Colossians3
New Living Translation
1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
4And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
7You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
10Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
11In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.
23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
24Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
25But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.
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