Colossians 3

25 verses • SBL Greek New Testament

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Paul pivots from theological argument to ethical exhortation, grounding the moral life in the believer's union with the risen Christ. He commands the Colossians to 'set your minds on things above, not on earthly things,' because they have died and their life is hidden with Christ in God. He lists vices to put to death and virtues to put on, climaxing with love as the bond of perfection. He instructs them to let the word of Christ dwell richly, to sing psalms and hymns, and to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. The chapter closes with a household code addressing wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The 'put off / put on' metaphor (vv. 8-14) pictures moral transformation as changing garments — the old self is stripped away like soiled clothing and the new self is donned like a fresh outfit. This imagery may reflect the early Christian baptismal practice of removing garments before immersion and putting on new white robes afterward. The declaration that 'there is no Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all' (v. 11) is one of Paul's most radical equality statements. The household code (vv. 18-25) addresses relationships within the Greco-Roman family structure while subtly transforming them through the repeated phrase 'in the Lord.'

Translation Friction

The household code has generated significant debate. Paul appears to accept the existing social structures (including slavery) while introducing Christian modifications. Some scholars see this as accommodation to the surrounding culture; others see it as subversive transformation from within. We render the Greek without resolving this interpretive tension. The instruction to wives to 'submit' (v. 18) uses the middle voice hypotassesthe ('arrange yourselves under'), which carries different nuances than a simple command to obey.

Connections

The 'set your minds above' command (v. 2) echoes Philippians 3:20 (heavenly citizenship). The put off/put on language parallels Ephesians 4:22-24 and Romans 13:12-14. The 'image of the creator' (v. 10) echoes Genesis 1:26-27 and Colossians 1:15. The household code parallels Ephesians 5:22-6:9 and 1 Peter 2:18-3:7. The 'whatever you do' principle (v. 17, 23) anticipates 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Colossians 3:1

Εἰ οὖν συνηγέρθητε τῷ Χριστῷ, τὰ ἄνω ζητεῖτε, οὗ ὁ Χριστός ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ καθήμενος·

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

KJV If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The conditional 'if' (ei) assumes the reality: 'since you have been raised with Christ.' The verb synēgerthēte ('you were co-raised') picks up from 2:12. Because believers have already been raised with Christ, their orientation must shift upward. 'The right hand of God' (en dexia tou theou) is the position of supreme authority and honor, quoting Psalm 110:1 — the most frequently cited Old Testament text in the New Testament.
[TCR Cross-Reference] Quotes Psalm 110:1. The TCR rendering of that OT passage preserves the Hebrew source text and documents the translation decisions behind it.

Colossians 3:2

τὰ ἄνω φρονεῖτε, μὴ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

KJV Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The verb phroneite ('set your minds on, think about, be oriented toward') is the same key verb from Philippians. This is not escapism or indifference to earthly life — the practical instructions that follow (vv. 5-25) are thoroughly engaged with daily existence. Rather, it means that the believer's fundamental orientation, values, and loyalties are determined by heavenly realities rather than by the world's value system.

Colossians 3:3

ἀπεθάνετε γάρ, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν κέκρυπται σὺν τῷ Χριστῷ ἐν τῷ θεῷ·

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

KJV For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The perfect tense kekryptai ('is hidden and remains hidden') describes an ongoing state of concealment. The believer's true life is not visible to the world — it is tucked away 'with Christ in God,' doubly secure. The phrase carries both protection (hidden from harm) and mystery (not yet fully manifested). What the world sees is not the whole story.

Colossians 3:4

ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ.

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

KJV When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The hidden life of verse 3 will be revealed (phanerōthēsesthe, 'you will be made visible, you will be manifested') when Christ himself is revealed at his return. The astounding identification — Christ is 'your life' (hē zōē hymōn) — echoes Philippians 1:21 ('to live is Christ'). The SBLGNT reads 'your life' (hymōn) rather than 'our life' (hēmōn) found in some manuscripts.

Colossians 3:5

Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν ἀκαθαρσίαν πάθος ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρία,

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

KJV Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The imperative nekrōsate ('put to death, kill, make dead') is violent and decisive — not 'manage' or 'minimize' but kill. The list of five vices moves from external act to internal desire: sexual immorality (porneia), impurity (akatharsia), passion (pathos, 'uncontrolled desire'), evil desire (epithymia kakē), and covetousness (pleonexia). The final identification of covetousness as idolatry (eidōlolatria) reveals that greed is fundamentally a worship disorder — it gives to things the devotion owed to God alone.

Colossians 3:6

δι' ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ,

On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

KJV For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The SBLGNT omits 'upon the sons of disobedience' (epi tous huious tēs apeitheias) found in the Textus Receptus and in the Ephesians parallel (Ephesians 5:6). God's wrath (orgē) is not capricious anger but his settled opposition to everything that destroys human flourishing and dishonors his name.

Colossians 3:7

ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν τούτοις·

In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

KJV In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The past tenses — 'walked' (periepatēsate), 'were living' (ezēte) — firmly locate these behaviors in the Colossians' pre-Christian past. They once lived in these sins; they no longer do. The 'once... but now' pattern is central to Paul's understanding of conversion.

Colossians 3:8

νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν θυμόν κακίαν βλασφημίαν αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν·

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

KJV But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The verb apothesthe ('put off, strip off, lay aside') is the clothing metaphor — strip off these behaviors like dirty garments. This second vice list focuses on sins of speech and relational hostility: anger (orgēn), wrath (thymon, 'explosive fury'), malice (kakian, 'ill will'), slander (blasphēmian, 'abusive speech'), and obscene talk (aischrologian, 'shameful language'). The progression moves from internal attitude to verbal expression.

Colossians 3:9

μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices

KJV Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The prohibition against lying targets community-destroying speech. The participle apekdysamenoi ('having stripped off') uses the same verb applied to Christ's stripping of the cosmic powers in 2:15. The 'old self' (ton palaion anthrōpon) is not merely bad habits but the entire pre-conversion identity — the person shaped by the world's values and the flesh's desires.

Colossians 3:10

καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατ' εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν,

Have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge following the image of him that created him:.

KJV And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The 'new self' (ton neon) is not merely improved behavior but a new creation being progressively renewed (anakainoumenon, present passive — ongoing renewal) in deep knowledge (epignōsin). The phrase 'according to the image of its creator' (kat' eikona tou ktisantos) echoes Genesis 1:27 — the new creation restores the divine image marred by the fall. The same word eikōn ('image') was applied to Christ in 1:15; believers are being renewed into the image that Christ perfectly embodies.
[TCR Cross-Reference] This verse quotes Genesis 1:27 — see the TCR rendering of that passage for the Hebrew source text and translation decisions.

Colossians 3:11

ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος, ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός.

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

KJV Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

In the new humanity, the fundamental divisions of the ancient world are abolished: ethnic (Greek/Jew), religious (circumcised/uncircumcised), cultural (barbarian/Scythian — the Scythians were considered the most uncivilized of all peoples), and social (slave/free). This does not mean differences disappear but that they no longer determine identity or status. The concluding declaration — 'Christ is all and in all' (ta panta kai en pasin Christos) — is breathtaking: Christ occupies every position and permeates every person in the new community.

Colossians 3:12

Ἐνδύσασθε οὖν, ὡς ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ ἅγιοι καὶ ἠγαπημένοι, σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ χρηστότητα ταπεινοφροσύνην πραΰτητα μακροθυμίαν,

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

KJV Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The imperative endysasthe ('put on, clothe yourselves') completes the clothing metaphor. The motivation comes from identity: they are 'God's chosen ones, holy and beloved' (eklektoi tou theou hagioi kai ēgapēmenoi) — these are Old Testament titles for Israel now applied to the church. Five virtues are listed: compassion (splanchna oiktirmou, literally 'intestines of mercy'), kindness (chrēstotēta), humility (tapeinophrosynēn), gentleness (prautēta), and patience (makrothymian). Each virtue is relational, oriented toward others.

Colossians 3:13

ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων καὶ χαριζόμενοι ἑαυτοῖς ἐάν τις πρός τινα ἔχῃ μομφήν· καθὼς καὶ ὁ κύριος ἐχαρίσατο ὑμῖν, οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς·

Indeed, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel opposed to any — even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

KJV Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The verb anechomenoi ('bearing with, putting up with') acknowledges that community life involves friction. The verb charizomenoi ('forgiving, granting grace') shares the root of charis ('grace'). The standard for forgiveness is not human capacity but divine precedent: 'as the Lord has forgiven you' (kathōs kai ho kyrios echarisato hymin). The SBLGNT reads 'the Lord' (ho kyrios) where some manuscripts have 'Christ' (ho Christos).

Colossians 3:14

ἐπὶ πᾶσιν δὲ τούτοις τὴν ἀγάπην, ὅ ἐστιν σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος.

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

KJV And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

Love (agapē) is the outer garment that holds all other virtues together. The phrase syndesmos tēs teleiotētos ('the bond of perfection/completeness') pictures love as the belt or clasp that unifies the entire outfit. Without love, the other virtues are disconnected pieces; with love, they form a coherent whole. This echoes 1 Corinthians 13's declaration that without love, all other gifts are nothing.

Colossians 3:15

καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ Χριστοῦ βραβευέτω ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν, εἰς ἣν καὶ ἐκλήθητε ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι· καὶ εὐχάριστοι γίνεσθε.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

KJV And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The verb brabeuetō ('let it rule, let it act as umpire, let it arbitrate') is an athletic term — the same root as katabrabeuetō ('disqualify') in 2:18. Christ's peace serves as the internal umpire that adjudicates disputes and determines the proper course of action. The SBLGNT reads 'the peace of Christ' (tou Christou) rather than 'the peace of God' (tou theou). The call to thankfulness (eucharistoi ginesthe) is a constant refrain in Colossians.

Colossians 3:16

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως, ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ψαλμοῖς ὕμνοις ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ἐν τῇ χάριτι ᾄδοντες ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν τῷ θεῷ·

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The 'word of Christ' (ho logos tou Christou) — the gospel message — is to 'take up rich residence' (enoikeitō plousiōs) in the community. The three types of song — psalmois ('psalms,' likely Old Testament psalms), hymnois ('hymns,' compositions praising God or Christ), and ōdais pneumatikais ('spiritual songs,' Spirit-inspired singing) — suggest a rich variety in early Christian worship. Teaching and worship are intertwined; singing is a form of mutual instruction.

Colossians 3:17

καὶ πᾶν ὅ τι ἐὰν ποιῆτε ἐν λόγῳ ἢ ἐν ἔργῳ, πάντα ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου Ἰησοῦ, εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ θεῷ πατρὶ δι' αὐτοῦ.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

KJV And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

This verse serves as the comprehensive principle governing all Christian conduct: every word and every action is to be performed 'in the name of the Lord Jesus' — under his authority, as his representative, for his honor. The phrase covers the totality of life, leaving no secular realm untouched by Christ's lordship. Thanksgiving (eucharistountes) flows through Christ back to the Father — Christ is the mediator of both prayer and praise.

Colossians 3:18

Αἱ γυναῖκες, ὑποτάσσεσθε τοῖς ἀνδράσιν, ὡς ἀνῆκεν ἐν κυρίῳ.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

KJV Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The household code begins. The verb hypotassesthe ('submit, arrange yourselves under') is in the middle voice, indicating voluntary self-ordering rather than forced subjugation. The qualifier 'as is fitting in the Lord' (hōs anēken en kyriō) places the instruction within the sphere of Christ's lordship — the submission is 'in the Lord,' not absolute or unconditional. This is notably shorter than the parallel in Ephesians 5:22-24.

Colossians 3:19

Οἱ ἄνδρες, ἀγαπᾶτε τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ μὴ πικραίνεσθε πρὸς αὐτάς.

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

KJV Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The command to husbands is love (agapate), not authority. The verb pikrainesthe ('be bitter, be harsh, be embittered') prohibits the kind of resentful domination that characterized many ancient marriages. In a culture where husbands had virtually unlimited legal authority over wives, the command not to be harsh was a significant constraint on patriarchal power.

Colossians 3:20

Τὰ τέκνα, ὑπακούετε τοῖς γονεῦσιν κατὰ πάντα, τοῦτο γὰρ εὐάρεστόν ἐστιν ἐν κυρίῳ.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

KJV Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The verb hypakouete ('obey, listen to and comply with') is stronger than the 'submit' (hypotassesthe) used for wives — children are commanded to obey, not merely to arrange themselves under authority. The qualifier 'in everything' (kata panta) is broad, though 'in the Lord' provides the governing framework. That children are addressed directly indicates their presence in the worship gathering where this letter was read.

Colossians 3:21

Οἱ πατέρες, μὴ ἐρεθίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἵνα μὴ ἀθυμῶσιν.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

KJV Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The verb erethizete ('provoke, irritate, stir up') addresses the abuse of paternal authority. The Roman paterfamilias had absolute legal authority (patria potestas) over children, including the right to punish severely. Paul limits this power: parental authority that crushes a child's spirit defeats its own purpose. The verb athymōsin ('become discouraged, lose heart, become spiritless') describes a child broken by harsh treatment.

Colossians 3:22

Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις, μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλίᾳ ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι, ἀλλ' ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

KJV Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The phrase 'earthly masters' (kata sarka kyriois, literally 'masters according to the flesh') subtly relativizes their authority — they are masters in the fleshly realm only, not in the ultimate sense. The compound ophthalmodoulia ('eye-service,' working only when watched) appears only in Paul. The contrast is between external performance (working to impress humans) and internal sincerity (haplotēti kardias, 'singleness of heart') motivated by reverence for the true Lord.

Colossians 3:23

ὃ ἐὰν ποιῆτε, ἐκ ψυχῆς ἐργάζεσθε ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις,

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,

KJV And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The phrase ek psychēs ('from the soul, heartily, with your whole being') demands wholehearted effort. The transformation is in perspective: the same task performed for a human master is reconceived as service to the Lord Christ. This does not legitimize the institution of slavery but transforms the slave's inner experience and ultimate allegiance.

Colossians 3:24

εἰδότες ὅτι ἀπὸ κυρίου ἀπολήμψεσθε τὴν ἀνταπόδοσιν τῆς κληρονομίας· τῷ κυρίῳ Χριστῷ δουλεύετε·

Knowing that of the Lord you will accept the reward of the inheritance — for you serve the Lord Christ.

KJV Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The promise of an 'inheritance' (klēronomias) to slaves is revolutionary — in Roman law, slaves could not inherit property. Paul declares that these disinherited people will receive the ultimate inheritance from Christ himself. The phrase 'You are serving the Lord Christ' (tō kyriō Christō douleuete) can be read as indicative ('you are serving') or imperative ('serve!'). Either way, the slave's true master is Christ, not the human owner.

Colossians 3:25

ὁ γὰρ ἀδικῶν κομίσεται ὃ ἠδίκησεν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν προσωπολημψία.

For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

KJV But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The warning against wrongdoing (adikōn, 'acting unjustly') applies to both slaves and masters — the lack of partiality (prosōpolēmpsia, literally 'face-receiving,' showing favoritism) means God judges everyone by the same standard regardless of social status. This is a veiled warning to masters that their position will not protect them from divine judgment, preparing for the explicit command to masters in 4:1.

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