Colossians 3:10 - Exposition

And having put on the new (man), which is being renewed unto (full) knowledge, after (the) image of him that created him ( Ephesians 4:23 , Ephesians 4:24 ; Ephesians 2:15 ; Romans 6:4 ; Romans 7:6 ; Romans 8:1-4 ; Romans 13:12-14 ; 2 Corinthians 5:17 ; Galatians 6:15 ; Colossians 1:9 ; Colossians 2:2 , Colossians 2:3 ; Genesis 1:26-28 ; Matthew 5:48 ; Hebrews 12:10 ; 1 Peter 1:16 ; Romans 8:29 ). New ( νέος ) is "young," "of recent date" (compare the "once," "but now" of Colossians 3:7 , Colossians 3:8 ; also Colossians 1:5-8 ; 1 Peter 2:1 , 1 Peter 2:2 ). whose birth was well remembered, and which presented so vivid a contrast to the "old man with his deeds." "Being renewed" ( ἀνακαινούμενον , derived from the adjective καινός ) sets forth the other side of this newness, its novelty of quality and condition (compare "newness of life," Romans 6:4 ). And this participle is in the present tense (continuous), while the former is in the aorist (historical). So the notions are combined of a new birth taking place once for all, and a new character in course of formation. In Ephesians 4:23 , Ephesians 4:24 these ideas are in the same order (see Trench's 'Synonyms'). "Full knowledge" was one purpose of this renewal, the purpose most necessary to be set before the Colossians. The nature and objects of this knowledge have been already specified ( Colossians 1:6 , Colossians 1:9 , Colossians 1:27 , Colossians 1:28 ; Colossians 2:2 , Colossians 2:3 , Colossians 2:9 , Colossians 2:10 : comp. Ephesians 1:18 , Ephesians 1:19 ; Ephesians 3:18 , Ephesians 3:19 ; Philippians 3:8-14 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ; and on ἐπίγνωσις , see note, Colossians 1:6 ). "After (the) image" is clearly an allusion to Genesis 1:26-28 ; so in Ephesians 4:24 ("after God"). It is adverbial to "renewed," not to "knowledge." Man's renewal in Christ makes him what the Creator at first designed him to be, namely, his own image (compare note on "reconcile," Colossians 1:20 ). Chrysostom and others take "Christ" as "him that created," in view of Colossians 1:15 , Colossians 1:16 ; but then it is said that all things "were created in … through … for Christ," not absolutely that Christ created them. But "the image of God after which" man was created and is now recreated, is seen in Christ ( Romans 8:29 ; 2 Corinthians 3:18 ; 2 Corinthians 4:4 ; John 1:18 ).