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Colossians Chapter 3

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 25 Verses

What is Colossians 3 about?

Christ's supreme preeminence over all creation and all heresy — the fullness of deity dwells in him bodily. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1If then ye 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 upon the earth.
3For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4When Christ, [who is] our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.
5Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6for which things` sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:
7wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;
8but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:
9lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,
10and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God`s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;
13forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:
14and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.
15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were 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 with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
17And whatsoever ye 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 be not bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.
21Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:
23whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;
24knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.
25For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
← Colossians 2Colossians 4 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“If ye then be risen with Christ, etc.] The apostle having observed in the former chapter, that the believing Colossians were dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, were buried with him in baptism, and were risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, argues from hence how much it became them to regard a new and spiritual life, and to seek after superior and heavenly things, and treat with neglect and contempt carnal and earthly ones. For he does not here call in question their being risen with Christ, but takes it for granted that they were, and makes use of it as an argument for his…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“EXHORTATIONS TO HEAVENLY AIMS, AS OPPOSED TO EARTHLY, ON THE GROUND OF UNION TO THE RISEN SAVIOUR; TO MORTIFY AND PUT OFF THE OLD MAN, AND TO PUT ON THE NEW; IN CHARITY, HUMILITY, WORDS OF EDIFICATION, THANKFULNESS; RELATIVE DUTIES. (Col. 3:1-25) If . . . then--The connection with Col 2:18, Col 2:23, is, he had condemned the "fleshly mind" and the "satiating to the full the flesh"; in contrast to this he now says, "If then ye have been once for all raised up (Greek, aorist tense) together with Christ" (namely, at your conversion and baptism, Rom 6:4). seek those things . . . above-- (Mat 6:33; Phi 3:20).…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“If ye then be risen with Christ - The apostle in this place evidently founds the argument on what he had said in Colossians 2:12; see the notes at that passage. The argument is, that there was such an union between Christ and his people, that in virtue of his death they become dead to sin; that in virtue of his resurrection they rise to spiritual life, and that, therefore, as Christ now lives in heaven, they should live for heaven, and fix their affections there. Seek those things which are above - That is, seek them as the objects of pursuit and affection; strive to secure them. Where Christ sitteth on the right…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“If ye are risen, seek the things above - As Christ being risen, immediately went to heaven. Colossians 3:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“3:1-11 Paul summons the Colossians to a new way of thinking that results in a new lifestyle. 3:1 set your sights on the realities of heaven: Christians live on earth, but because they have been raised with Christ, their true being is oriented to the spiritual realm over which Christ rules. In contrast, the rules and regulations of the false teachers focused on the earthly realm (2:22).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“risen: Col 2:12, Col 2:13, Col 2:20; Rom 6:4, Rom 6:5, Rom 6:9-11; Gal 2:19, Gal 2:20; Eph 1:19, Eph 1:20, Eph 2:5, Eph 2:6 seek: Col 3:2; Psa 16:11, Psa 17:14, Psa 17:15, Psa 73:25, Psa 73:26; Pro 15:24; Mat 6:20, Mat 6:33; Luk 12:33; Rom 8:6; Co2 4:18; Phi 3:20, Phi 3:21; Heb 11:13-16 where: Psa 110:1; Mat 22:44, Mat 26:64; Mar 12:36, Mar 14:62, Mar 16:19; Luk 20:42, Luk 22:69; Act 2:34, Act 7:55; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20, Eph 4:10; Heb 1:3, Heb 1:13, Heb 8:1, Heb 10:12, Heb 12:2; Pe1 3:22 Colossians 3:2”
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