Colossians 3
Colossians 3 is part of “The New Life in Christ: Putting Off and Putting On” (3:1–17) in the outline of Colossians.
Colossians 3 summary
I. The apostle exhorts us to set our hearts upon heaven and take them off from this world (Col 3:1-4). II. He exhorts to the mortification of sin, in the various instances of it (Col 3:5-11).
Read the full introduction
I. The apostle exhorts us to set our hearts upon heaven and take them off from this world (Col 3:1-4). II. He exhorts to the mortification of sin, in the various instances of it (Col 3:5-11). III. He earnestly presses to mutual love and compassion (Col 3:12-17). And concludes with exhortations to relative duties, of wives and husbands, parents and children, masters and servants (Col 3:18-25).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in Colossians 3
Colossians 3 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
The New Life in Christ
1If yee then bee risen with Christ, seeke those thinges which are aboue, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. 2Set your affections on things which are aboue, and not on things which are on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ which is our life, shall appeare, then shall ye also appeare with him in glory.
Put to Death the Old Self
5Mortifie therefore your members which are on the earth, fornication, vncleannes, the inordinate affection, euill concupiscence, and couetousnes which is idolatrie. 6For the which things sake ye wrath of God commeth on the children of disobedience. 7Wherein ye also walked once, when ye liued in them. 8But now put ye away euen all these things, wrath, anger, maliciousnes, cursed speaking, filthie speaking, out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that yee haue put off the olde man with his workes, 10And haue put on the newe, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him, 11Where is neither Grecian nor Iewe, circumcision nor vncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, free: But Christ is all, and in all things.
Put on the New Self
12Now therfore as the elect of God holy and beloued, put on the bowels of mercies, kindnesse, humblenesse of minde, meekenesse, long suffering: 13Forbearing one another, and forgiuing one another, if any man haue a quarel to another: euen as Christ forgaue, euen so doe ye. 14And aboue all these thinges put on loue, which is the bond of perfectnes. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body, and be ye thankfull. 16Let the worde of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome, teaching and admonishing your owne selues, in Psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing with a grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatsoeuer ye shall doe, in worde or deede, doe all in the Name of the Lord Iesus, giuing thankes to God euen the Father by him.
Christian Household Rules
18Wiues, submit your selues vnto your husbands, as it is comely in the Lord. 19Husbands, loue your wiues, and be not bitter vnto them. 20Children, obey your parents in all thing for that is well pleasing vnto the Lord. 21Fathers, prouoke not your children to anger, least they be discouraged. 22Seruants, be obedient vnto them that are your masters according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but in singlenes of heart, fearing God. 23And whatsoeuer ye doe, doe it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, 24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receiue the reward of the inheritance: for ye serue the Lord Christ. 25But he that doeth wrong, shall receiue for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.