v.1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (KJV)
“conflict” means 1) a fight or war 2) sharp disagreement, as of interests or ideas
I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. (NLT)
For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you [how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you] and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen my face and known me personally. (AMPC)
v.2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (KJV)
“riches” means wealth (as fulness), money, possessions, or abundance, richness, valuable bestowment
(cf. Matt. 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14, Romans 2:4, 9:23, 11:12 & 33, 2 Cor. 8:2, Eph. 1:7 & 18, 2:7, 3:8 & 16, Phil. 4:19, Col. 1:27, 1 Tim. 6:17, Heb. 11:26, James 5:2, Rev. 5:12 & 18:17)
“full assurance” means entire confidence
(cf. 1 Thess. 1:5, Hebrews 6:11 & 10:22)
“understanding” means a mental putting together, intelligence or the intellect
(cf. Luke 2:47, 1 Cor. 1:19, Eph. 3:4, Col. 1:9 and 2 Timothy 2:7)
“acknowledgement” means recognition, full discernment
(cf. Romans 1:28, 10:2, Eph. 1:17, 4:13, Col. 1:9-10, 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Timothy 2:25, 3:7, Titus 1:1, Hebrews 10:26 and 2 Peter 1:2-3)
I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. (NLT)
[For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One) (AMPC)
v.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (KJV)
“hid” means secret, treasured, kept secret
“treasures” means a deposit, wealth
“wisdom” means the ideas of infinite skill, insight, knowledge, purity
(cf. Rom. 11:33, 1 Cor. 1:21 & 24, Eph. 1:8, 3:10, Rev. 5:12 & 7:12)
“knowledge” means doctrine, science
(cf. 2 Cor. 2:14, 4:6, Daniel 1:4 and Malachi 2:7)
In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NLT)
In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. (AMPC)
v.4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. (KJV)
“beguile” means to misreckon, delude, deceive
“enticing” means persuasive language
I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. (NLT)
I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech. (AMPC)