Colossians 2:1

Christ, The Mystery Of God

¹ For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face. ² [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ,

Face to Face

Christ

Colosse

Laodicea

Paul

Colossians 1:29

For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.

Philippians 1:30

[and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.

Revelation 1:11

saying, “Write on a scroll what you see [in this revelation], and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Colossians 4:12-13

Epaphras, who is one of you and a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you in his prayers, praying with genuine concern, [pleading] that you may [as people of character and courage] stand firm, [spiritually mature] and fully assured in all the will of God.

Genesis 32:24-30

So Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak.

Hosea 12:3-4

In their mother’s womb he took his brother by the heel,
And in his maturity he contended with God.

Luke 22:44

And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.

Acts 20:25

“And now, listen carefully: I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will see me again.

Acts 20:38

grieving and distressed especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see him again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Galatians 4:19

My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within you—

Colossians 1:24

Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church.

Colossians 2:5

For even though I am absent [from you] in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, delighted to see your good discipline [as you stand shoulder to shoulder and form a solid front] and to see the stability of your faith in Christ [your steadfast reliance on Him and your unwavering confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

Colossians 4:15-16

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

1 Thessalonians 2:2

but after we had already suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi, as you know, yet in [the strength of] our God we summoned the courage to proclaim boldly to you the good news of God [regarding salvation] amid great opposition.

Hebrews 5:7

In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered up both [specific] petitions and [urgent] supplications [for that which He needed] with fervent crying and tears to the One who was [always] able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission toward God [His sinlessness and His unfailing determination to do the Father’s will].

1 Peter 1:8

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy,

Revelation 3:14-22

“To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Laodicea write:

“These are the words of the Amen, the trusted and faithful and true Witness, the Beginning and Origin of God’s creation:

Genesis 30:8

So Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings [in prayer to God] I have struggled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she named him Naphtali (my wrestlings).