Colossians 3

Colossians 3, part of Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, written around AD 60–62 from Rome during his imprisonment, shifts from doctrinal foundations to practical Christian living. Paul urges believers to focus on heavenly realities, put off sinful behaviors, and embrace virtues that reflect their new identity in Christ. He also provides guidance for relationships within the church and household, emphasizing love and submission to Christ.
Key Sections
Set Minds on Things Above (3:1–4): Raised with Christ, believers should seek heavenly things, where Christ is seated at God’s right hand. Their life is hidden with Christ in God, and they will appear with Him in glory when He returns.
Put Off the Old Self (3:5–11): Paul instructs believers to put to death earthly sins like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed (idolatry), which bring God’s wrath. They must also abandon anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk, as they’ve put off the old self. In Christ, distinctions like Greek, Jew, circumcised, or slave vanish, and Christ is all.
Put On the New Self (3:12–17): As God’s chosen, holy people, believers should clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love, which binds all in unity. Christ’s peace rules their hearts, His word dwells richly, and all actions—word or deed—are done in Jesus’ name, giving thanks to God.
Household Relationships (3:18–4:1): Wives should submit to husbands, fitting in the Lord; husbands must love wives without harshness. Children obey parents in everything, pleasing the Lord; fathers avoid provoking children, lest they lose heart. Slaves obey masters sincerely, serving as to the Lord, expecting divine reward. Masters treat slaves justly, knowing they have a Master in heaven.
Cross-References
Heavenly Focus: 
Romans 6:4–5: Raised with Christ.

Philippians 3:20: Citizenship in heaven.

Ephesians 2:6: Seated in heavenly places.
Put Off Sin: 
Romans 8:13: Put to death fleshly deeds.

Ephesians 5:3–5: No immorality among saints.

Galatians 5:19–21: Works of the flesh.
God’s Wrath: 
Romans 1:18: Wrath on unrighteousness.

Ephesians 5:6: Wrath on disobedience.

John 3:36: Wrath on unbelief.
New Self in Christ: 
Ephesians 4:22–24: New self in God’s likeness.

Galatians 3:28: One in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17: New creation.
Virtues and Love: 
1 Peter 3:8–9: Unity, compassion.

Ephesians 4:32: Forgive as God forgave.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7: Love’s qualities.
Household Code: 
Ephesians 5:22–6:9: Parallel instructions.

Titus 2:2–10: Roles in faith.

1 Peter 3:1–7: Wives and husbands.
Theological Meaning
Heavenly Perspective: Believers’ union with Christ reorients priorities to eternal realities (3:1–2; Romans 12:2).

Sanctification: Putting off sin and putting on virtues reflect the renewed self in Christ (3:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

God’s Wrath: Sin incurs judgment, urging holiness in God’s people (3:6; Romans 2:5).

Unity in Christ: Salvation erases human divisions, uniting all in Christ’s image (3:11; Ephesians 2:15).

Love and Peace: Love binds virtues, and Christ’s peace governs the church’s life (3:14–15; John 16:33).

Christ-Centered Living: All actions honor Jesus, rooted in gratitude to God (3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31).
Questions and Answers
What does “seek things above” mean (3:1)?
Focus on Christ’s kingdom and eternal values, not earthly desires (3:1; Matthew 6:33).

Why “put to death” sins (3:5)?
To align with the new self, as sin brings God’s wrath and contradicts Christ (3:5–6; Romans 6:11).

What is the “new self” (3:10)?
The renewed nature, being transformed into Christ’s image through sanctification (3:10; Ephesians 4:24).

How does love bind virtues (3:14)?
Love unites compassion, patience, etc., perfecting Christian character (3:14; 1 Corinthians 13:13).

Why household instructions (3:18–4:1)?
To show how faith shapes relationships, reflecting Christ’s lordship (3:18; Ephesians 5:21).

What does “serve as to the Lord” mean (3:22–23)?
Slaves (or workers) serve earthly masters with sincerity, ultimately serving Christ (3:23; Ephesians 6:6).

How does this apply today?
Live for Christ, reject sin, embrace virtues, and honor God in relationships (3:17; 1 Peter 2:12).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written during Paul’s Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16–31), this chapter addresses Colossae’s church, likely founded by Epaphras (Colossians 1:7), facing syncretistic pressures (Colossians 2:8). Colossae’s mixed Jewish-Gentile culture (Colossians 2:16) needed unity (3:11). Household codes (3:18–4:1) adapt Greco-Roman norms, infused with Christ’s ethic (Ephesians 5:22–6:9), relevant in Colossae’s hierarchical society.

Cultural Questions: “Things above” (3:1) counters Colossae’s mystical philosophies (Colossians 2:18). “Greed as idolatry” (3:5) challenges Colossae’s commercial culture (Luke 12:15). “No distinctions” (3:11) addresses Jewish-Gentile and slave-free tensions (Galatians 3:28). “Peace of Christ” (3:15) uses Jewish shalom, vital in Colossae’s diversity (John 14:27). “Word of Christ” (3:16) contrasts with Colossae’s false teachings (Colossians 2:4). “Slaves” (3:22) refers to Roman bondservants, common in Colossae (Philemon 1:16).

Application: Colossians 3 calls believers to focus on Christ, reject sinful patterns, and live out love and unity. It challenges worldly values, division, and complacency, urging a Christ-centered life in relationships and society (Romans 12:1–2; Ephesians 4:1–3).