Colossians 3

Colossians 3 is the third chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul of Tarsus and Timothy.^[1][2]

Text

• The original text is written in Koine Greek.
• Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:
  • Papyrus 46 (ca. AD 200)
  • Codex Vaticanus (AD 325-350)
  • Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330-360)
  • Codex Alexandrinus (ca. AD 400-440)
  • Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (ca. AD 450; complete)
  • Codex Freerianus (ca. AD 450; extant: verses 5-8, 15-17, 25)
  • Codex Claromontanus (ca. AD 550)
  • Codex Coislinianus (ca. AD 550; extant: verses 1-11)
• This chapter is divided into 25 verses.

Structure

This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible):

• Colossians 3:1-11 = Not Carnality but Christ
• Colossians 3:12-17 = Character of the New Man
• Colossians 3:18-25 = The Christian Home

Verse 10

New King James Version

and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him^[3]

Verse 11

New King James Version

where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.^[4]

Verse 17

New King James Version

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.^[5]

• And whatsoever ye do in word or deed

Whether in preaching the word of Christ, in hearing the Gospel, in singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and in conference and conversation with each other; or in whatsoever action, civil or religious throughout the whole life and conversation, in the performance of things natural, moral, and evangelical, relating to God or man, or one another, in the world or church:^[6]

• do all in the name of the Lord Jesus;

both in the strength of Christ, without whom nothing can be well said or done; and according to the mind and will of Christ declared in the Gospel, which is his name; and calling upon his name for assistance in the ministration of his word, administration of his ordinances, and in the performance of every duty, directing all to, and having solely in view his honour and glory:^[6]

• giving thanks to God, and the Father by him;

this shows, that singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, is a distinct thing from giving of thanks, mentioned in the preceding verse. The things for which thanks are to be given, are "all things"; and the time when, always, as in (See Gill on Ephesians 5:20). The person to whom they are to be given is God the Father, the Father of our spirits, and of our mercies, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of us in him; and the person by whom they are to be given, is Christ, which is just and proper, since all mercies come from, and through him; nor is there any other way of bringing and offering the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God; nor are they, nor can they be acceptable to God by, and through any other, but by him alone. ^[6]

Verse 23

New King James Version

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.^[7]

See also

• Other related Bible parts: Psalm 119, John 15, Ephesians 6

References

1. ↑ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary. 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
2. ↑ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
3. ↑ Colossians 3:10
4. ↑ Colossians 3:11
5. ↑ Colossians 3:17
6. 1 2 3 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, - Colossians 3:17
7. ↑ Colossians 3:23

External links

• Colossians 3 NIV