Introductory remarks:
Paul continues his teachings on the new life united in union with Christ. "Paul tells them to focus on Christ and their future heavenly life and kill the fleshly desires they pursued before. He tells them to live in imitation of Christ in their dealings with each other and fill themselves with knowledge. He says they should do everything as if for Christ, including conduct to spouse, parent, child, and master. They should keep in mind that their reward will come from the Lord" (A Survey of Colossians - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: The new life in Christ continued vv. 1-17: social duties of the new life vv. 18-25.
The New Life in Christ Continued
"The apostle leaves his scornful flagellation of the false teachers, and comes to a more congenial occupation. For though it is needful to refute error, it is more pleasant to inculcate truth. If the Colossian believers should act in accordance with their privileges - if they understood how the charge against them by the law had been met with a discharge on the cross of Calvary - if the process of sanctification beginning in their hearts should work outward, and hallow and adorn their lives - if they felt that whatever blessings they enjoyed in part, or anticipated in fullness, sprang from union with Christ, then should they be fortified against every effort to induce them to sever themselves from the Head, and against every attempt to substitute reveries [for men or angels] for truth, or human inventions for Divine enactments. Then, too, should they learn that worship does not consist of superstitious invocation [chants or charms], and that sanctification is not identical with fanatical austerities [asceticism]. Let them move in a spiritual region lifted far above those earthly vanities, and let them look down on them as the offspring of a morbid and self-deceived imagination, or the craving and the nutriment of a self-satisfied pride" (John Eadie).
Verse 1, "If then ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
LGT "Since therefore ye were raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at [the] right hand of God."
Since therefore ye were raised with Christ: the "if" again is in the first class condition and is best translated since. Positionally, every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has been resurrected with Him. Remember, Paul is teaching the doctrine of being united with Christ in union with Him. Seek those things above: set your affections on spiritual things. Spiritual death is in the nether world in total darkness. Eternal life for the believer is with Christ in the light. Where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: Christ has made us alive, and we have been buried with Him and then raised to a new resurrected life, and we are now seated with Him at God's right hand. There could not be a more secure position. Now since we have been elevated to this most wonderful of all position, we should set our affections above this world, and walk around worthy of this awesome position.
Verse 2, "Set your affections on the things above, not on things on the earth."
LGT "Mind the things above, not the things on the earth."
I believe what Paul is teaching here is that in every situation in life we must look at things, that is, keep on thinking about things from God's Divine Viewpoint. There are two viewpoints, that of the world, and that of God. Our thoughts should be where we are in Christ. The things of earth are wealth, honor, pleasure, power, and fame. Our thoughts should be centered in Christ, "that we might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His death" (Phil. 3:10). When the things of this earth are possessed, the heart grows fond of them, and they take up all the time that could be spent in eternal pursuits; for where the treasure is, you will find the heart.
Verse 3, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
LGT "For ye died, and your life has been hid with Christ in God."
For ye died: we are now dead to sin, to earthly pleasures, and dead to self-righteousness of self-honor and self-praise. And your life has been hid with Christ in God: This has been my favorite verse on eternal security since my Bible School days. Because of our union with Christ, we have been placed into a position, as A.T. Robertson says, "No hellish burglar can crack that combination." Think about it, we are hid with Christ in God. "Your spiritual life is no longer in the sphere of the earthly and sensual, but is with the life of the risen Christ, who is unseen with God" (Marvin Vincent). I thank God that He did not entrust me with my own security, for if it were in my hands, I would surely loose it; and God knew this in eternity past, and appointed my keeping to the Holy Spirit, by placing me into union with His dear Son.
Verse 4, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory."
LGT "When the Christ our life, may be manifested, then also ye shall be manifested with Him in glory."
When the Christ our life: this is union with Christ, for Christ is our life; we have died with Him; we have been buried with Him; we have been raised with Him; we have been seated at the right hand of God with Him; now we walk the new life with Him, that is, He lives that life through us. May be manifested: when Christ shall appear the second time to earth. Then also ye shall be manifested with Him in glory: Our life is hid with Christ in God in glory, until He appears, and is manifest to the world, we shall be manifest with Him.
Verse 5, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."
LGT "Put to death therefore your members which [are] on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
Put to death therefore your members: the word "mortify" means to put to death. The word "members" means the physical lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Let these members die for lack of exercise. Which are on earth: Paul mentions five of these earthly members, that war against us. Fornication: this is sexual immorality. Uncleanness: not only unclean acts, but also unclean thoughts. Passions: uncontrolled passion and lust. Evil desires: this is very close and even includes sexual lusting; but it also includes lust for wealth and power, and honor or praise. Covetousness, which is idolatry: covetousness along with desiring what your neighbor has is lust for more wealth. Henry ford was asked this question after building his great empire: "How much money is enough?" His answer was, "just a little more." Paul calls this idolatry because it is wealth worship. "This desire of having more, and yet more, is idolatry. What it craves it worships, what it worships it makes its portion. To such a god there is given the first thought of the morning, the last wish of the evening, and the action of every working hour" (John Eadie).
Verse 6, "For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience."
LGT "On account of which things comes the wrath of God [upon the sons of disobedience]."
On account of which things: the five sins Paul just mentioned, which the world practices as a way of life. Comes the wrath of God: Paul is not aiming this threat against the Colossian believers, but telling them that God will not permit sin in any form. When the believer sins God deals with them as His children with divine discipline in time, the unbeliever will spend eternity in hell that was prepared for the Devil and his angels. Upon the sons of disobedience: this phrase is not found in the best manuscripts, but was added by the translators because they are genuine in Eph. 5:6. Sinners are not sinners because they sin; they sin because they are born sinners. Christ paid for all sin on the cross, therefore, men do not go to hell because of sin; they go to hell because they will not accept God's sacrifice of His only-begotten Son as complete payment for their sin. Many believe that God's wrath is visited today on the ungodly in the form of disease, and physical impediment, catastrophes of nature etc. I personally believe that the curse that sin brought is visited upon all men in one form or other, and that it also extends to nature.
Verse 7, "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them:"
LGT "Among which also ye walked once, when ye were living in those things."
Among which also ye walked once: in your pagan state. When ye were living in those things: ye also did these things that all believers practice as a way of life, because you were addicted to them, and you were living in them, because you thought that is where happiness is. Let me remind you here that unbelievers sin as a way of life, lawlessly, anomias, while believers sin as missing the mark, harmatia; you see, the unbeliever has no mark to aim at, for they are outside of God's family, and God has set a goal for every believer, and that goal excludes every sin. Gal. 5:25, "If ye live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit," is the goal, and sin removes the believer from fellowshipping in the Spirit. Sin does not remove the believer from the family of God, but it does remove him from fellowship with the Father, and confessing of sin to the Father restores to fellowship.
Verse 8, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."
LGT "But now, put away also ye, all [these] things, wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, shameful speaking out of your mouth:"
But now: now that you belong to the family of God, and are born again by His Spirit. Put away also ye, all these things: this means not only to put these things off for now, but put them away indefinitely. Wrath: this means to have an unforgiving spirit. Anger: this is getting angry for the wrong reasons, and this is loosing your temper, which results in uncontrolled anger. Malice: this is anger that boils in the soul and seeks revenge. Blasphemy: things spoken that seek to injure the other person; blasphemy against God is giving glory to man that belongs to God; this includes adoring another; yes, this includes pastor worship. Shameful speaking out of your mouth: speaking filthy things that insult the modesty of the other person. This is uncontrolled shameless speech, sometimes used to get a negative reaction from someone. This can also include speaking shamelessly about someone's deficiency to their face in order to hurt them. It also includes profanity of any sort.
Verse 9, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds."
LGT " Do not lie to one another, having put away the old man with his deeds:"
Do not lie to one another: this is a middle imperative meaning "stop lying" or "do not have the habit of lying." No sin is more contemptible to God than lying. The reason Paul adds to one another is that in Christ we share a fellowship with other believers, and when we lie to them, we are lying to Christ, who is called the Truth. Having put off the old man with his deeds: the old man has been put off positionally, however, experientially the old nature is still with us, and the only way we put the old habits away is simply, don't do them. If we adjust our lives to grace doctrine, we must stop lying, and these other things we once did as a way of life. All the self-help books cannot help a bit, unless you are seeking the ascetic way of life. We know what these things are that God condemns, and we must not engage in them habitually, and at best, not at all.
Verse 10, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."
LGT "And having put on the new that [is] being renewed into knowledge according to [the] image of the one who created him:"
And having put on the new man: having put on the new man in Christ, made possible by the righteousness of Christ being imputed on us (2 Cor. 5:21). This putting on is an ongoing procedure made possible by the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Being in fellowship is the first step, and staying in fellowship is the daily exercise. Being renewed: this renewing of the Holy Spirit is a continuous action. This new nature is created by, and given to every believer by God; the man himself cannot develop it, it is one of the gifts of divine grace. Into knowledge according to the image of the one who created him: this is knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is only through the Word of God; to be conformed to the image of God is the work of the Holy Spirit, and the only way we may be blessed in this knowledge, is to have this knowledge, and the only way we may have this knowledge is by the serious study of the Word of God using grace logic, that is, the Divine viewpoint.
Verse 11, "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision not uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free: but Christ is all, and in all."
LGT "Where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bondman, [or] free, But Christ [is] all things and in all."
Where: in union with Christ. There is not Greek and Jew; the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile has been removed forever. Self-righteous Judaism has erected the partition that now exists. Circumcision: the Jews. Uncircumcision: all non-Jews. Barbarian: the Jews considered all non-Jews as Barbarians. Scythian: these were described as worse than a Barbarian, on the level of any cannibal, for they would eat the flesh of the foes. Bondsmen: slaves. Or free: non-slaves. But Christ is all things and in all: in Christ only one distinction for man exists, we are all Christ's brothers.
Verse 12, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."
LGT "Put on therefore, as elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering."
Put on therefore: this is a middle imperative describing how they should walk. As elect of God: our election is not determined by how we walk; our election determines our walk. Holy and beloved: this is our position before God; this position never changes no matter how we live. What does change is our fellowship with the Father who so loves us. Bowels of compassion: true earnest affection as brothers and sisters in Christ. Kindness: we should seek to help one another. Humility: thinking of others first, and then acting on it. Meekness: not loud and gaudy. Longsuffering: long-mindedness as opposed to quick temper.
Verse 13, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
LGT "Bearing with one another and forgiving one another - yourselves, if any against any should have a complaint: just as also the Lord forgave you, so also [do] ye."
Bearing with one another: have patience with one another. And forgiving one another yourselves: by forgiving one another they have in, effect, forgiven themselves. If any against any should have a complaint: that is, they should forgive because they belong to the same family of God. Just as also the Lord forgave you: you are not better than the Lord, are you? If the Lord, in His mercy, has forgiven you, you also need to show mercy and forgive those who you have a complaint about. So also do ye: forgive one another as the Lord forgave you. When we have a legitimate complaint against a brother, we should go to that brother and work things out as a loving brother, and not as an authoritative Jerk or a spiritual bully.
Verse 14, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
LGT "And to all these [add] love, which is [the] bond of perfectness."
Paul tells them in all these things, above all, do these things in love. The word He uses for love here is agape, which is Divine love, and this can only be produced by the Holy Spirit working in and through us. This love is not an emotion, but is the fact that we love our brothers and sisters based on their union with the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we keep these thoughts in our mind, we will love them unconditionally, with a perfect Divine love.
Verse 15, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
LGT "And let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body: and become thankful."
And let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts: let the peace that Christ gives rule your minds. To which ye were called in one body: the body, which is ruled by the Head, Christ. Be single minded with regards to Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. And become thankful: give all the glory to the Lord, for it is He that works the works, and it is He that deserves all the glory. "If that peace dwelt within them, and reigned within them - if Christ had at once provided it for them, and summoned them unitedly to its enjoyment, surely profound gratitude was due such a benefactor" (John Eadie).
Verse 16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts."
LGT "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with grace singing in your hearts to the God."
Let the word of Christ: Robertson says that "Christ can either be the subjective genitive (the word delivered by Christ) or objective genitive (the word about Christ)." In either case it is still the Word of God; the reason Paul uses this particular form is that it is Christ whom he is stressing in this epistle. Dwell in you richly: not among you, but in you. Let the Word be the most important part of your life. Study hard and make the Word of Christ control your life, that is, know the Word of God so well that you are able to see the world and all its temptations from God's Divine viewpoint. And you will be able to adjust your life to grace doctrine. In all wisdom teaching and admonishing each other: this is the result of letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. "Unless the word of Christ dwelt richly within them, they could not fulfill this duty; for they could not teach and admonish [caution] unless they knew what lessons to impart, and in what spirit to communicate them; but the lessons and the spirit alike were to be found in the gospel. Mutual exhortation must depend for its fitness and utility on mutual knowledge of the Christian doctrine. Sparing acquaintance with Divine revelation would lead to scanty counsel and ineffective tuition" (John Eadie). In psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with grace singing in your hearts to God: this is the conclusion of teaching and admonishing, that is, this is the believers response to the wonderful word of Christ. The first church meetings would always conclude by singing a hymn and departing to their homes. I do not believe this clause is connected with teaching and admonishing, for I think Paul added it as a response to the Word of God. The spiritual psalms, hymns, and songs, should always be grace oriented by way of true doctrine.
Eadie quotes Boyd's translation [1834] of Basil's [A.D. 330-379] encomium on these spiritual songs:
"Psalmody is the calm of the soul, the repose of the spirit, the arbiter [judge] of peace: it silences the wave, and conciliates [calms] the whirlwind of our passions, soothing that which is impetuous [hasty], and tempering that which is unchaste [impure]. Psalmody is an engenderer [producer] of friendship, a healer of dissension, a reconciler of those who were inimical [hostile]; for who can longer account that man his enemy, with whom to the throne of God he hath raised the strain? Wherefore that first of blessings, Christian love, is diffused by psalmody, which devises the harmonious concert as a bond of union, and connects the people in choral symphonies. Psalmody repels the demons; it lures the ministry of angels; a weapon of defense in nightly terrors, a respite from daily toil; to the infant a presiding genius, to manhood a resplendent [magnificent] crown, a balm of comfort to the aged, a congenial [pleasant] ornament to women. It renders the desert populous, and appeases the forum's tumult; to the initiated an elementary instruction, to proficients [mature] a mighty increase, a bulwark unto those who are perfected in knowledge. It is the church's voice. This exhilarates the banquet; this awakens that pious sorrow which has reference to God. Psalmody, from a heart of adamant [obstinate] can excite the tear: psalmody is the employment of angels, the delight of Heaven, and spiritual frankincense. Oh! The sapient [wise] design of our Instructor, appointing that at once we should be recreated by song, and informed by wisdom. Thus, the precepts of instruction are given more deeply engraven on our hearts: for the lessons which we receive unwillingly have a transient [passing] continuance; but those which charm and captivate in the hearing, are permanently impressed upon our souls - from hence may not everything be acquired? Hence mayest thou not be taught whatever is dignified in fortitude, whatever is consummate [accomplished] in justice, whatever is venerable [honored] in temperance, whatever is sublime in wisdom? Here the nature of penitence is unfolded; patience is here exemplified. Is there a blessing to be named, which here resides not? The splendors of theology beam effulgent; Jesus is predicted; the resurrection is announced; judgment is proclaimed; the sword of vengeance is unsheathed; crowns of glory glitter; speakless mysteries astonish. All these are treasured up in the book of Psalms, as in a common treasury of the soul."
Verse 17, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
LGT "And everything, whatsoever ye may do in word or in work, [do] all in [the] name of [the] Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God [the] Father by Him."
I believe this verse can be summed up simply and plainly in that whatever we do in word or deed in life, not just on Sunday, or before our Bible study group, but in every realm of our lives, we are to live with the approval of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in union with Christ, so we should live with gracious thankfulness before the Father, in the name of our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.
Social Duties of the New Life
Verse 18, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."
LGT "Wives, subject yourselves to the husband as is becoming in [the] Lord."
Wives, subject yourselves to the husband: this phrase means that wives are to be submissive to the husband as the spiritual leader in the home. Now the next phrase makes it very clear that the contexts here does not mean that wife is to be dominated by the husband. As is becoming in the Lord: if the husband is glorifying the name of the Lord in everything he does in word or deed, he certainly will love his wife and treat her with tender loving care, as is fitting before the Father. How we husbands treat our wives is how we are treating the Lord Jesus Christ, for the wife is also a joint heir with Christ. "The submission which is inculcated on the part of the wife is wholly different in source and form from that slavery which is found in heathen lands, for it is the willing acquiescence [consent] which springs out of social position and wedded love, and is dictated at once by a wife's affection, and her instinctive tendency to lean on her husband for support" (John Eadie).
Verse 19, "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."
LGT "Husbands, love the wives, and be not bitter against them."
The husband is definitely to take the leadership role in the family, but he is to rule in love and should never become bitter and cold toward the wife. There are a lot of reasons a husband may find to criticize and browbeat the wife, but that is not treating her as a joint heir. The wife should want the husband's leadership, and should encourage him in his role as leader, but the husband is the initiator of the actions, and the wife is the responder, so, if the husband leads with love, the wife will respond with love.
Verse 20, "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord."
LGT "Children, obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in [the] Lord."
Children, obey the parents in all things: the wives are to subject their selves lovingly to the husband's authority as head of the home; the children are to obey the parents. Paul is directing these exhortations to a believing home. For this is well-pleasing in the Lord: teaching the children obedience and respect for authority is blessed by the Lord. To spoil the child is to do that child a very unjust disservice, for that will lead that child into all types of difficulty in trying to reach adulthood. Very few spoiled brats ever reach maturity.
Verse 21, "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged."
LGT "Fathers, do not provoke your children, in order that they be not disheartened."
Fathers, do not provoke your children: to provoke means to habitually nag at them. To never be satisfied with their behavior or accomplishments. In order that they be not disheartened: they lose heart because they cannot please the parent. The parent should be tolerant with children in recognizing their weaknesses, but they should also give moderate praise with a well done when it is deserved. A parent should not confuse the child with false threats; if you say you are going to do something, do it. Be a man or woman of truth and honesty. Spank the child for discipline sake, and praise them for their self-esteem, in knowing that you appreciate their efforts. Parents should never, under any circumstances, spank a child while they are angry. The parent should always calm down first and explain to the child why they are being punished; and never, under any circumstance use the modern ploy of giving them a time out; spare the rod and spoil the child. Spanking a child for the right reason is necessary for the child's development, and they will be thankful to you later. Much more could be said, but I will leave the psychology up to the pseudo-experts.
Verse 22, "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God."
LGT "Bondsmen, obey the masters in all things according to [the] flesh, not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God."
Bondsmen, obey the masters in all things according to the flesh: that is, according to this physical life, for Christ is our spiritual Master. Not with eye-services: this is that the slave worked very hard when the master had his eye on him. As men pleasers: as not to raise the ire of the master, but to please him in order to escape punishment. But in simplicity of heart: in sincerity of heart, and this could only be accomplished by the Christian slave that feared God. This slave knew that to please his Christian master would be to please the Lord.
Verse 23, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."
LGT "And whatsoever ye may do, work heartily as to the Lord and not to men."
In everything we do it must be as unto the Lord. Even when we are working for men, we should work as unto the Lord. If we work as unto the Lord, you can be sure that it will please men. The word "heartily" means from the soul, that is, do nothing you will be ashamed of. The slave in working as unto the Lord is a testimony of his or her relationship to Christ.
Verse 24, "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
LGT "Knowing that from [the] Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ."
Knowing that from the Lord: having this knowledge that the Lord provides, is all the persuasion they should need; or we might say, this is all the motivation they should need to "work heartily as unto the Lord, and not to please men." Ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: the "recompense of the inheritance" is heaven and its reward. Ye serve the Lord Christ: "These bond slaves had no inheritance on earth, nothing which they could call their own; they could not even realize property in themselves - but an inheritance rich and glorious awaited them. In the hope of it - and the enjoyment of it could not be very distant - they were to work, and suffer, and wait, and in the possession of it they would find immediate and ample compensation. [Eph 6:8] There is no room here for the Popish doctrine of merit . . . Since the Lord gives such a reward so rich and blessed, serve ye Him" (John Eadie).
Verse 25, "But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."
LGT "For the one that does wrong shall receive [for] what he did wrong, and there is no respect of persons."
It is not plain whether Paul is referring to the Master or the slave here; but it is true of both. God is no respecter of persons, but men are. The first verse of chapter four belongs with this verse. "Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).
Share freely but cite the source: http://bbbiblehelps.epizy.com