Col. 3 Col. 3:1–4 The apostle exhorteth to be heavenly-minded, Col. 3:5–11 to mortify carnal lusts, and to put away all malice and ill dealing in respect of one another, as becometh Christians. Col. 3:12–17 He recommendeth brotherly kindness, charity, and other general duties, Col.

If ye then be risen with Christ: having refuted superstitious observances placed in things earthly and perishing, and called them off from shadows to mind the substance; he doth, upon supposition of what he had asserted before, Col.

Set your affection on things above: that the hearts of believers here might be where their treasure is, the apostle here repeats his exhortation, using another word, importing they should intensely mind things above, Rom. 8:5, viz. the inheritance reserved in heaven for us, 1 Pet.

For ye are dead; the apostle adds another reason why the believing Colossians should not be earthly-minded, because they were dead, not absolutely, but in a certain respect, viz. of sin, and the world. 1.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear; which will be, according to the purpose and promise of God, with whom it is laid up, Col. 1:5, when Christ by whom they live shall so appear that they shall be like him, 1 John 3:2, and be taken to be with him in the heavenly inheritance, 1 Pet.

That they might not think he, who had given check to superstitious abstinences, was for the indulging of any carnal affections, he infers here, how the exercise of truly Christian mortification was incumbent on those who were dead to sin and had their life hid in Christ.

Especially remembering how the indulging or sparing any of them will be of dreadful consequence; see Eph. 5:6; for however they may by carnal men be looked upon as little faults, which God will overlook of course, yet they do certainly incur Divine displeasure, and will bring most inevitable…

In the which; some render it, amongst whom; but, alas! They lived amongst such disobedient ones still; therefore we do better render it in which, i.e. sins or vices.

But now ye also put off all these: having minded them of their former condition under paganism in a state of sin, while they served various sensual lusts, he doth here in their present circumstances under Christianity in a state of grace, show them that, now they professed to walk as children of…

Lie not one to another: here he puts them upon laying aside that vice which violates the ninth commandment, being opposite to truth in word and work: see Eph.

And have put on the new man: (To see Num. 1: See Poole on “Col. 3:9”). 2. Vivification, or renovation; this he connecteth with the former, continuing the metaphor.

He prevents the reasoning of those, who did not neglect regeneration, and place religion in more externals, showing that in the new man, or true sanctification, and real Christianity, there was sufficient to save us, in communion with Christ, without those external observances false teachers did…

Put on therefore: as he had mentioned some particular vices of the old man they were to put off, Col. 3:8, he doth here infer, that they might be complete in Christ, there be particular virtues and graces of the new man they are to put on, or, being new creatures, continually to exercise themselves…

Forbearing one another; clemency towards each other, not only in undergoing affronts, but a suspending to take advantage from the infirmities of others, so as not to irritate them to passion, or to take them tripping, so as to aggravate their failings, Prov. 16:32, 1 Cor. 4:12, Gal. 6:2, Eph.

And above all these things put on charity: that which we render above, as surpassing all, some read upon, or over, and some, for all these things, viz. the graces he exhorted them to be clothed with.

And let the peace of God; he doth not say the peace of the world, but the peace of God, or, as some copies, the peace of Christ; be sure, without the mediation of Christ we can have no peace with God; he alone hath made peace, Col. 1:20, with Col.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: one learned man conceives Paul to have written this first clause of the verse as in a parenthesis, joining in the sense what next follows to be ye thankful in the foregoing verse; another would have the parenthesis to begin from Col. 3:14.

And whatsoever ye do: here the apostle give a universal direction how in every capacity, both personal and relative, in every motion, a Christian may do all so as to find acceptance with God. In word or deed; and that is in his expressions and actings, viz.

The apostle, entering upon an exhortation to relative duties, begins first with that which wives owe to their husbands to whom they are married, by reason this relation is the first in nature, and the fountain whence the rest do flow, Gen. 2:22, Ps. 127:3, Ps. 128:3, Prov. 5:15–16.

The husband’s duty is love, which the apostle doth ever inculcate from the most obliging considerations when he speaks of this relation; see Matt. 19:6, 1 Cor. 7:3, with Eph. 5:25, Eph.

By children he understands both males and females. Obey your parents; he requires them to yield humble subjection to those that brought them forth, or have just authority over them; see Ex. 20:12, Eph. 6:1; paying reverence to them, Lev. 19:3, Heb.

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger: and to moderate the parental authority, that they may exercise it Christianly, he allows not parents to do that which is in a direct tendency to irritate or move the passions of their children merely for their own pleasure, without a principal regard to…

Servants: the apostle knowing how hard the condition of servitude was, both under the Jews and Gentiles, lest any believers in that mean condition should disgust so strict a subjection, especially to unbelieving masters, and cast off the yoke by breaking their covenants, to the disturbance of human…

Yea, courageously and cheerfully, from the very soul, not constrainedly and murmuringly, though they be froward and their commands harsh; making account it is Jesus Christ, (who hath power over soul and body, Matt. 10:28), not mortal men only, or in and for themselves, whom you serve, (see Eph.

Knowing, being fully persuaded of this undoubted truth, that of the Lord, who superintends all your services, (not for any merit of yours), Eph. 6:8, the recompence which your Master in heaven hath purchased, Eph. 1:14, Eph.

But he that doeth wrong; but if the reward will not engage to a right discharge of these relative duties, the injurious person, whether he be bond or free, Eph.