Colossians 3:12
Colossians 3:12 in Multiple Translations
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;
As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;
Since you are God's special people, holy and dearly loved, adopt a sympathetic nature that is kind, humble, gentle, and patient.
Now therfore as the elect of God holy and beloued, put on the bowels of mercies, kindnesse, humblenesse of minde, meekenesse, long suffering:
Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
Because God has chosen you to be his people; and because he loves you, be compassionate to one another. Be kind to one another. Be humble. Be meek (OR, be considerate toward one another), be patient with one another,
You see, God loves you. He picked you to be his own special people. So you have to live a new way for him. You have to be good to other people. You have to feel sorry for people that have trouble and try to help them. Don’t think that you are more important than other people. You have to be easy on other people, and don’t get angry with them, even if they give you trouble.
Berean Amplified Bible — Colossians 3:12
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Colossians 3:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Colossians 3:12
Study Notes — Colossians 3:12
- Context
- Cross References
- Colossians 3:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Colossians 3:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Colossians 3:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
- Cambridge Bible on Colossians 3:12
- Barnes' Notes on Colossians 3:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
- Sermons on Colossians 3:12
Context — Put On the New Self
12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ephesians 4:32 | Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. |
| 2 | Ephesians 4:2 | with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, |
| 3 | 1 John 4:19 | We love because He first loved us. |
| 4 | 2 Peter 1:5–8 | For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 5 | Galatians 5:22–23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. |
| 6 | Colossians 3:10 | and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. |
| 7 | 2 Peter 1:10 | Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, |
| 8 | 1 Peter 3:8–11 | Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. |
| 9 | James 3:17–18 | But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness. |
| 10 | Romans 12:9–10 | Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. |
Colossians 3:12 Summary
[This verse is calling us to live out our faith in a way that reflects the character of God, by being compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. This means treating others with love and respect, even when it's difficult, as we are called to in Matthew 22:37-40. As we do this, we are putting on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of our Creator, as mentioned in Colossians 3:10. By living out these virtues, we can demonstrate the love of Christ to a world in need of it.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be the 'elect of God' in Colossians 3:12?
To be the elect of God means to be chosen by Him for a special purpose, as seen in Ephesians 1:4, where it says we were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
How can we 'clothe' ourselves with hearts of compassion and kindness as mentioned in this verse?
We can clothe ourselves with these virtues by following the example of Christ, who demonstrated compassion and kindness throughout His ministry, as seen in Matthew 9:36 and Luke 10:25-37, and by asking the Holy Spirit to help us grow in these areas, as promised in Galatians 5:22-23.
What is the relationship between being 'holy and beloved' and putting on virtues like humility and gentleness?
Being holy and beloved is a position we have in Christ, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:2, and it is from this position that we are able to put on virtues like humility and gentleness, as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out our faith in a way that honors God, as mentioned in 2 Peter 1:3-8.
How does this verse relate to our relationships with others, especially those who may be difficult to get along with?
This verse is closely connected to our relationships with others, as it calls us to bear with one another and forgive any complaints we may have against someone else, as mentioned in Colossians 3:13, and to put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity, as stated in Colossians 3:14.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can demonstrate compassion and kindness to those around me this week?
- How can I cultivate a heart of humility, and what are some practical steps I can take to put this virtue into practice?
- In what ways have I experienced the patience of God in my own life, and how can I extend this same patience to others?
- What are some areas where I struggle to forgive others, and how can I apply the principle of forgiveness mentioned in Colossians 3:13 to these situations?
Gill's Exposition on Colossians 3:12
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Colossians 3:12
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
Trapp's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
Ellicott's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
Cambridge Bible on Colossians 3:12
Barnes' Notes on Colossians 3:12
Whedon's Commentary on Colossians 3:12
Sermons on Colossians 3:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
A New Attitude Towards People by Francis Chan | This sermon emphasizes the transformation believers undergo when they accept Christ, becoming new creations and living differently from the world's patterns. It delves into the imp |
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That Dreadful Day (Coming Economic Collapse) David Wilkerson by David Wilkerson | This sermon from 2 Peter 3 discusses the impending day of the Lord, emphasizing the need for believers to be prepared and live in holiness and godliness. The message warns of comin |
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Risen With Christ by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the importance of seeking heavenly treasures and putting off worldly desires. He emphasizes that being a Christian requires intentional effo |
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The Perils of Pride by C.J. Mahaney | This sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God and highlights the struggle with pride as a hindrance to humility. The speaker shares personal experiences and practica |
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Fundamentals: The Headship of Christ by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the corporate life or the body life in the church. They highlight that the key principle for living this body life is the h |
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(The Sufficiency of the Saviour) 2. for Church Life by Stephen Olford | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of compassion in the life of a Christian. He contrasts the lack of mercy in the ancient world with the transformative power of |
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(Spiritual Fullness #2) Have This Mind in You by Dana Congdon | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of living a life worthy of the calling we have received in Christ. He encourages believers to walk in humility, gentleness, pa |







