Colossians 3:12 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 3:12-17

The apostle proceeds to exhort to mutual love and compassion: Put on therefore bowels of mercy, Col. 3:12. We must not only put off anger and wrath (as Col. 3:8), but we must put on compassion and kindness; not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; not only not do hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. I. The argument here used to enforce the exhortation is very affecting: Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved. Observe, 1. Those who are holy are the elect of God; and those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore ,.... As the apostle had argued for the putting off of the members of the body, from their having put off the old man himself; so he now argues from their having put on the new man, to their putting on of his members; that is, to the exercise of the various graces of the Spirit, and the discharge of the several duties of religion; which though they would not be a robe of righteousness, or garments of salvation to them, yet would be very becoming conversation garments, such... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:12

Put on - as the elect of God - As the principal design of the apostle was to show that God had chosen the Gentiles, and called them to the same privileges as the Jews, and intended to make them as truly his people as the Jews ever were, he calls them the elect or chosen of God; and as the Jews, who were formerly the elect, were still beloved, and called to be holy, so he calls the Colossians beloved, and shows them that they are called with the same holy calling. Bowels of mercies, etc - ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:12

Verse 12 13.Put on therefore. As he has enumerated some parts of the old man, so he now also enumerates some parts of the new. “Then, ” says he, “will it appear that ye are renewed by Christ, when ye are merciful and kind. For these are the effects and evidences of renovation.” Hence the exhortation depends on the second clause, and, accordingly, he keeps up the metaphor in the word rendered put on He mentions, first, bowels of mercy, by which expression he means an earnest affection, with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-17

SECTION VII . THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE . The apostle, having delivered his attack on the system of error inculcated at Colossae, now passes from the controversial to the more practical purport of his letter. There is no break, however, in the current of his thought; for throughout this chapter he urges the pursuit of a practical Christian life in a sense and in a manner silently opposed to the tendencies of Gnosticizing error. How much more congenial was the task to which he now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 3:12

Put on, therefore, as elect of God, holy, [and] beloved ( Colossians 3:9 , Colossians 3:14 ; Ephesians 4:24 ; Ephesians 1:3-5 ; Galatians 3:27 ; Romans 13:14 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:4 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ; Titus 1:1 ; Romans 8:28-39 ; 1 Peter 1:1 , 1 Peter 1:2 ; 1 John 3:1 ). The terms "elect," "holy" (same as "saints," Colossians 1:2 ; see note), "beloved," apply alike and separately to those addressed. Bengel, Meyer, Alford, Ellicott... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:12-13

The Christian's wardrobe. The apostle, having bidden the Colossian converts strip off the filthy rags of their old life, takes them into the Christian's wardrobe and shows them some of the robes of righteousness, the beauties of holiness, the jewels of grace, with which they may decorate themselves. These are the only priestly vestments in which God's "royal priesthood" may appear "glorious in the eyes of the Lord." Nor should we ever dare present ourselves before the Lord unless we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:12-14

The duty of putting on all the characteristic qualities of the new man. We must not only "cease to do evil" in putting off the old man, we "must learn to do well." "Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering." I. THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN POSITION . "As God's elect, holy and beloved." They are chosen unto holiness that they should be without blame before him in love" ( Ephesians 1:4 ). The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:12-17

The new life of love. We have turned over a new leaf, so to speak, in these verses. The old life we have to mortify gives place to a new life of love which we have to develop. Now, the moment we speak of love, we are brought into relations with others. It is the social Christian life, therefore, of which Paul here speaks. As already seen, he is aiming at the unity of the Church. Here we have the means by which it is secured. Let us briefly analyze this life of love. I. IT HAS A... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 3:12-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 3:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:12-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:12-17

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