Colossians 3:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-17

The true Christian life. From above only can we be raised. There is no salvation in mere antipathy. Disgust at the vanities of life, repulsion from earthly things, will of itself never lift us beyond them; it needs the superior influence of heavenly things to do that. This the Colossian errorists did not rightly understand; or they could not have made ceremonial purifications and bodily austerities the way of holiness, the means of reaching spiritual perfection. "Touch not, taste not" ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:2-3

Heavenly things the true object of Christian contemplation. "Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth; for ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God." We must not only seek things above, but think them. I. THE OBJECT OF CHRISTIAN CONTEMPLATION . 1 . Not things upon the earth, because 2 . " Things there are above." (See hints on previous verse.) We ought to set our mind upon them, because II. THE DUTY ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:3

For ye died, and your life is hid, with Christ, in God ( Colossians 2:11-13 , Colossians 2:20 ; Ephesians 4:22 ; Philippians 3:20 ; Romans 6:1-14 ; Romans 7:1-6 ; 2 Corinthians 5:14 , 2 Corinthians 5:15 ; Galatians 2:20 ; 1 Corinthians 3:23 ; John 15:5 ; John 12:26 ; Revelation 3:21 ). In this hidden life of the Christian lies the ground and the spring of the more outward life of thought and endeavour of Colossians 3:1 , Colossians 3:2 . And this life comes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:3

The hidden life. After Christ died he was seen no more by the world. It is true that for forty days he appeared repeatedly on earth, but only to his own disciples. The world never saw him after the stone was rolled against the entrance of the sepulchre in Joseph's garden on the night of the Crucifixion. And soon he ascended to heaven to be with God, and was no longer visible even to his own followers. But he will come again, when "every eye shall behold him." Now, a similar experience is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Colossians 3:1

If ye then be risen with Christ - The apostle in this place evidently founds the argument on what he had said in Colossians 2:12; see the notes at that passage. The argument is, that there was such an union between Christ and his people, that in virtue of his death they become dead to sin; that in virtue of his resurrection they rise to spiritual life, and that, therefore, as Christ now lives in heaven, they should live for heaven, and fix their affections there.Seek those things which are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Colossians 3:2

Set your affection - Margin, “or mind.” Greek” think of” - φρονεῖτε phroneite. The thoughts should be occupied about the things where Christ now dwells, where our final home is to be, where our great interests are. Since we are raised from the death of sin, and are made to live anew, the great object of our contemplation should be the heavenly world.Not on things on the earth - Wealth, honor, pleasure. Our affections should not be fixed on houses and lands; on scenes of fashion and gaiety; on... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Colossians 3:3

For ye are dead - Dead to the world; dead to sin; dead to earthly pleasures. On the meaning of the word “dead,” see the Romans 6:2 note; Ephesians 2:1 note. The idea of the apostle is, that as Christ became literally dead in the tomb, so we, in virtue of our connection with him, have become dead to sin, to worldly influences, pleasures, and ambition. Or, in other words, we are to be to them as if we were dead, and they had no more influence over us than the things of earth had over him in the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Colossians 3:1-2

Colossians 3:1-2. If ye then be risen with Christ From spiritual death to spiritual life, as spoken of Colossians 2:12-13. See also notes on Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:6. If ye be not only engaged to become new creatures, but really are such: or, which seems to be also implied, If Christ’s resurrection draw after it, and ensure, the resurrection of all men, and especially of all his true disciples, and if, therefore, you be begotten again to a lively hope of rising with him, even as to your... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Colossians 3:3-4

Colossians 3:3-4. For ye are dead As to sin, so to the world and all earthly things, and that both by profession as Christians, and by an indispensable obligation laid upon you by Him whose laws you have engaged to observe. Yea, and you have solemnly promised and covenanted with him, at least at your baptism, to renounce the pomps and vanities of this evil world, to conduct yourselves as strangers and pilgrims on earth, and to seek a better country, even a heavenly. You are also dead in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Colossians 3:1-4

Christian freedom in practice (2:16-3:4)In view of the freedom that Christ has won for them, the Colossian believers must not listen to those who try to force them to obey the rules and regulations of the Israelite law. Practices taught in the law may be compared to shadows. They are not solid or permanent, but their existence enables the viewer to know that there is some real object that casts the shadows. That real object is Jesus Christ. Now that he has come, the shadows are of no further... read more

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