Colossians 3
About ColossiansWritten by AI
Colossians is a letter about the fullness of Christ. Paul and Timothy are named as senders, writing to a church in the small city of Colossae that Paul had never visited. It was likely founded by Epaphras, one of their own. Traditionally Paul wrote it from prison around AD 60 to 62, alongside Philemon. Some scholars think a later follower wrote it in his name.
Something was pulling the Colossians toward a mix of rules, special days, visions, and human philosophy, as if Christ were not quite enough. Paul's answer is to show how great Christ is: creator, sustainer, head of the church, the one in whom all the fullness of God dwells.
The first two chapters lift up Christ and expose the false teaching. The last two show what a life raised with Christ looks like, in the heart, the home, and in speech. Watch for the words fullness and fully throughout.
Before you read Colossians 3Written by AI
Raised with Christ, believers are to set their minds on things above, put off the old ways, and put on compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and above all love. Then come short household instructions for wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters. Some read the lines on marriage as a lasting order, others as a first century form reshaped by Christ. The slavery was real, and both slaves and masters are told they answer to the Lord.
Put On the New Self
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways. But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Christian Households
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
Serving with Honor
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.