Colossians3
King James Version · Public Domain
1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Colossians 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Colossians exhorted to be heavenly-minded; (1–4). to mortify all corrupt affections; (5–11). to live in mutual love, forbearance, and forgiveness; (12–17). and to practise the duties of wives and husbands, children, parents, and servants. (18–25).
vv1-4
As Christians are freed from the ceremonial law, they must walk the more closely with God in gospel obedience. As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, both cannot be followed together; and affection to the one will weaken and abate affection to the other. Those that are born again are dead to sin, because its dominion is broken, its power gradually subdued by the operation of grace, and it shall at length be extinguished by the perfection of glory. To be dead, then, means this, that those who have the Holy Spirit, mortifying within them the lusts of the flesh, are able to despise earthly things, and to desire those that are heavenly. Christ is, at present, one whom we have not seen; but our comfort is, that our life is safe with him. The streams of this living water flow into the soul by the influences of the Holy Spirit, through faith. Christ lives in the believer by his Spirit, and the believer lives to him in all he does. At the second coming of Christ, there will be a general assembling of all the redeemed; and those whose life is now hid with Christ, shall then appear with him in his glory. Do we look for such happiness, and should we not set our affections upon that world, and live above this?
vv5-11
It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Occasions of sin must be avoided: the lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world; and covetousness, which is idolatry; love of present good, and of outward enjoyments. It is necessary to mortify sins, because if we do not kill them, they will kill us. The gospel changes the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the rule of right reason and conscience, over appetite and passion. There is now no difference from country, or conditions and circumstances of life. It is the duty of every one to be holy, because Christ is a Christian's All, his only Lord and Saviour, and all his hope and happiness.
vv12-17
We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all. While in this world, where there is so much corruption in our hearts, quarrels will sometimes arise. But it is our duty to forgive one another, imitating the forgiveness through which we are saved. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts; it is of his working in all who are his. Thanksgiving to God, helps to make us agreeable to all men. The gospel is the word of Christ. Many have the word, but it dwells in them poorly; it has no power over them. The soul prospers, when we are full of the Scriptures and of the grace of Christ. But when we sing psalms, we must be affected with what we sing. Whatever we are employed about, let us do every thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in believing dependence on him. Those who do all in Christ's name, will never want matter of thanksgiving to God, even the Father.
Key Words
εἰ (ei): if, whether, that, etc.
οὖν (oûn): (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
συνεγείρω (synegeírō): to rouse (from death) in company with, i.e. (figuratively) to revivify (spirtually) in resemblance to
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
ζητέω (zētéō): to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life)
ἄνω (ánō): upward or on the top
οὗ (hoû): at which place, i.e. where
ἐστί (estí): he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
κάθημαι (káthēmai): and (to sit; akin to the base of G1476 (ἑδραῖος)); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Cross References
Colossians 3Direct parallel showing Christ's session at the right hand of God in the heavenly places.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Theological foundation of being buried and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel instruction on wives submitting to their own husbands as fitting in the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Identical exhortation to servants to obey earthly masters in singleness of heart, fearing God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Identifies covetousness as idolatry and warns of the wrath of God on disobedience.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel description of putting on the new man, created after the image of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Abolition of cultural, national, and social distinctions in Christ, who is all in all.
Supported by JFB
The ultimate standard of mutual forgiveness: forgiving others even as God in Christ forgave you.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Command for husbands to love their wives, mirroring Christ's sacrificial love for the church.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel exhortation to fathers not to provoke their children to wrath or discouragement.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms there is no respect of persons with the Lord, who judges masters and servants.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Vivid contrast with those who mind earthly things rather than setting affection above.
Supported by Matthew Poole, Calvin, JFB
Explains how those who are dead to sin can no longer live therein.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal link on crucifying/mortifying the flesh with its affections and lusts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Instruction to put off the former conversation and the corrupt old man.
Supported by JFB