7. According to the stewardship of God, that was given me to you-ward (Ephesians 3:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1-4; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 1 Timothy 1:4, R.V.; 1 Timothy 3:15; Luke 12:42; Luke 16:2-4; Hebrews 3:2-6; 1 Peter 4:10). Οἰκονομία ("economy") is first "house-management," then "administration" generally the οἰκόνομος ("house-steward") was a confidential upper servant, frequently a slave, who controlled the general arrangements of a large establishment, and was responsible immediately to the master. Such an office the apostle holds, along with others (1 Corinthians 4:1), in the Church, "the house of God" (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:20: this conception, like that of "the body of Christ" - comp. note on ver. 18 - is fully developed only in the later Epistles). In this office he "administers the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:17, 18), "the grace of God" (Ephesians 3:2; 1 Peter 4:10), and here more especially "the mystery" of vers. 26, 27 (comp. Ephesians 3:9, R.V.). In Ephesians 1:10 and Ephesians 3:2, the οἰκονομία is referred to God himself, the supreme Dispenser in his own house. This office "was given" him, and specifically as "toward the Gentiles" (for "you" points to the Colossians as Gentiles, vers. 24, 27, notes; Ephesians 3:1, 2; Romans 11:13), when he first became a servant of Christ (Acts 9:15; Acts 22:21; Acts 26:16-18; Galatians 1:15, 16; 1 Timothy 1:11-15; Romans 15:15, 16). Some interpreters connect "to you-ward" with the word "fulfil," but less suitably (comp. Ephesians 3:2; Romans 15:16). To fulfil the word of God (Romans 15:16-19; Romans 16:25, 26). "To fulfil" (see vers. 9, 24, and "fulness," ver. 19; also Colossians 2:9, 10; Colossians 4:12) is either "to complete," to give full development and extension to the gospel message (vers. 5, 6; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Romans 15:19; Acts 20:20, 21, 27); or "to accomplish" the prophetic word (Romans 9:24-26; Romans 15:8 - 12; Acts 15:15-17), as in Acts 13:27, and frequently in the Gospels. This verb πληρόω, however, is not used by St. Paul elsewhere in the latter sense, and the former precisely suits the context (compare parallels from Romans). Other interpretations - "to preach abundantly," "to continue Christ's preaching" (Ephesians 2:17; Hebrews 2:3), "to execute the Divine commission" - miss the sense of the verb. The word which it is the object of the apostle's ministry to fulfil, and in regard to which he had a special stewardship, is none other than -

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

became
ἐγενόμην (egenomēn)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

its
ἧς (hēs)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

servant
διάκονος (diakonos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1249: Probably from an obsolete diako; an attendant, i.e. a waiter; specially, a Christian teacher and pastor.

by
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

commission
οἰκονομίαν (oikonomian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3622: Management of household affairs, stewardship, administration. From oikonomos; administration; specially, a 'economy'.

God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

gave
δοθεῖσάν (dotheisan)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

me
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

to fully proclaim
πληρῶσαι (plērōsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4137: From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

of God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.


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NT Letters: Colossians 1:25 Of which I was made a servant (Coloss. Col Co)
Colossians 1:24
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