Colossians 3

Colossians 3:1

If therefore ye believe the resurrection of Christ, and the advantages which come to you by it, (among which is that Christian liberty from those abolished Judaical observations, ch. ii. 21,) and if ye be, after the example of Christ, truly risen also, become Christians indeed, there are then other cares much more material for you to be concerned in, the study and practice of a divine celestial life, such (for kind, though not degree) as Christ now lives, being by his resurrection placed next in glory to his Father in heaven.

Colossians 3:2

Let this celestial purity be the copy for you to transcribe, and not these terrestrial grosser observances.

Colossians 3:3

For ye by your baptism have vowed to put off your former life; and the life which now remains for you to live is that which Christ lives in heaven; a life of purity here, and of glory hereafter.

Colossians 3:4

And if you live that first pure Christian life, after your divine pattern, then this ye may be sure of, that when Christ comes to judge the world, all that shall be found so like unto him shall by him be received into the glory which he himself enjoys.

Colossians 3:5

This may therefore engage you to subdue and bring down all those vicious affections that are in your members, and that savour and desire nothing but earthly things: I mean, adultery, fornication, and all sorts of unnatural filthiness, such as is so ordinary among idol-worshippers, the foulest parts of it admitted into their religions: (see note [i] Rom. i, and note [i] 1 Cor. v.)

Colossians 3:6

Those sins which have always brought God’s judgments down upon the heathens.

Colossians 3:7

Of which sins ye formerly were guilty, when ye conversed among the heathens, and followed their idol-worships.

Colossians 3:8

But now that you are Christians ye are obliged to put off all, not only these forenamed, but of the other sort of affections, all sudden inflammation of anger, all rising of it to any height, all continuance of it upon you, till it be improved into malice; and for the tongue, let not that be guilty of any unsavoury, unclean, or reproachful discourse. ¹ passion, πᾶβος. speaking, βλασφημίαν. ² inordinate lusting, πλεονεξίαν.

Colossians 3:9

Never suggest or say any false thing to the injury of another, (see note [b] Acts v,) for this is a principal part of that heathen course which ye have renounced;

Colossians 3:10

Quite contrary to that state of renovation which ye have undertaken, and which consists in the practice of all Christian virtues after the image of God, who is all truth.

[a] in knowledge] What εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν signifies here is somewhat uncertain. If the preposition εἰς be taken by an Hebraism for. ἐν, in or by, then it denotes the means of working our renovation, the knowledge of the gospel, in which our pattern is set, according to which we are to form our lives for the future; and this is generally expressed by ἐπίγνωσις ἀληθείας, the acknowledgment of the truth, 1 Tim. ii. 4. Tit. i. 1. Heb. x. 26. But it is possible also that εἰς being taken in the proper notion of it, ἐπίγνωσις may be set in opposition, or by way of superaddition, to γνῶσις, knowledge, which the Gnostics boasted of, and from whence they had their name, and with it joined all vicious corrupt practices; whereupon he requires his Colossians to forsake those sins, and to be renewed to that which the Gnostics have not attained to, εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν, to acknowledgment or discerning, that is, the experimental, practical knowledge of God’s goodness to us in regenerating (which is more than the first creating) us after his own image, to live according to the divine pattern which he hath set us.

Colossians 3:11

With whom, as there is no partiality or difference put between men, but all of all sorts, even the worst sorts, are accepted by Christ, so ought it be with us toward all men, of what quality soever, we must shew all manner of fidelity, without any falseness or injustice (ver. 9.) toward them.

Colossians 3:12

See therefore that ye practise (as becomes those who are prized and valued by God, that have the gifts of his Spirit poured out for the converting and sanctifying of you, and thereby are obliged to all that is most excellent) the highest degrees of Christian kindness and liberality, that ye think very meanly of yourselves, be very mild, hard to be provoked with injuries, never thinking of revenge,

Colossians 3:13

Shewing that readiness to be reconciled to them that have wronged you, that ye have found, and which it extremely concerns you to find, in Christ toward you.

Colossians 3:14

And over all put on that excellent Christian grace of charity, that love of others, founded in Christ’s love to you, and to all others, even his enemies, which will keep you united one to another in an indissoluble bond, much more perfectly than any other obligation can do, or, which is the obligation to all mercifulness, whether in giving or forgiving.

[b] bond of perfectness] Σύνδεσμος τελειότητος, bond of perfectness, may be, by an hypallage, the most perfect bond. But it may be also bond of perfectness in that notion that perfect, Matt. v. 48, is all one with merciful, Luke vi. 36; for so the Christian charity, that is a transcript of Christ’s love to us, is a conspiration or meeting together (so σύνδεσμος may signify, see note [e] on Acts viii.) of all mercifulness, or else an obligation to it.

Colossians 3:15

And let Christian peace and union (see note

[c] peace of God rule—] Βραβείον, as it is an agonistical word for the ἐπινίειος ἀμοιβή, the reward of the conqueror, hath been already spoken of. Hence the βραβενταί are the διοικηταί ἀγώνος, they that adjudge and give this reward to those to whom it belongs, the rulers or administrators of the combat, and they that decide all controversies about it. Hence is the word used for διαλλακτής, saith Phavorinus, an umpire

Colossians 3:16

Let the doctrine of the gospel continue and abide in you, and bring forth abundant fruit in all

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do or speak, let it be with acknowledgment of the great mercies of Christ to you, that hath enabled you to do whatever it is; and for this mercy reached out in him, let God the Father have the honour and thanks.

Colossians 3:18

Let the wives pay fitting subjection to their husbands, and count it their Christian duty to do so.

Colossians 3:19

And upon the same account let the husbands be kind to their wives, and not provoke them by unkind behaviour.

Colossians 3:20

So again, children are by their Christianity so far from being set free from their obedience to their parents in any matter, that they are by that very relation obliged to it.

Colossians 3:21

The parents, on the other side, are taught their duty toward their children, not to rate or brawl with them, nor to reprove them causelessly, lest that be a discouragement to them.

Colossians 3:22

Servants, of what sort soever, must pay obedience to those which, according to the laws of men, have the rule over them, and not pretend any liberty from Christ to do otherwise; and their obedience must be performed sincerely for conscience sake to God, and not only in those things whereto the master’s eye can reach.

Colossians 3:23

And in all your services do heartily and willingly what is required of you, without complaining or murmuring, knowing that your obedience to your masters is a duty to God;

Colossians 3:24

From whom consequently you shall receive your reward, that portion which belongs to you; for Christ is a master that will not suffer any service performed on his command to be unrewarded.

Colossians 3:25

As, on the other side, he that doth any thing amiss against the law of Christ, whether servant toward master, or master toward servant, shall not escape punishment by being a Christian, God shall