Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Colossians 3:2

τὰ ἄνω φρονεῖτε. He emphasizes, by repetition, the thought of τὰ ἄνω ζητεῖτε but enlarges and deepens it. φρονεῖν expresses the set and purpose of the mind. It “denotes the whole action of the φρήν, i.e. of the affections and will as well as of the reason” (Sanday-Headlam, on Romans 8:5). It therefore distinguishes the spiritual from the worldly character; cf. Mark 8:33 (|| Matthew 16:23), where see, by all means, Dr Swete’s note; Romans 8:5. St Paul uses φρονεῖν eight times in Phil., cf. especially Colossians 2:5.

μὴ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. For the phrase see especially Colossians 1:20, where τὰ ἐπὶ τ. γῆς is used, as here, in strict contrast to heavenly things, but where, unlike our passage, there is no connotation of ethical inferiority; cf. also Colossians 3:5. This inferiority is clearly expressed in John 3:31; cf. also Matthew 6:19, and Philippians 3:19.

Most expositors are of opinion that St Paul by this phrase is speaking quite generally, i.e. of “all things, conditions, and interests, that belong to the terrestrial,” without any reference to the rules of the false teachers (Colossians 2:20-23). But in view of St Paul’s habit of dwelling on a phrase, and using it to pass on to a different but related subject, it is preferable to regard it as referring primarily to the earthly methods proposed by the false teachers for combating evil. St Paul bids his readers to be not taken up with questions of eating, drinking, and such like, which belong to the earthly life. There is a higher and better way. But the phrase in itself is so wide that it readily affords him a point d’appui from which to pass on to earthly things generally (cf. Colossians 3:3-4) and in particular to such as are directly opposed to true religion (Colossians 3:5 sqq.).

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Colossians 3:2

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