Colossians:3
Seeker Overlay ON
rwp @
Colossians:3:1 @{
If then ye were raised together with Christ } (\
ei oun sun
gerth
te t
i Christ
i \).
Condition of the first class ,
assumed as true ,
like that in strkjv @
2:20 |
and the other half of the picture of baptism in strkjv @
2:12 |
and using the same form \
sun
gerth
te \
as then which see for the verb \
sunegeir \.
Associative instrumental case of \
Christ
i \. {
The things that are above } (\
ta an \). "
The upward things " (
cf .
strkjv @
Phillipians:3:14 |),
the treasure in heaven (
Matthew:6:20 |).
Paul gives this ideal and goal in place of merely ascetic rules . {
Seated on the right hand of God } (\
en dexi
i tou theou kath
menos \).
Not periphrastic verb ,
but additional statement .
Christ is up there and at God '
s right hand .
Cf .
strkjv @
2:3 |.
rwp @
Colossians:3:2 @{
Set your mind on } (\
phroneite \). "
Keep on thinking about ."
It does matter what we think and we are responsible for our thoughts . {
Not on the things that are upon the earth } (\
m
ta epi t
s g
s \).
Paul does not mean that we should never think the things upon the earth ,
but that these should not be our aim ,
our goal ,
our master .
The Christian has to keep his feet upon the earth ,
but his head in the heavens .
He must be heavenly-minded here on earth and so help to make earth like heaven .
rwp @
Colossians:3:3 @{
For ye died } (\
apethanete gar \).
Definite event ,
aorist active indicative ,
died to sin (
Romans:6:2 |). {
Is hid } (\
kekruptai \).
Perfect passive indicative of \
krupt \,
old verb ,
to hide ,
remains concealed ,
locked "
together with " (\
sun \)
Christ , "
in " (\
en \)
God .
No hellish burglar can break that combination .
rwp @
Colossians:3:4 @{
When Christ shall be manifested } (\
hotan ho Christos phaner
th
i \).
Indefinite temporal clause with \
hotan \
and the first aorist passive subjunctive of \
phanero \, "
whenever Christ is manifested ,"
a reference to the second coming of Christ as looked for and longed for ,
but wholly uncertain as to time .
See this same verb used of the second coming in strkjv @
1John:3:2 |. {
Ye also together with him } (\
kai humeis sun aut
i \).
That is the joy of this blessed hope .
He repeats the verb about us \
phaner
th
sesthe \ (
future passive indicative )
and adds \
en dox
i \ (
in glory ).
Not to respond to this high appeal is to be like Bunyan '
s man with the muck-rake .
rwp @
Colossians:3:5 @{
Mortify } (\
nekr
sate \).
First aorist active imperative of \
nekro \,
late verb ,
to put to death ,
to treat as dead .
Latin Vulgate _mortifico_
,
but "
mortify "
is coming with us to mean putrify .
Paul boldly applies the metaphor of death (
2:20 ;
strkjv @
3:3 |)
pictured in baptism (
2:12 |)
to the actual life of the Christian .
He is not to go to the other Gnostic extreme of license on the plea that the soul is not affected by the deeds of the body .
Paul '
s idea is that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (
1Corinthians:6:19 |).
He mentions some of these "
members upon the earth "
like fornication (\
porneian \),
uncleanness (\
akatharsian \),
passion (\
pathos \),
evil desire (\
epithumian kak
n \),
covetousness (\
pleonexian \) "
the which is idolatry " (\
h
tis estin eid
lolatria \).
See the longer list of the works of the flesh in Gal strkjv @
5:19-21 |,
though covetousness is not there named ,
but it is in strkjv @
Ephesians:4:19 ;
strkjv @
5:5 |.
rwp @
Colossians:3:6 @{
Cometh the wrath of God } (\
erchetai h
org
tou theou \).
Paul does not regard these sins of the flesh as matters of indifference ,
far otherwise .
Many old MSS .
do not have "
upon the sons of disobedience ,"
genuine words in strkjv @
Ephesians:5:6 |.
rwp @
Colossians:3:7 @{
Walked aforetime } (\
periepat
sate pote \).
First aorist (
constative )
indicative referring to their previous pagan state . {
When ye lived } (\
hote ez
te \).
Imperfect active indicative of \
za \,
to live , "
ye used to live " (
customary action ).
Sharp distinction in the tenses .
rwp @
Colossians:3:8 @{
But now } (\
nuni de \).
Emphatic form of \
nun \
in decided contrast (
to \
pote \
in verse 7 |)
in the resurrection life of strkjv @
2:12 ;
strkjv @
3:1 |. {
Put ye also away } (\
apothesthe kai humeis \).
Second aorist middle imperative of old verb \
apotith
mi \,
to put away ,
lay aside like old clothes .
This metaphor of clothing Paul now uses with several verbs (\
apothesthe \
here , \
apekdusamenoi \
in verse 9 |, \
endusamenoi \
in verse 10 |, \
endusasthe \
in verse 12 |). {
All these } (\
ta panta \).
The whole bunch of filthy rags (
anger \
org
n \,
wrath \
thumon \,
malice \
kakian \,
railing \
blasph
mian \,
shameful speaking \
aischrologian \).
See somewhat similar lists of vices in strkjv @
Colossians:3:5 ;
strkjv @
Galatians:5:20 ;
strkjv @
Ephesians:4:29-31 |.
These words have all been discussed except \
aischrologian \,
an old word for low and obscene speech which occurs here only in the N .
T .
It is made from \
aischrologos \ (\
aischros \
as in strkjv @
1Corinthians:11:6 |
and that from \
aischos \,
disgrace ).
Note also the addition of "
out of your mouth " (\
ek tou stomatos hum
n \).
The word was used for both abusive and filthy talk and Lightfoot combines both ideas as often happens .
Such language should never come out of the mouth of a Christian living the new life in Christ .
rwp @
Colossians:3:9 @{
Lie not to another } (\
m
pseudesthe eis all
lous \).
Lying (\
pseudos \)
could have been included in the preceding list where it belongs in reality .
But it is put more pointedly thus in the prohibition (\
m \
and the present middle imperative ).
It means either "
stop lying "
or "
do not have the habit of lying ." {
Seeing that ye have put off } (\
apekdusamenoi \).
First aorist middle participle (
causal sense of the circumstantial participle )
of the double compound verb \
apekduomai \,
for which see strkjv @
2:15 |.
The \
apo \
has the perfective sense (
wholly ), "
having stripped clean off ."
The same metaphor as \
apothesthe \
in verse 8 |. {
The old man } (\
ton palaion anthr
pon \).
Here Paul brings in another metaphor (
mixes his metaphors as he often does ),
that of the old life of sin regarded as "
the ancient man "
of sin already crucified (
Romans:6:6 |)
and dropped now once and for all as a mode of life (
aorist tense ).
See same figure in strkjv @
Ephesians:4:22 |. \
Palaios \
is ancient in contrast with \
neos \ (
young ,
new )
as in strkjv @
Matthew:9:17 |
or \
kainos \ (
fresh ,
unused )
as in strkjv @
Matthew:13:52 |. {
With his doings } (\
sun tais praxesin autou \).
Practice must square with profession .
rwp @
Colossians:3:10 @{
And have put on } (\
kai endusamenoi \).
First aorist middle participle (
in causal sense as before )
of \
endun \,
old and common verb (
Latin _induo_
,
English endue )
for putting on a garment .
Used of putting on Christ (
Galatians:3:27 ;
strkjv @
Romans:13:14 |). {
The new man } (\
ton neon \). "
The new (
young as opposed to old \
palaion \)
man " (
though \
anthr
pon \
is not here expressed ,
but understood from the preceding phrase ).
In strkjv @
Ephesians:4:24 |
Paul has \
endusasthai ton kainon \ (
fresh as opposed to worn out ) \
anthr
pon \. {
Which is being renewed } (\
ton anakainoumenon \).
Present passive articular participle of \
anakaino \.
Paul apparently coined this word on the analogy of \
ananeomai \. \
Anakainiz \
already existed (
Hebrews:6:6 |).
Paul also uses \
anakain
sis \ (
Romans:12:2 ;
strkjv @
Titus:3:5 |)
found nowhere before him .
By this word Paul adds the meaning of \
kainos \
to that of \
neos \
just before .
It is a continual refreshment (\
kainos \)
of the new (\
neos \,
young )
man in Christ Jesus . {
Unto knowledge } (\
eis epign
sin \). "
Unto full (
additional )
knowledge ,"
one of the keywords in this Epistle . {
After the image } (\
kat '
eikona \).
An allusion to strkjv @
Genesis:1:26 ,
28 |.
The restoration of the image of God in us is gradual and progressive (
2Corinthians:3:18 |),
but will be complete in the final result (
Romans:8:29 ;
strkjv @
1John:3:2 |).
rwp @
Colossians:3:11 @{
Where } (\
hopou \).
In this "
new man "
in Christ .
Cf .
strkjv @
Galatians:3:28 |. {
There cannot be } (\
ouk eni \). \
Eni \
is the long (
original )
form of \
en \
and \
estin \
is to be understood . "
There does not exist ."
This is the ideal which is still a long way ahead of modern Christians as the Great War proved .
Race distinctions (
Greek \
Hell
n \
and Jew \
Ioudaios \)
disappear in Christ and in the new man in Christ .
The Jews looked on all others as Greeks (
Gentiles ).
Circumcision (\
peritom \)
and uncircumcision (\
akrobustia \)
put the Jewish picture with the cleavage made plainer (
cf .
strkjv @
Ephesians:2 |).
The Greeks and Romans regarded all others as barbarians (\
barbaroi \,
strkjv @
Romans:1:14 |),
users of outlandish jargon or gibberish ,
onomatopoetic repetition (\
bar-bar \). {
A Scythian } (\
Skuth
s \)
was simply the climax of barbarity ,
_bar
-baris barbariores_
(
Bengel ),
used for any rough person like our "
Goths and Vandals ." {
Bondman } (\
doulos \,
from \
de \,
to bind ), {
freeman } (\
eleutheros \,
from \
erchomai \,
to go ).
Class distinctions vanish in Christ .
In the Christian churches were found slaves ,
freedmen ,
freemen ,
masters .
Perhaps Paul has Philemon and Onesimus in mind .
But labour and capital still furnish a problem for modern Christianity . {
But Christ is all } (\
alla panta Christos \).
Demosthenes and Lucian use the neuter plural to describe persons as Paul does here of Christ .
The plural \
panta \
is more inclusive than the singular \
p
n \
would be . {
And in all } (\
kai en p
sin \).
Locative plural and neuter also . "
Christ occupies the whole sphere of human life and permeates all its developments " (
Lightfoot ).
Christ has obliterated the words barbarian ,
master ,
slave ,
all of them and has substituted the word \
adelphos \ (
brother ).
rwp @
Colossians:3:12 @{
Put on therefore } (\
endusasthe oun \).
First aorist middle imperative of \
endun \ (
verse 10 |).
He explains and applies (\
oun \
therefore )
the figure of "
the new man "
as "
the new garment ." {
As God '
s elect } (\
h
s eklektoi tou theou \).
Same phrase in strkjv @
Romans:8:33 ;
strkjv @
Titus:1:1 |.
In the Gospels a distinction exists between \
kl
tos \
and \
eklektos \ (
Matthew:24:22 ,
24 ,
31 |),
but no distinction appears in Paul '
s writings .
Here further described as "
holy and beloved " (\
hagioi kai
gap
menoi \).
The items in the new clothing for the new man in Christ Paul now gives in contrast with what was put off (
3:8 |).
The garments include a heart of compassion (\
splagchna oiktirmou \,
the nobler _viscera_
as the seat of emotion as in strkjv @
Luke:1:78 ;
strkjv @
Phillipians:1:8 |),
kindness (\
chr
stot
ta \,
as in strkjv @
Galatians:5:22 |),
humility (\
tapeinophrosun
n \,
in the good sense as in strkjv @
Phillipians:2:3 |),
meekness (\
praut
ta \,
in strkjv @
Galatians:5:23 |
and in strkjv @
Ephesians:4:2 |
also with \
tapeinophrosun \),
long-suffering (\
makrothumian \,
in strkjv @
Galatians:5:22 ;
strkjv @
Colossians:1:11 ;
strkjv @
James:5:10 |).
rwp @
Colossians:3:13 @{
Forbearing one another } (\
anechomenoi all
l
n \).
Present middle (
direct )
participle of \
anech \
with the ablative case (\
all
l
n \), "
holding yourselves back from one another ." {
Forgiving each other } (\
charizomenoi heautois \).
Present middle participle also of \
charizomai \
with the dative case of the reflexive pronoun (\
heautois \)
instead of the reciprocal just before (\
all
l
n \). {
If any man have } (\
ean tis ech
i \).
Third class condition (\
ean \
and present active subjunctive of \
ech \). {
Complaint } (\
momph
n \).
Old word from \
memphomai \,
to blame .
Only here in N .
T .
Note \
pros \
here with \
tina \
in the sense of against for comparison with \
pros \
in strkjv @
2:31 |. {
Even as the Lord } (\
kath
s kai ho Kurios \).
Some MSS .
read \
Christos \
for \
Kurios \.
But Christ '
s forgiveness of us is here made the reason for our forgiveness of others .
See strkjv @
Matthew:6:12 ,
14f .|
where our forgiveness of others is made by Jesus a prerequisite to our obtaining forgiveness from God .
rwp @
Colossians:3:14 @{
And above all these things } (\
epi p
sin de toutois \). "
And upon all these things ." {
Put on love } (\
t
n agap
n \).
See strkjv @
Luke:3:20 |.
The verb has to be supplied (\
endusasthe \)
from verse 12 |
as the accusative case \
agap
n \
shows . {
Which is } (\
ho estin \).
Neuter singular of the relative and not feminine like \
agap \ (
the antecedent )
nor masculine like \
sundesmos \
in the predicate .
However ,
there are similar examples of \
ho estin \
in the sense of _quod
est_
(
_id
est_
), "
that is ,"
in strkjv @
Mark:14:42 ;
strkjv @
15:42 |,
without agreement in gender and number .
Songs:also strkjv @
Ephesians:5:5 |
where \
ho estin \ = "
which thing ." {
The bond of perfectness } (\
sundesmos t
s teleiot
tos \).
See strkjv @
2:19 |
for \
sundesmos \.
Here it is apparently the girdle that holds the various garments together .
The genitive (\
teleiot
tos \)
is probably that of apposition with the girdle of love .
In a succinct way Paul has here put the idea about love set forth so wonderfully in strkjv @
1Corinthians:13 |.
rwp @
Colossians:3:15 @{
The peace of Christ } (\
h
eir
n
tou Christou \).
The peace that Christ gives (
John:14:27 |). {
Rule } (\
brabeuet \).
Imperative active third singular of \
brabeu \,
to act as umpire (\
brabeus \),
old verb ,
here alone in N .
T .
See strkjv @
1Corinthians:7:15 |
for called in peace . {
In one body } (\
en heni s
mati \).
With one Head (
Christ )
as in strkjv @
1:18 ,
24 |. {
Be ye thankful } (\
eucharistoi ginesthe \). "
Keep on becoming thankful ."
Continuous obligation .
rwp @
Colossians:3:16 @{
The word of Christ } (\
ho logos tou Christou \).
This precise phrase only here ,
though "
the word of the Lord "
in strkjv @
1Thessalonians:1:8 ;
strkjv @
4:15 ;
strkjv @
2Thessalonians:3:1 |.
Elsewhere "
the word of God ."
Paul is exalting Christ in this Epistle . \
Christou \
can be either the subjective genitive (
the word delivered by Christ )
or the objective genitive (
the word about Christ ).
See strkjv @
1John:2:14 |. {
Dwell } (\
enoikeit \).
Present active imperative of \
enoike \,
to make one '
s home ,
to be at home . {
In you } (\
en humin \).
Not "
among you ." {
Richly } (\
plousi
s \).
Old adverb from \
plousios \ (
rich ).
See strkjv @
1Timothy:6:17 |.
The following words explain \
plousi
s \. {
In all wisdom } (\
en pas
i sophi
i \).
It is not clear whether this phrase goes with \
plousi
s \ (
richly )
or with the participles following (\
didaskontes kai nouthetountes \,
see strkjv @
1:28 |).
Either punctuation makes good sense .
The older Greek MSS .
had no punctuation .
There is an anacoluthon here .
The participles may be used as imperatives as in strkjv @
Romans:12:11f .,
16 |. {
With psalms } (\
psalmois \,
the Psalms in the Old Testament originally with musical accompaniment ), {
hymns } (\
humnois \,
praises to God composed by the Christians like strkjv @
1Timothy:3:16 |), {
spiritual songs } (\
idais pneumatikais \,
general description of all whether with or without instrumental accompaniment ).
The same song can have all three words applied to it . {
Singing with grace } (\
en chariti
idontes \).
In God '
s grace (
2Corinthians:1:12 |).
The phrase can be taken with the preceding words .
The verb \
id \
is an old one (
Ephesians:5:19 |)
for lyrical emotion in a devout soul . {
In your hearts } (\
en tais kardiais hum
n \).
Without this there is no real worship "
to God " (\
t
i the
i \).
How can a Jew or Unitarian in the choir lead in the worship of Christ as Saviour ?
Whether with instrument or with voice or with both it is all for naught if the adoration is not in the heart .
rwp @
Colossians:3:17 @{
Whatsoever ye do } (\
p
n hoti ean poi
te \).
Indefinite relative (
everything whatever )
with \
ean \
and the present active subjunctive ,
a common idiom in such clauses . {
Do all } (\
panta \).
The imperative \
poieite \
has to be supplied from \
poi
te \
in the relative clause . \
Panta \
is repeated from \
p
n \ (
singular ),
but in the plural (
all things ). \
P
n \
is left as a nominative absolute as in strkjv @
Matthew:10:32 ;
strkjv @
Luke:12:10 |.
This is a sort of Golden Rule for Christians "
in the name of the Lord Jesus " (\
en onomati Kuriou I
sou \),
in the spirit of the Lord Jesus (
Ephesians:5:20 |).
What follows (
directions to the various groups )
is in this same vein .
Sociological problems have always existed .
Paul puts his finger on the sore spot in each group with unerring skill like a true diagnostician .
rwp @
Colossians:3:18 @{
Wives } (\
kai gunaikes \).
The article here distinguishes class from class and with the vocative case can be best rendered "
Ye wives ."
Songs:with each group . {
Be in subjection to your husbands } (\
hupotassesthe tois andrasin \). "
Own " (\
idiois \)
is genuine in strkjv @
Ephesians:5:22 |,
but not here .
The verb \
hupotassomai \
has a military air ,
common in the _Koin
_
for such obedience .
Obedience in government is essential as the same word shows in strkjv @
Romans:13:1 ,
5 |. {
As is fitting in the Lord } (\
h
s an
ken en Kuri
i \).
This is an idiomatic use of the imperfect indicative with verbs of propriety in present time (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
p .
919 ).
Wives have rights and privileges ,
but recognition of the husband '
s leadership is essential to a well-ordered home ,
only the assumption is that the husband has a head and a wise one .
rwp @
Colossians:3:19 @{
Love your wives } (\
agap
te tas gunaikas \).
Present active imperative , "
keep on loving ."
That is precisely the point . {
Be not bitter } (\
m
pikrainesthe \).
Present middle imperative in prohibition : "
Stop being bitter "
or "
do not have the habit of being bitter ."
This is the sin of husbands . \
Pikrain \
is an old verb from \
pikros \ (
bitter ).
In N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
Revelation:8:11 ;
strkjv @
10:9f |.
The bitter word rankles in the soul .
rwp @
Colossians:3:20 @{
Obey your parents } (\
hupakouete tois goneusin \).
Old verb to listen under (
as looking up ),
to hearken ,
to heed ,
to obey . {
In all things } (\
kata panta \).
This is the hard part for the child ,
not occasional obedience ,
but continual .
Surely a Christian father or mother will not make unreasonable or unjust demands of the child .
Nowhere does modern civilization show more weakness than just here .
Waves of lawlessness sweep over the world because the child was not taught to obey .
Again Paul argues that this is "
in the Lord " (\
en Kuri
i \).
rwp @
Colossians:3:21 @{
Provoke not } (\
m
erethizete \).
Present imperative of old verb from \
ereth \,
to excite .
Only twice in N .
T .,
here in bad sense ,
in good sense in strkjv @
2Corinthians:9:2 | (
to stimulate ).
Here it means to nag and as a habit (
present tense ). {
That they be not discouraged } (\
hina m
athum
sin \).
Negative purpose (\
hina m \)
with the present subjunctive (
continued discouragement )
of \
athume \,
old verb ,
but only here in N .
T .,
from \
athumos \ (
dispirited , \
a \
privative , \
thumos \,
spirit or courage ).
One does not have to read _Jane
Eyre_
or _Oliver
Twist_
to know something of the sorrows of childhood as is witnessed by runaway children and even child suicides .
rwp @
Colossians:3:22 @{
Your masters according to the flesh } (\
tois kata sarka kuriois \). "
Lords "
really ,
but these Christian slaves (\
douloi \)
had Christ as lord ,
but even so they were to obey their lords in the flesh . {
Not with eye-service } (\
m
en ophthalmodouliais \).
Another Pauline word (
here only and strkjv @
Ephesians:6:6 |),
elsewhere only in Christian writers after Paul ,
an easy and expressive compound ,
service while the master '
s eye was on the slave and no longer . {
Men-pleasers } (\
anthr
pareskoi \).
Late compound only in LXX and Paul (
here and strkjv @
Ephesians:6:6 |). {
In singleness of heart } (\
en haplot
ti kardias \).
Songs:in strkjv @
Ephesians:6:5 |.
Old and expressive word from \
haplous \ (
simple ,
without folds ).
See strkjv @
2Corinthians:11:3 |. {
Fearing the Lord } (\
phoboumenoi ton Kurion \).
Rather than the lords according to the flesh .
rwp @
Colossians:3:23 @{
Whatsoever ye do } (\
ho ean poi
te \).
See same idiom in strkjv @
3:17 |
except \
ho \
instead of \
p
n hoti \. {
Heartily } (\
ek psuch
s \).
From the soul and not with mere eye service .
In strkjv @
Ephesians:6:7 |
Paul adds \
met '
eunoias \ (
with good will )
in explanation of \
ek psuch
s \. {
As unto the Lord } (\
h
s t
i Kuri
i \).
Even when unto men .
This is the highest test of worthwhile service .
If it were only always true !
rwp @
Colossians:3:24 @{
Ye shall receive } (\
apol
mpsesthe \).
Future middle indicative of \
apolamban \,
old verb ,
to get back (\
apo \),
to recover . {
The recompense } (\
antapodosin \). "
The full recompense ,"
old word ,
in LXX ,
but only here in N .
T .,
but \
antapodoma \
twice (
Luke:14:12 ;
strkjv @
Romans:11:9 |).
Given back (\
apo \)
in return (\
anti \). {
Ye serve the Lord Christ } (\
to Kuri
i Christ
i douleuete \).
As his slaves and gladly so .
Perhaps better as imperatives ,
keep on serving .
rwp @
Colossians:3:25 @{
Shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done } (\
komisetai ho
dik
sen \).
It is not clear whether \
ho adik
n \ (
he that doeth wrong )
is the master or the slave .
It is true of either and Lightfoot interprets it of both , "
shall receive back the wrong which he did ."
This is a general law of life and of God and it is fair and square . {
There is no respect of persons } (\
ouk estin pros
pol
mpsia \).
There is with men ,
but not with God .
For this word patterned after the Hebrew see strkjv @
Romans:2:11 ;
strkjv @
Ephesians:6:9 ;
strkjv @
James:2:1 |
The next verse should be in this chapter also .