Colossians 1:29for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
The setting
Rome, ~60-62 AD. Paul reflects on his ministry from house arrest, chained to a Roman guard but still writing letters to churches across the empire...
The emotion here: weary but sustained by divine strength
The original word
kopiaō (κοπιάω) — to work to exhaustion, the kind of labor that leaves you spent
Why it matters
Paul was under house arrest for two years, paying his own rent while guarded 24/7
Read with care
What most readers miss in Colossians 1:29
Paul uses two different Greek words for 'working' - his effort AND God's power
Common misconceptionPeople think this means 'God helps those who help themselves,' but Paul is saying human effort is only effective when it's God's power flowing through us.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Colossians 1:29
Bible Genome reading
Colossians 1:29 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Colossians 1:29 comes from the book of Colossians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include labor, divine power, ministry, effort. Notable phrases: I also labor; striving according to his working.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Colossians 1:29 mean to you, today?
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