Making Sense of the Bible

Translation of Colossians 3:4

UBS text
o{tan oJ Cristo;" fanerwqh'/, hJ zwh; uJmw'n, tovte kai; uJmei'" su;n aujtw'/ fanerwqhvsesqe ejn dovxh/.

Translation Worksheet
 

Greek Word(s) Translation
o{tan  adv. When, whenever
oJ Cristo;"  (the) Christ 
singular nominative (subject)
fanerwqh'/,  (he/she/it/) be/is revealed
verb- 3rd person singular- aorist passive subjunctive
hJ zwh; uJmw'n Your life (lit, the life of you)
Life- singular nominative. 
You- 2nd person plural genitive/ablative (possessive)
tovte kai;  Then, at that time
Adverb
 And
Conjunction
uJmei'"  You
2nd person plural nominative (subject)
su;n aujtw'/  With him
Him- 3rd person masculine pronoun, dative (indirect object)
fanerwqhvsesqe  (you all) will be revealed
verb- 2nd person plural- future passive indicative
ejn dovxh/. In glory
Glory- singular dative (indirect object)

Literal translation:
When Christ is revealed (your life), then you with him will be revealed in glory.

Better translation:
When Christ your life is revealed, then you will be revealed with him in glory.

Variant Reading:
UBS allows but doesn't recommend “hJmw'n” instead of  “uJmw'n” in 3:4.
This word means “our” instead of “your” (1st person plural instead of 2nd person plural). The translation would then be:

When Christ our life is revealed, then you will be revealed with him in glory.

Copyright © 2000 John Engler. All rights reserved.