Colossians 3:13

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Colossians 3:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:
Colossians 3:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Colossians 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Forbearing one another, etc.] Not only bearing one another's burdens, and with one another's weaknesses, but forbearing to render evil for evil, or railing for railing, or to seek revenge for affronts given, in whatsoever way, whether by words or deeds: and forgiving one another; all trespasses and offences, so far as committed against themselves, and praying to God to forgive them, as committed against him: if any man have a quarrel against any; let him be who he will, high or low, rich or poor, of whatsoever age, state, or condition, and let his quarrel or complaint be what it will, ever so great, or ever so just and well founded, yet let him put up with it, and forgive it: even as Christ…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Forbearing--as to present offenses. forgiving--as to past offenses. quarrel--rather as Greek, "cause of blame," "cause of complaint." Christ--who had so infinitely greater cause of complaint against us. The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read "the Lord." English Version is supported by one very old manuscript and old versions. It seems to have crept in from Eph 4:32.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Forbearing one another - Notes, Ephesians 4:2. And forgiving one another - Notes, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:14. If any man have a quarrel against any - Margin, “or complaint.” The word used here - μομφή momphē - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, “fault found, blame, censure;” and here denotes occasion of complaint. The idea is, that if another one has given us just occasion of complaint, we are to forgive him; that is, we are: (1)To harbor no malice against him; (2)We are to be ready to do him good as if he had not given us occasion of complaint; (3)We are to be willing to declare that we forgive him when be asks it; and, (4)We are always afterward to treat him as kindly as…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Forbearing one another - If anything is now wrong. And forgiving one another - What is past. Colossians 3:14”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Forbearing: Rom 15:1, Rom 15:2; Co2 6:6; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:2, Eph 4:32 forgiving: Mat 5:44, Mat 6:12, Mat 6:14, Mat 6:15, Mat 18:21-35; Mar 11:25; Luk 6:35-37, Luk 11:4, Luk 17:3, Luk 17:4; Luk 23:34; Jam 2:13 quarrel: or complaint, Mat 18:15-17; Co1 6:7, Co1 6:8 even: Luk 5:20-24, Luk 7:48-50; Co2 2:10; Eph 4:32, Eph 5:2; Pe1 2:21 Colossians 3:14”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification