Colossians 3:7-8

7. wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; 8. but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:

Translation and Paraphrase

7. In these (sins) ye (Colossians) also once walked when ye were living in them;
8. But now (in sharp contrast to your former walk in sins) you (must) put (them) all away (from yourself, like dirty clothes. These include things like) an angry disposition, (fits of) rage, a desire to harm people, hurtful speaking, (and) obscene speech.

Notes

1.

The past life and the present life of Christians should usually present a conspicuous contrast. It may not do this in the case of those brought up in God-fearing homes, but in the case of the Colossians it surely did. The but now in Colossians 3:8 makes a sharp contrast with the past life.

Paul reminds them that they had once walked and lived in their sins. Now they should put them all away, once for all.

2.

The word wherein (KJV, in the which) at the start of Colossians 3:7 may refer back grammatically either to sons of disobedience or to the sinful things mentioned in Colossians 3:5-6.

We prefer to think that it refers to the sinful things. It seems too apparent to need stating, that formerly Christians walked and lived among the sons of disobedience.

3.

We not only once walked in these thingsfornication, covetousness, evil desires, etc.but we lived in them, in the sense of interest, motive, and congenial attitude.

4.

Paul by his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ commands us to put away now all such evil things. We are to put them away decisively, once for all (this is indicated by the aorist tense). Note that we are to put them ALL away.

5.

To the sins listed in Colossians 3:5 Paul here adds several more of like character. (See notes on Colossians 3:5-6).

(1) Anger (Gr. orge). This is chronic anger, anger maintained as a basic part ofour normal attitude. (Ephesians 4:31).

(2) Wrath (Gr. thumos). This is sudden anger, anger boiling over into rage and then subsiding.

(3) Malice (Gr. kakia). This is the desire to injure and hurt people; a vicious disposition; ill will; wickedness that is not ashamed to break the laws. (1 Peter 2:16; Romans 1:29; Titus 3:3).

(4) Railing (KJV, blasphemy; Gr. blasphemia). This is hurtful, injurious speech, directed towards either man or God, though we sometimes falsely limit it to that toward God only. Any type of slander or reviling is here forbidden. (Matthew 12:31; Matthew 15:19; Ephesians 4:31; 1 Timothy 6:4; Jude 1:9).

(5) Shameful speaking (KJV, filthy communication; Gr. aischrologia). This is foul speaking, low and obscene speaking. Ephesians 5:4). Many in our generation are demanding their rights to say anything, anywhere, anytime, regardless of its offensiveness to people. As Christians we must not take this attitude. We put away all shameful speaking out of our mouth, and out of our hearts too, although the latter may take longer.

6.

The sins listed in Colossians 3:8 may seem like little sins. They are often practiced by those of professed faith. These offences may not look great to us, but they are. Little sins are just as sinful in God's eyes as the ones that involve damage to people or property, which we call big sins.

7.

The Christian character is an unsinning character. See 1 John 1:8; 1 John 3:6-9. This thought will raise our ideals and accomplishments.

Study and Review

21.

What does the wherein (KJV, which things-' sake) at the start of Colossians 3:7 refer to?

22.

Differentiate (if possible) between anger and wrath. (3.8)

23.

What is railing (KJV, blasphemy)?

24.

What does shameful speaking (KJV, filthy communication) deal with? (Colossians 3:8)