Colossians 3
Big idea: The pivot from doctrine to life. Because you were raised with Christ (picking up 2:12), set your whole orientation on what is above (vv. 1-4). From that reality flow two commands built on the clothing metaphor: put to death and strip off the old self's practices (vv. 5-11), and put on the new self's virtues, with love as the outer garment and Christ's peace as the umpire (vv. 12-17). The new humanity then reshapes the most ordinary relationships of the household (vv. 18-25).
Chapter 2 established that believers died and were raised with Christ; chapter 3 says: now live like it. 'Seek the things above' is the ethical cash value of the whole Christ-hymn and the union theology. The household code that begins in 3:18 runs straight into chapter 4:1 without a break.
3:1-4 — Seek the things above
The bridge from theology to ethics. Since you were raised with Christ, seek and set your mind on the things above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand — not on earthly things. The reason is your hidden identity: 'you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.' And a promise seals it: when Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with him in glory. Present hiddenness, future revelation.
1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
3:5-11 — Put the old self to death
The first imperative of the raised life is subtraction. 'Put to death' the earthly members: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry) — the very things that draw God's wrath. You once walked in these. But now put them all away — anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy talk — and stop lying, because you have stripped off the old self with its practices and put on the new self, being renewed in knowledge after its Creator's image. In that new humanity, the old categories collapse: no Greek or Jew, circumcised or not, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free — 'Christ is all, and in all.'
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them, 8 but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. 9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
3:12-17 — Put on the new self
The positive counterpart: as God's chosen, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience — bearing with and forgiving one another as the Lord forgave you. Over all these virtues, put on love, 'the bond of perfection.' Let Christ's peace act as umpire in your hearts, and be thankful. Let Christ's word dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. And the summary command that gathers it all: whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.
12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 13 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. 14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let 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. 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.
3:18-25 — The new life at home
The new humanity reshapes the household. Paul addresses its pairs in turn: wives and husbands, children and fathers, and then, at length, slaves and (in 4:1) masters. Each command is qualified by relationship to Christ: wives submit 'as is fitting in the Lord'; husbands love and are not harsh; children obey, for it 'pleases the Lord'; fathers do not provoke. Slaves — addressed most fully — are to obey sincerely, working heartily 'as for the Lord and not for men,' since they will receive the inheritance as their reward and serve 'the Lord Christ'; the wrongdoer, whatever his station, will be repaid, 'for there is no partiality.'
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged. 22 Servants, 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. 23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).