“This hope is
Laid up for you
In heaven.
You have heard
Of this hope beforehand
In the word
Of truth,
The gospel.”
διὰ τὴν ἐλπίδα τὴν ἀποκειμένην ὑμῖν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἣν προηκούσατε ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῆς ἀληθείας τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
Paul said, “This hope (διὰ τὴν ἐλπίδα) is laid up for you (τὴν ἀποκειμένην ὑμῖν) in heaven (ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς). You have heard of this hope beforehand (ἣν προηκούσατε) in the word of the truth (ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῆς ἀληθείας), the gospel (τοῦ εὐαγγελίου).” Only this unique word προηκούσατε, is found here in Colossians, that means to hear beforehand. Paul indicated that the Christian Colossians had hope in heaven because they had previously heard about this hope from the truthful gospel about Jesus Christ. There was a clear equivalence between truth and the gospel that has led to the common saying “the gospel truth”. Do you believe that the gospel is true?