Colossians 3:14

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Colossians 3:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Colossians 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And above all these things, etc.] Bowels of mercies, kindness, etc. put on charity, or brotherly love, for without this all is nothing; they will only be done in show and appearance, in mere guise and hypocrisy, if love is wanting; this actuates and exercises all the rest; it is only from this principle that true sympathy, real kindness, undisguised humility, and meekness, patient longsuffering, and forbearance, and hearty forgiveness proceeds: this is greater, and more excellent, than all the other, and adds a glory, lustre, and beauty to them; this is the upper garment that covers all the rest, for so the words may be rendered, “upon all these things put on charity”; whereby a disciple of…”
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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
“above--rather "over," as in Eph 6:16. Charity, which is the crowning grace, covering the multitude of others' sins (Pe1 4:8), must overlie all the other graces enumerated. which is--that is, "for it is"; literally, "which thing is." bond of perfectness--an upper garment which completes and keeps together the rest, which, without it, would be loose and disconnected. Seeming graces, where love is wanting, are mere hypocrisy. Justification by faith is assumed as already having taken place in those whom Paul addresses, Col 3:12, "elect of God, holy . . . beloved," and Col 2:12; so that there is no plea here for Rome's view of justification by works. Love and its works "perfect," that is,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And above all these things - Over, or upon all these things; compare the notes at Ephesians 6:16. Charity - Love. Notes, 1 Corinthians 13:1. Which is the bond of perfectness - The bond of all perfection; the thing which will unite all other things, and make them complete; compare the parallel place in Ephesians 4:3. The idea seems to be that love will bind all the other graces fast together, and render the whole system complete. Without love, though there might be other graces and virtues, there would be a want of harmony and compactness in our Christian graces, and this was necessary to unite and complete the whole. There is great beauty in the expression, and it contains most important…”
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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
“The love of God contains the whole of Christian perfection, and connects all the parts of it together. Colossians 3:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“charity: Col 2:2; Joh 13:34, Joh 15:12; Rom 13:8; Co1 13:1-13; Eph 5:2; Th1 4:9; Ti1 1:5; Pe1 4:8; Pe2 1:7; Jo1 3:23, Jo1 4:21 the: Eph 1:4, Eph 4:3; Jo1 4:7-12 Colossians 3:15”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification