Colossians Chapter 3 — Living the New Life in Christ
Paul encourages believers to focus on spiritual things rather than earthly desires, putting on a new nature characterized by love, peace, and gratitude.
1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,
8but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
23And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Colossians 3:2
“Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.”
This verse establishes the central theme of maintaining a spiritual focus rather than a worldly one.
Colossians 3:14
“Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.”
It highlights love as the unifying principle that brings all other Christian virtues into perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:23
“And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”
This verse provides a standard for daily work, teaching that all labor should be viewed as service to God.
Chapter Summary
Colossians Chapter 3 opens with a call for believers to focus their minds on things above because their lives are now hidden with Christ. Paul instructs them to put to death earthly behaviors such as immorality, anger, and lying, describing this as putting off the old man. In its place, they are to put on the new man, which is being renewed in the image of the Creator. This new identity transcends social and ethnic boundaries, emphasizing that Christ is all in all. Paul lists virtues to embrace, including compassion, humility, and forgiveness, with love being the most important bond. The chapter concludes with specific instructions for household relationships, including wives, husbands, children, and servants, urging everyone to work heartily as if serving the Lord rather than human masters. Paul emphasizes that the reward for such service comes from the Lord, who treats all people without partiality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paul encourages readers to prioritize spiritual growth and eternal perspectives over temporary earthly desires. This involves focusing on the reality of Christ’s reign and the future glory promised to believers.
Paul lists several behaviors to discard, including sexual immorality, anger, malice, slander, and lying. He compares these to old garments that no longer fit the new life found in Christ.
Believers are instructed to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience. Central to these relationships is the command to forgive one another just as Christ forgave them.
Study Note
The household codes found in the latter half of the chapter were a common literary form in the Greco-Roman world, here reshaped by Paul to center on the Lord.
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