BOOK 51 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

Colossians 3

Colossians book home•Chapter 3 of 4•25 verses

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Colossians 3 Overview

Because believers are risen with Christ, Paul tells them to seek things above, put sinful practices to death, and put off the old man’s habits. They are to put on compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness, charity, peace, Scripture-filled worship, and gratitude. The chapter then applies Christian order to wives, husbands, children, fathers, servants, and work done unto the Lord.

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Before you read Colossians 3

Coming from

Paul warns against philosophy, human tradition, legalistic judgment, angel worship, ascetic rules, and other substitutes for Christ. In Christ dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and believers are complete in Him. They are spiritually circumcised, buried and risen with Him, forgiven, and freed from the handwriting of ordinances that was against them.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul tells masters to give servants what is just and equal, knowing they also have a Master in heaven. He urges steadfast prayer, wise conduct toward outsiders, and gracious speech. The letter closes with a network of coworkers—Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Epaphras, Luke, Demas, Nymphas, and Archippus—showing the relational character of gospel ministry.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter moves from identity to conduct: believers are already risen with Christ, and therefore they are commanded to live consistently with that reality.

Household instructions place every relationship under the Lord.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Christian ethics flow from union with Christ

The command to seek things above begins with being risen with Christ.

The old life is to be deliberately put off

Fornication, covetousness, anger, lying, and filthy communication are incompatible with the new man.

Charity binds Christian virtues together

Love is called the bond of perfectness.

Ordinary work can be service to Christ

Believers are to work heartily as unto the Lord.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Ephesians 4–5

The old-man/new-man and household themes closely parallel Colossians.

Romans 6:1–14

Union with Christ’s death and resurrection grounds a changed walk.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Even ordinary activity is to be done to God’s glory.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make changed behavior the cause of being risen with Christ

The order is identity first, obedience second.

Do not use household order to justify cruelty or abuse

Every relationship remains under Christ’s authority.

Do not read ‘mortify’ as physical self-harm

It means putting sinful practices to death, not injuring the body.

Read Colossians 3 watching for…

Identity statements before commands.

What belongs to the old man.

What belongs to the new man.

The role of charity and the word of Christ.

How family and work relationships are brought under the Lord.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-4Those risen with Christ are to seek and set their affection on things above 5-11Believers are to put to death sinful practices and put off the old man 12-17Believers are to put on mercy, kindness, humility, forgiveness, charity, peace, thankfulness, and the word of Christ 18-21Wives, husbands, children, and fathers receive instructions for the home 22-25Servants are told to work sincerely as unto the Lord, knowing he will reward or judge without partiality

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let 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.

And 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.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

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Colossians 3:11

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