Albert Barnes Commentary Colossians 3

COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3

ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER

In the previous chapter, the apostle had shown what a true Christian should not pursue. He had warned the Colossians against the dangers of false philosophy and the doctrines of erroneous teachers. In this chapter, he teaches them what they should pursue and seek. He therefore prescribes various duties in the different relations of life, which they should perform in such a way as to show that true religion had a controlling influence over their hearts. He specifies the following:

1. The duty of setting the affections on things above (Colossians 3:1–4). They were risen with Christ (Colossians 2:12); they were dead to sin (Colossians 3:3); they were soon to be like Christ (Colossians 3:4); and they should, therefore, fix their affections on heavenly things.
2. The duty of mortifying their corrupt passions and carnal propensities (Colossians 3:5–8).
3. The duty of speaking the truth, since they had put off the old man with his deeds (Colossians 3:9–11).
4. The duty of kindness, gentleness, charity, and the spirit of peace (Colossians 3:12–15).
5. The duty of edifying one another by psalms and songs of praise (Colossians 3:16–17).
6. The duty of wives (Colossians 3:18);
7. Of husbands (Colossians 3:19);
8. Of children (Colossians 3:20);
9. Of fathers (Colossians 3:21);
10. Of servants (Colossians 3:22–25).

There is a very striking similarity between this chapter and the fifth and sixth chapters of the Epistle to the Ephesians, and a full exposition of the principal subjects referred to here can be found in the Notes there.

If ye then be risen with Christ. The apostle in this place evidently bases the argument on what he had said in Colossians 2:12.

The argument is that there was such a 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 above. That is, seek them as the objects of pursuit and affection; strive to secure them.

Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). The argument here is that since Christ is there, and since he is the object of our supreme attachment, we should fix our affections on heavenly things and seek to be prepared to dwell with him.

Set your affection. Margin note: "or, mind." Greek: "think of"—phroneite. The thoughts should be occupied with the things where Christ now dwells, where our final home is to be, and 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, honour, pleasure. Our affections should not be fixed on houses and lands; on scenes of fashion and gaiety; on low and debasing enjoyments.

For you are dead. Dead to the world; dead to sin; dead to earthly pleasures. On the meaning of the word “dead,” see the commentary on Romans 6:2 and Ephesians 2:1.

The apostle’s idea is that as Christ became literally dead in the tomb, so we, by virtue of our connection with Him, have become dead to sin, to worldly influences, pleasures, and ambition. 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 grave. See the commentary on Romans 6:2.

And your life. There is still life. Though dead to one class of objects, you are alive to others. See this sentiment explained at length in the commentary on Galatians 2:20.

Is hid with Christ in God. This language is likely taken from treasure that is “hid” or concealed in a place of security. The idea is that eternal life is an invaluable jewel or treasure, which is laid up with Christ in heaven where God is. There it is safely deposited.

It has this security: it is with the Redeemer, and He is in the presence of God. Thus, nothing can reach it or take it away. It is not left with us or entrusted to our keeping—for then it might be lost, as we might lose an invaluable jewel; or it might be wrested from us, or we might be defrauded of it. But it is now laid up far out of our sight and far from the reach of all our enemies, with One who can keep that which we have committed to him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).

Our eternal life, therefore, is as secure as it could possibly be made. The true condition of the Christian is that he is “dead” to this world, but he has immortal life in prospect, and that is secure, being in the holy keeping of his Redeemer, now in the presence of God. From this it follows that he should regard himself as living for heaven.

When Christ, who is our life. See Barnes on John 1:4; see Barnes on John 11:25.

Shall appear. In the day when he shall come to judge the world.

Then you shall also appear with him in glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Christians shall then be raised from the dead and ascend with the Redeemer to heaven.

Mortify therefore your members. Since you are dead to sin and the world, and are to appear with Christ in the glories of His kingdom, subdue every carnal and evil propensity of your nature.

The word mortify means, to put to death (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24); and the meaning here is that they were entirely to subdue their evil propensities, so that they would have no remains of life; that is, they were not at all to indulge them.

The word "members" here refers to the different members of the body—as the seat of evil desires and passions .

They were wholly to extirpate those evil passions which he specifies as having their seat in the various members of the earthly body.

Fornication. (Romans 1:29).

Uncleanness. (Romans 1:24).

Inordinate affection. payov. Rendered in Romans 1:26, "vile affections." (Romans 1:26).

In 1 Thessalonians 4:5, the word is rendered lust—which is its meaning here.

Evil concupiscence. Evil desires; licentious passions (Romans 1:24, from Greek).

And covetousness, which is idolatry. It is remarkable that the apostle always ranks covetousness with these base and detestable passions. The meaning here is:

1. that it is a low and debasing passion, like those which he had specified; and
2. that it secures the affections which properly belong to God, and is therefore idolatry.

Of all base passions, this is the one that most dethrones God from the soul. See this whole passage more fully explained (Ephesians 5:3, Ephesians 5:4, Ephesians 5:5, Ephesians 5:6).