COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:1 The Proper Focus: Christ and the Life Above. This section is a bridge to Paul’s appeals to live in a way that pleases the Lord. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:3 YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. Paul uses Isaiah and the Psalms to express the security of believers as they trust in Christ (Isaiah 49:2; Psalms 27:5; Psalms 31:19). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:5 Instructions on Living the Christian Life. Christians have died and risen with Christ. They have the hope of a future life with him. Paul encourages the Colossians to continue eliminating sinful behaviors from their lives and continue increasing in Christian virtues... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:6 THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING. The OT prophets spoke of the approaching day of the Lord as a time of wrath (e.g., Zephaniah 1:14). God will hold everyone accountable for his or her actions. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=ima... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:8 PUT THEM ALL AWAY. Paul lists five more vices (see v. Colossians 3:5) that Christians need to renounce. These are all related to relationships among believers. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:9 SEEING THAT YOU HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD SELF... AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW SELF. The Greek grammar indicates that this is an event that has already taken place. A change of identity has already occurred in believers’ lives. Now they must bring their behavior into line wit... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:11 HERE THERE IS NOT GREEK AND JEW. There are no distinctions of status or race among the new covenant people (see Galatians 3:28). SCYTHIAN. A people group living along the northern coast of the Black Sea. To the Greeks, the Scythians were violent, uneducated, uncivi... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:12 Paul calls the Colossians to a holy lifestyle, consistent with their new identity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:13 FORGIVING EACH OTHER... AS THE LORD HAS FORGIVEN YOU. See Matthew 6:14. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:14 Above all else, Christians are called on to LOVE one another (see 1 Corinthians 13:1). BINDS... TOGETHER seems to suggest that love unites all the virtues. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:16 THE WORD OF CHRIST probably refers to the teaching about Christ as well as his own words. Both were part of the oral traditions passed on to early believers. PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS (see note on Eph. 5:19) is one way of TEACHING AND ADMONISHING. These... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:18 Paul gives special instructions for the members of a Christian household. He addresses wives and husbands, children and fathers, and slaves (or bondservants) and masters. It is important to note that he treats women, children, and bondservants as equal with the mal... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:19 DO NOT BE HARSH WITH THEM. Violence, threats, and unkind words are not acceptable in a Christian home. Husbands are called to LOVE their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=i... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:20 Paul’s words to children reflect the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:21 DO NOT PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN. A father’s negative emotions and actions can cause a child to be discouraged (see Ephesians 6:4). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 3:22 BONDSERVANTS, OBEY IN EVERYTHING THOSE WHO ARE YOUR EARTHLY MASTERS. God has ordered family relationships from creation, and Paul’s instructions on marriage represent the perfect will of God. On the other hand, the kind of servitude practiced in the first century w... [ Continue Reading ]