Bible Strands
Colossians 1:5
the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Colossian believers immediately after noting their reported faith and love for the saints. He frames their current spiritual condition as a direct response to a future reality he is about to describe.
The words — The Greek ἀποκειμένην (apokeimenēn) literally means "is being laid up," denoting a reserve preserved in heaven. Paul explicitly ties this stored hope to the "word of truth, the gospel" the recipients previously heard.
The thread — The concept of a heavenly reserve appears in 1 Peter 1:3, which describes a "living hope," and 2 Timothy 4:8, where a "crown... is laid up." The pairing of "word of truth" with "gospel" mirrors the language in Ephesians 1:13.
Why it lands — The text states that present faith and love originate from a future hope already secured in heaven through the gospel. A reader must acknowledge that current spiritual vitality depends on a guaranteed future inheritance rather than on present circumstances.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- 2 Timothy 4:8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
- Titus 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
- Colossians 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- 1 Corinthians 15:19 If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
- 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- 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.
- Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
- Galatians 5:5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness.