Colossians · chapter 3 of 4
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Colossians 3 teaches that those who have been raised with Christ must seek the things above, since their life is hidden with Christ in God. Paul asks them to put to death what is earthly, put off the old self and put on the new, with compassion, forgiveness and love, letting the peace of Christ and his word rule. He applies this to wives and husbands, children and fathers, and slaves, and asks that everything be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.
After showing in chapter 2 that Christ is sufficient, Paul explains how to live that truth. Colossians 3 moves from doctrine to practice: whoever has been raised with Christ changes his desires, his relationships and his daily conduct.
Paul begins with a fulfilled condition: if they have been raised with Christ, they must seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. They have died, and their life is hidden with Christ in God; when he appears, they also will appear with him in glory.
Therefore they must put to death what is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry. They must also put away anger, malice, slander and obscene talk, and not lie to one another, since they have put off the old self and put on the new, which is being renewed after the image of its Creator. In that new humanity there is no Greek and Jew, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, they must put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving as the Lord forgave them. Above all, they must put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts, let the word of Christ dwell in them richly and let them sing with thankfulness. Whatever they do, in word or deed, they are to do in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul applies this to the household: wives submit to their husbands in the Lord, husbands love their wives and are not harsh, children obey their parents, fathers do not provoke their children, and slaves obey their masters with sincerity, working heartily as for the Lord, whom they serve.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
If they have been raised with Christ, they are to seek the things above, where he is seated at the right hand of God, and set their minds on them. What a Christian values is defined by who he is in Christ.
As God's chosen ones, they are to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, forgiving as Christ forgave, and above all love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. The new character resembles Christ's.
The word of Christ must dwell in them richly, as they teach and admonish one another in wisdom and sing with gratitude. The church's life is nourished by the Word and by shared praise.
Whatever they do, in word or deed, they are to do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father. No area is outside the lordship of Christ.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: At the right hand of God. — Colossians 3:1
Answer: With Christ in God. — Colossians 3:3
Answer: That it is idolatry. — Colossians 3:5
Answer: Put off the old self and put on the new, which is renewed after the image of its Creator. — Colossians 3:9-10
Answer: Love binds everything together. — Colossians 3:14
Answer: In the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — Colossians 3:17
Colossians 3 helps transform daily life. When Christ is at the center, what we do at home, at work or with friends takes on new meaning. In a small group you can list what to put away and what to put on, and choose one concrete practice, for example forgiving someone or giving thanks each day.
The text also values ordinary work: doing it heartily as for the Lord gives dignity to the everyday. The word of Christ and shared singing are resources of the community. A class can spend a moment singing or reading a passage aloud together, practicing verse 16.
Colossians 3 shows how the new identity in Christ is lived, from character to the relationships of home and work. In chapter 4, Paul will close the letter with advice on prayer and witness and with greetings to his co-workers.
It is a way of saying that the believer died to the former life by being united with Christ and that his true life is secure in God. That life is not always visible but will be revealed when Christ appears. It is a basis for security and at the same time a call to live as what we already are.
Paul gives instructions to each party and asks all to live in the Lord: submission from the wife, love and gentleness from the husband, obedience from children and patience from fathers. Christians understand differently how to apply it, but the center is love and mutual respect.
The Scythians were a people from the regions north of the Black Sea whom the Greeks considered especially uncivilized. Paul mentions them to say that neither cultural differences nor rank separate believers, because Christ is all and in all.