Colossians 1:29 Meaning: When Your Effort Meets His Power
for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
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.
Whereunto also I toil, combating according to his working, which works in me in power.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul explains how he both labors and depends on God's power working in him, showing that true Christian effort is energized by Christ.
Context
Paul is writing from prison to a church he didn’t start. He has been explaining the great mystery: Christ lives in believers, the hope of glory. His aim is to present every person mature in Christ. This verse pulls back the curtain on how he does it. He gives everything he has, labor, striving, the sweat of the arena, then immediately says it is Christ’s own energy that works in him with power. The sentence holds two things together that feel like opposites: total effort and total dependence. Paul does not resolve the tension; he lives in it.
Key Words
Paul uses three Greek words that carry real weight. First, labor (kopiō) means work to the point of weariness. Paul knows exhaustion. Second, striving (agōnizomai) comes from the athletic games, it pictures a wrestler or runner giving everything for the prize. Paul’s ministry is no casual hobby. But then comes the third word: working (energeia). This is not Paul’s energy. It is God’s active power, the same word used for the Spirit’s work. And Paul says this energy works in him in power (dunamis). He is not coasting. He is sprinting, but the strength is not his own. The word according to (kata) tells us the measure: Paul’s striving is limited only by how much Christ supplies.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions hear this verse as a call to both effort and trust. Methodist readers, following Adam Clarke, emphasize that God worked energetically in Paul and Paul worked energetically with God. Reformed readers, with Calvin, see the power of God shining in the ministry, not human ability. Anglican commentators like the Cambridge Bible note the restful and animating truth that God’s presence is the force behind all apostolic activity. All agree: Paul does not claim his own strength. His humility and confidence come from the same source, Christ’s energy at work in him.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers hear Paul’s words about labor and striving and think he is boasting about his own hard work. In fact, he carefully guards against that. The phrase according to is crucial: Paul’s striving is not the source of the power, but its result. He works hard because God’s energy is already at work in him mightily.
Living This Out
Maybe this week you face a task that feels beyond you, a conversation you need to have, a habit you need to break, a person you need to serve. Paul shows a different way. You do not have to white-knuckle your way through. You can give yourself fully to the effort, but do it as someone whose real strength comes from Christ alive within you. Before you start, pause. Ask Christ to supply the energy. Then work as if everything depends on you, because you know it actually depends on Him.
Main takeaway: You can strive with all you have because Christ’s own energy is working in you.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul worked really hard telling people about Jesus. But he knew that Jesus was the one giving him the strength to do it. You can try your best and know God is helping you.
For ages 9, 12
Paul uses the picture of an athlete training for a race. He says he ‘strives’ like someone pushing for the finish line. But he adds that his effort only works because God’s power is at work inside him. It is like running a race where God makes your legs move. You give your best, but the strength comes from Him.
Questions People Ask
What does 'striving' mean in Colossians 1:29?
The Greek word is agōnizomai, from which we get 'agonize.' It pictures the all-out effort of an athlete in a contest, or a soldier in battle. Paul uses it to describe the intensity of his ministry.
Does Paul mean he does all the work or God does?
Both. Paul says he labors and strives, but 'according to' Christ's working. His effort is real, but it is energized and enabled by God's power. He works because God is already at work in him.
What does 'according to his working' mean?
The phrase shows that the source and measure of Paul's striving is Christ's own active power. Paul does not strive in his own strength but in proportion to the energy Christ supplies.
How can I apply Colossians 1:29 to my daily life?
Recognize that God's power is available for the tasks He calls you to. Pray for His energy, then work hard with confidence that He is working in you. You are not alone in the effort.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study