Colossians 3:12-13

12. Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; 13. forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

Translation and Paraphrase

12. Therefore (since you are a new being) put on as God's chosen ones, (who are) holy and beloved, a heart (or bowels) of compassion, pleasantness, lowliness of mind, gentleness, longsuffering (with the faults of others),
13. bearing with one another, and (graciously) forgiving each other, if any (of you) has something to blame someone for. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also (should forgive) in the same way.

Notes

1.

Colossians 3:12 begins a new paragraph in our outline, a section that could be called Things to put on for Christ. It is the positive alternative to the list of negative things to put off, given in Colossians 3:5-11.

We must deliberately put on certain qualities and acts, as well as putting off certain things. At least in our intentions and determination we must put them on. (Note the aorist tense of put on, indicating point action.) Determine that you are going to put them on, and do so to the utmost of your ability.

2.

Paul called the Colossians God's elect, holy, and beloved. Elect means chosen. Christians are now God's chosen people. (Ephesians 1:4). Holy means separated unto God in Christ. Beloved is a perfect passive participle, indicating a past action having continued effects. It is a term of affection, and refers to God's love for them, rather than Paul'S.

Paul applies to the church these three terms, which were formerly applied to O.T. Israel. Elect (Psalms 105:6); Holy (Exodus 19:6); Beloved (Deuteronomy 23:5):

3.

The Colossians were to put on bowels of mercy, that is, a heart of compassion. Our modern English word bowels has too limited a meaning to adequately represent the Gr. splangchna, which referred to the bowels, and to the heart, and to the lungs, and in a broader meaning to the emotions and compassion.

Compassion is not something that grows naturally in the human bosom. In ancient times the aged, insane, weak, etc. were sometimes thrust out and mistreated. Compassion was made into a living reality by Christ.

4.

Put on kindness, that is, sweetness, moral goodness, or integrity. Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22.

5.

Meekness. Meekness is a quality of gentleness and submissiveness to authority which does not imply that the one having it will not resist evil strongly. Moses was meek (Numbers 12:3). Christ was meek. (Matthew 11:29).

6.

Longsuffering (mukrothumia) is the quality of endurance that will not be exasperated. It is the self-restraint that will not quickly retaliate a wrong. It is the opposite of wrath and revenge. (Colossians 1:11; Ephesians 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:10).

7.

Longsuffering should manifest itself in two stages: (1) forbearing, or bearing with others; and (2) forgiving one another. The word forgive here means to forgive graciously. (It has the same root as the word grace.)

8.

The possibility of complaints and quarrels of Christians against one another is conceded in Paul's statement If any man have a complaint against any. However the use of the conditional conjunction ean presents it, as it were, reluctantly, a case just supposable.

9.

Forgiving others as the Lord forgave you. (Matthew 6:12; Matthew 6:14; Matthew 18:35; Luke 11:4; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:32.)

Study and Review

36.

Define the term elect in Colossians 3:12.

37.

What are we to put on as God's elect?

38.

What is forbearing? (Colossians 3:13)

39.

How are we to forgive one another? (Colossians 3:13)