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Col_1:29. On the point of now urging upon the readers their obligation to fidelity in the faith (Col_2:4), and that from the platform of the personal relation in which he stood towards them as one unknown to them by face (Col_2:1), Paul now turns from the form of expression embracing others in common with himself, into which he had glided at Col_1:28 in harmony with its contents, back to the individual form (the first person singular), and asserts, first of all, in connection with Col_1:28, that for the purpose of the παραστῆσαι κ . τ . λ . ( εἰς ὅ , comp. 1Ti_4:10) he also gives himself even toil ( κοπιῶ , comp. Rom_16:6; Rom_16:12; 1Co_4:12), striving, etc.
καί ] also, subjoins the κοπιᾶν to the καταγγέλλειν κ . τ . λ ., in which he subjects himself also to the former; it is therefore augmentative, in harmony with the climactic progress of the discourse; not a mere equalization of the aim and the striving (de Wette). Neither this καί , nor even the transition to the singular of the verb,—especially since the latter is not emphasized by the addition of an ἐγώ ,—can justify the interpretation of Hofmann, according to which εἰς ὅ is, contrary to its position, to be attached to ἀγωνιζόμενος , and κοπιῷ is to mean: “I become weary and faint” (comp. Joh_4:6; Rev_2:3, and Düsterdieck in loc.). Paul, who has often impressed upon others the μὴ ἐκκακεῖν , and for himself is certain of being more than conqueror in all things (Rom_8:37; 2Co_4:8, et al.), can hardly have borne testimony about himself in this sense, with which, moreover, the ἀγωνίζεσθαι in the strength of Christ is not consistent. In his case, as much as in that of any one, the οὐκ ἐκοπίασας of Rev_2:3 holds good.
ἀγωνιζόμενος ] Compare 1Ti_4:10. Here, however, according to the context, Col_2:1 ff., the inward striving (comp. Luk_13:24) against difficulties and hostile forces, the striving of solicitude, of watching, of mental and emotional exertion, of prayer, etc., is meant; as respects which Paul, like every regenerate person (Gal_5:17), could not be raised above the resistance of the σάρξ to the πνεῦμα ruling in him. Comp. Chrysostom: καὶ οὐχ ἁπλῶς σπουδάζω , φησιν , οὐδὲ ὡς ἔτυχεν , ἀλλὰ κοπιῶ ἀγωνιζόμενος μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σπουδῆς , μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἀγρυπνίας . It is not: “tot me periculis ac malis objicere” (Erasmus, comp. Grotius, Estius, Heinrichs, Bähr, and others), which outward struggling, according to Flatt, de Wette, Baumgarten-Crusius, and others, should be understood along with that inward striving; Col_2:1 only points to the latter; comp. Col_4:12.
κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν κ . τ . λ .] for Paul does not contend, amid the labours of his office, according to the measure of his own strength, but according to the effectual working of Christ ( αὐτοῦ is not to be referred to God, as is done by Chrysostom, Grotius, Flatt, Baumgarten-Crusius, and others), which worketh in him. Comp. Php_4:13. How must this consciousness, at once so humble and confident of victory, have operated upon the readers to stir them up and strengthen them for stedfastness in the faith!
τὴν ἐνεργουμ .] is middle; see on 2Co_1:6; Gal_5:6; Eph_3:20. The modal definition to it, ἐν δυνάμει , mightily (comp. on Rom_1:4), is placed at the end significantly, as in 2Th_1:11; it is groundlessly regarded by Holtzmann as probably due to the interpolator.