The Bible — World English Bible

Colossians 3

In brief

Colossians 3 begins with a consequence: since believers have been raised with Christ, they are called to seek the things above. Paul asks them to put to death the behaviors of the old life and to put on the new self. He describes the believer's clothing: compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and above all love. The chapter then gives advice for the church, the family and work, with a single guiding line: do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-4Raised with Christ: seeking the things above
  2. v. 5-11Putting off the old self and its works
  3. v. 12-17Putting on compassion, forgiveness, love and thankfulness
  4. v. 18-21Life at home: wives, husbands, children, fathers
  5. v. 22-25Serving at work as for the Lord

1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;

8but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.

20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

21Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

23And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,

24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

25But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.

Key verses

Verse 1-2
If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

Paul draws the consequence of being raised with Christ: the direction of life changes. Seeking the things above does not mean fleeing the world, but letting the hope we have in Christ guide our priorities.

Verse 12-14
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

Paul describes clothing to put on: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, mutual forgiveness. Love is what holds it all together.

Verse 15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

The peace of Christ is invited to rule in our hearts, and Paul adds thankfulness. He is speaking to a body, the church, not only to individuals.

Verse 17
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

A simple rule that covers everything: words and deeds are done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.

Verse 23
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,

Paul invites us to work heartily, as for the Lord. This sentence gives spiritual meaning to ordinary work, without reducing it to the mere pursuit of success.

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What the sermons say

You Are Already Risen in Christ: Living It Out DailyAt the Église Réformée Évangélique de Marseille Sud, the sermon reads Colossians 3 by starting with the indicative before the imperative: we do not live a certain way in order to become risen, we live this way because we already are.Read the summary →A Heart Renewed Every Day by ForgivenessBrendan White, at Hillsong Paris, shows that forgiveness wipes out a debt we cannot pay, and that remembering what we have been forgiven softens how we look at others. He draws on the cross, on Colossians 2 and on Luke 7.Read the summary →The Power of Forgiveness Erases the Debt You CarryAt Église Momentum, Brendan White reminds us that forgiveness cancels the debt, sets us free and opens the future. When we forget what God has forgiven us, we become hard on others.Read the summary →He Had Everything and He Took a BasinThis Momentum message shows Jesus taking the basin while everything is in his hands. It observes that pride divides families and churches, and that humility makes room for grace.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Colossians 3

What does Colossians 3 mean?

Colossians 3 explains that, since the believer is united to the risen Christ, his conduct changes. He lays aside the habits of the old life and puts on qualities that resemble Jesus: compassion, humility, forgiveness, love. The chapter then applies this new life to the church, the family and work.

What does it mean to seek the things above?

Paul asks us to turn our heart and mind toward Christ, seated with God, rather than toward earthly realities alone. It is not about neglecting daily life. The idea is to let the perspective of heaven guide our everyday choices.

How do we put off the old self and put on the new self?

Paul uses the image of clothing: we take off what belongs to the old life and put on what God renews. The text says that this new self is being renewed in the image of its Creator. Christians stress that it is a work of God to which we respond every day, not a mere personal effort.

Why does Paul speak of forgiveness in Colossians 3:13?

He asks believers to bear with one another and forgive one another, as the Lord forgave them. The forgiveness we have received becomes the model for the forgiveness we give. This does not mean excusing evil, but refusing to let bitterness rule our relationships.

Articles quoting Colossians 3

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World English Bible translation — public domain.