Bible Commentaries
Colossians 3

Verses 1-25

III 1-4 True Perfection, Life in Christ— 1. At Baptism they died a mystical death when they went down into the cleansing water, but they died only to be raised to a new life in Christ (cf.Rom 6:4; Eph 2:4 ff. etc.).

2. But to live means to think, to love, to act. Their life should be one long sursum corda, until the members of his Body will be joined with their Head in manifest glory. Cf. Prayer for Ascension Day.

5-9 Vices to be kept Dead— St Paul here begins the moral part of the epistle—the application of the doctrine to their daily lives.

5. Though a Christian is dead to the lower passions, they can rebel (cf. 1:28; Eph 4:13). They must be ’kept dead’ (DV ’mortify’) by refusing to let them guide conduct. The sins mentioned are those to which the readers are especially tempted. But they can all be grouped under three heads, impurity, avarice and pride (cf.1 Jn 2:16). On ’covetousness which is the service of idols’ many commentators observe that the phrase can be best understood in the light of Mt 6:24, and is then seen to refer to men who make wealth their god. It is possible however, that Paul here condemns love of gain acquired by associating with some pagan practice; cf. VD 12 ( 1932) 370.

10-17 Virtues to be practised— 9b-10. ’The stripping of the old man with his deeds’ and the ’putting on of the new’, first accomplished at Baptism, are tasks that have to be constantly renewed. A good gardener constantly weeds; the permanent way needs constant supervision. In 1 Cor 2:6 Paul regards some Christians as already perfect in the sense that they have a proved capacity and desire for truth (cf.Phil 3:15). But here (as also 1:28; Eph 4:13) he sees perfection as a continual renewal. 11b. ’Christ is all and in all’: he is the complete gift; in him all distinction is obliterated—the Christian, whatever his social standing

(11a) possesses Christ. 14b. ’Charity . . . the bond of perfection.’ Chrysostom: ’The Apostle says not "charity is the crown", but something greater, "the bond", the latter being more necessary than the former; for a crown is a heightening of perfection, but a bond is a holding together of the component parts of perfection’.

15. ’The peace of Christ’ should ’stand as umpire’ (DV ’rejoice’) in Christian hearts (cf.Eph 4:3). Chrysostom: ’He sets up an arena in our hearts, and games, and a wrestling match, and an umpire’.

16. ’The word of Christ’ is his teaching; it must be theirs abundantly’, i.e. to the point of overflowing into (i) ’teaching and admonishing’ one another and (ii) praise of God rising up from their hearts ’in thanksgiving’ (DV ’in grace’) to God. The ’psalms’ here are generally regarded as Christian hymns after the model of the Psalms of David. It is difficult to distinguish precisely between psalms, hymns and canticles (cf.Eph 5:19).

III 18-IV 1 Duties In the Home—As in Eph 5:21-6:9 Paul shows that the Christian spirit must permeate everyday duties. The same logical order is observed here (wife, husband, children, parents, slaves and masters). But here the counsels are briefer. There are only two additions.

25. First, with regard to slaves—to the sanction of reward for good is added that of punishment for injustice on the part of the slave. 1. Second, with regard to masters—to the duty of justice is added that of ’fairness’ (DV ’equal’).