Colossians 3:9-17
By Jonathan Mitchell
An Expanded Translation, Thoughts, and Observations
Paul's letter to Colossae is packed with theological, Christological and eccliastical gems. This passage, lifted from his letter, contains metaphors that communicate instruction about the new Age of the Messiah, and the Life it has brought for the called-out, covenant communities. The use of metaphor was common to literature of both the Jewish tradition and the Hellenistic culture, both before and during the first century AD. This article will unpack this particular section of Paul's teachings.Colossians 3:
9. Do not keep on (or: Stop) lying unto one another! And so, having stripped off from yourselves (undressed yourselves from; or: And with getting out of and then going away from) the old humanity (the old human; = the old Adam), together with its practices,
10. and then having suddenly clothed yourselves with (or: and with putting on and entering within) the new one (the fresh one which existed only recently), the one being continuously (or: repeatedly; habitually; progressively) renewed (made back up essentially new again -- different in kind and character; [cf Rev. 21:5]) into full, accurate, added, intimate and experiential Knowledge and Insight, which is down from, following the pattern of, corresponding to, and is in the sphere of, the Image (an exactly formed Visible Likeness) of its Creator (from the One framing and founding it from a state of wildness and disorder),
Paul uses a clothing metaphor to picture a change in our way of life. Verse 10 brings to mind his similar admonition in Rom. 13:
13. As within [the] Day, we should (may; can) walk about (order our behavior) respectably (circumspectly; decently; with good form; mannerly; pleasing to look upon; presentably) - not in festive processions (or: orgies; revelries; excessive feastings; carousing) and collective drunkenness (intoxications); nor in beds (i.e., sexual interludes) and outrageous behaviors (shamelessness; vice; loose conduct; indecencies); not in strife (or: contentious disposition) and in jealousy (or: envy) - [comment: examples of "acts of the Darkness," of vs. 12; cf Gal. 5:20]
14. but rather, you folks must clothe yourselves with (or: enter within and put on) the Lord, Jesus Christ, and - with regard to the flesh - stop (or: do not continue) making forethought (constructing provision; planning ahead for accommodation) into excessive desires (= into rushing emotions which pertain to the self or the estrangement the natural realm of humanity; or: = unto a setting of feelings and longings upon something organic, or of the human nature, that is oriented to the System).
In both of these letters, Paul is admonishing us to do something. How are we to interpret his metaphors? In Rom. 13:13, the admonition to "walk about" meant to "order our behavior." When we put on an article of clothing, we are normally intent on our choice of what we wish to wear, and then on the actions involved in putting on that which we have chosen. Both our clothing and our manner of behavior are things that other folks can observe about us. But these also affect or dictate how we get through our days. In both Col. 3:9, and Rom. 13:13b, Paul gives specifics about what we should either get rid of, or not do.
So how do we "strip off" or "undress" ourselves? First of all, he said, "Stop lying." He does not explain what it was to which he was referring. But this is always good advice... even to stop lying to ourselves about something that involves our "old humanity." And next was his instruction to,
"with getting out of and then going away from the old humanity (= the old Adam nature), together with its practices [perhaps lying was an issue in Colossae], and with putting on and entering within the new one, the one being progressively renewed and made back up essentially new again -- different in kind and character."
That new humanity is the Spirit of Christ, Who is the Truth. Then, in vss. 12-14, he instructs us about what to put on:
"put on and clothe yourselves with (or: enter within; envelope yourselves within) bowels (internal organs; = the tender parts; seat of deep feelings and empathies) of compassion (= tender affections of a gentle, gracious disposition)," etc.
The "putting on," "clothing ourselves," "enveloping ourselves within," literally means to "enter within" (Greek: "en" + "duo"). This is an inner action of the mind, heart, soul and spirit. It involves attitude and way of thinking - which is why we need to have a change in our thinking ("metanoia" - cf Mat. 3:2, etc.). In Phil. 2:5, Paul put it this way:
"You see, THIS frame of mind and way of thinking (THIS attitude, inclination, opinion and disposition) is continuously within, in union with, and among, you folks (or, as an imperative, and with other MSS: Have this mind-set and outlook habitually centered within you folks) - which [was; is] also within, centered in, and in the sphere of, Christ Jesus." [cf Jn. 13:15]
In Eph. 6:11, Paul's instruction used the same metaphor, but a different picture:
"You folks must at some point, for yourselves, enter within (or: clothe and envelope yourselves with) the full suit of armor and all implements of war (panoply; the complete equipment for men-at-arms), which is God (or: from, and belonging to, God)..." [cf 6:14-17]
In 1 Cor. 2:16b, we read:
"Yet we, ourselves, are continuously holding and possessing (or: progressively having) Christ's mind (a mind which is Anointed, and which is Christ)."
With this frame of mind, we can now understand what Paul says next, in our text:
11. wherein (or: in which place, state, or sphere) there is no Greek [figure of the multitudes who are non-Jews, and of those who are cultured and civilized] and Jew [figure of a covenant people of God], circumcision and uncircumcision [figure for religious in-groups and out-groups; there is no longer a covenant people versus non-covenant people], barbarian [foreigner who speaks a different language], Scythian [figure or example of wild, uncivilized groups], slave, freeman, but to the contrary, Christ [is] all, and within all (or: Christ [is] all humanity, and within all mankind; or: Christ [is] everything or all things, and within everything and all things;
[note: "all" in this Greek phrase is plural, and functions as either masculine, signifying "mankind," or as neuter, signifying all creation]).
This sphere of existence is the new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), which is also called the Realm, or Kingdom, of God. It is an interior realm, but it also exists within our atmosphere (Lu. 17:21b; it is also called "the kingdom of the heavens, or atmospheres). Paul gives us another key to unlock our perceptions:
"so that we, from the present moment (or: from now) [on], have seen and thus know (or: perceive; or: are acquainted [with]) no one on the level of flesh (= in the sphere of the natural realm of estranged human nature; = in correspondence to the self that is enslaved to the System; = according to the old covenant)" (2 Cor. 5:16a).
In the natural realm, all these distinctions still exist. Paul's instruction speaks to the higher realm of the new creation... the realm that he termed the "in Christ" existence. That is the sphere in which we are Christ's body... the called-out folks. Let us continue in our text:
13. being folks continuously holding up [things or situations] pertaining to one another (or: habitually holding yourselves up, belonging to one another; constantly putting up with one another) and incessantly giving grace to or doing a favor for (dealing graciously with and among) yourselves, if ever anyone may continue having (or: holding) a complaint toward someone. Just and along the same line as, and proportionally as, and to the same degree as, the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh; some MSS: Christ; Aleph* & some Vulgate MSS read: God] also gave (or: gives) Grace to and Favor for you (deals graciously in, with and among you folks), thus also you folks [do the same].
In vs. 12, Paul picks up the same metaphor as we found in vs. 10 and now he expands upon that theme. He ended vs. 10 speaking about,
"being renewed into full, accurate, added, intimate and experiential Knowledge and Insight, which is down from, following the pattern of, corresponding to, and is in the sphere of, the Image of its Creator."
This calls to mind God's original intent, as given in Gen. 1:26.
Also in vs. 12, he describes what this "image" looks like:
a) bowels of compassion - this describes the inner character of God!
b) kindness and adaptable usefulness
c) humility (the minding and disposition of things of lowness or of low station)
d) gentleness
e) waiting long before rushing with emotions (even-temperedness; long-suffering; patient putting up with people or situations; pushing anger far away).
All these qualities and characteristics tell us what God is like; having these means that we are in God's Image. This comes from an accurate, experiential Knowledge which follows the pattern of our Creator's Image. Such correspondence to God's Image calls to mind Paul's declaration in 2 Cor. 3:18,
"But (or: So now,) we all, ourselves - having a face that has been uncovered and remains unveiled - being folks who by a mirror are continuously observing, as ourselves, the Lord's glory - the very image - are presently being progressively transformed, away from a glory and appearance, into the midst of a glory and manifestation which calls forth praise (or: are being continuously changed in form: transfigured, from glory to glory) - corresponding essentially to, exactly as, precisely to the degree of, and following the very Pattern, from [the] Lord, Who is Breath-effect."
Verse 13a provides a practical application for what he has been teaching, and then 13b sets forth the Lord as the Pattern: they are to do the same to others as the Lord has done to them.
14. Now upon (or: added to) all these things [put on; superimpose] the Love, which continues being (or: is) a joining link and uniting band of perfection (a tie which binds together and pertains to the goal of maturity, being the result of fruitfulness; [the] fastening connection and binding factor of the completeness of the finished product; [the] bond producing perfection and destiny; a binding conjunction which brings union, which is the goal).
Pause, here, and consider the parenthetical optional renderings from the semantic range of the words in the final phrase. Each one adds a nuance to Paul's words.
His admonition, here, reminds us of 1 Cor. 13:14, "the greatest of these is Love." So, let us visit his description of Love ("agape") in vs. 7 of that chapter:
"[Love] continuously covers all mankind; it is habitually loyal to all humanity; it constantly has an expectation for all mankind; it is continuously remaining under and giving support to all people. [cf 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10](or, since 'all' can also be neuter: It [i.e., unambiguous acceptance] progressively puts a protecting roof over all things; it is habitually trusting in, and believing for, all things; it is continually hoping in or for all things; it keeps on patiently enduring all things.)"
But Paul is not finished with his flow of admonitions:
15. Furthermore, let the Peace of, and the Joining from, the Christ (belonging to and originating in the [Messiah]; the harmony which is the Anointing [other MSS: God]) continuously umpire (act as a judge in the games; [thus, presuming a previous environment of conflict]) within your hearts (= in union with the core of your being) - into which [peace and joining] you folks are called (were called; were invited), within one body. And progressively come to be thankful people (or: continue becoming folks expressing gratitude for the goodness, ease and well-being that comes in the goodness of grace; be habitually graceful folks).
My conflation, "the Peace of, and the Joining from," offer two important functions of the genitive/ablative case of the noun phrase, "the Christ." One function corresponds to our English preposition, "of," and the other function to our English, "from." The following parenthetical expansion offers two more functions of this case. Also, the noun "christos" can mean "anointing," as well as, "Christ."
This Peace, which comes from the Joining (the noun is from the verb that means "to join") provides us with an inner means of deciding about whether a situation, a message, or other circumstance is "fair or foul" - as with an umpire in the games. We are corporately called into the Joining which creates One Body (cf Eph. 2:15), thus bringing Peace (Eph. 2:14). And because of all of this, we should be "thankful people" who express gratitude for the goodness, ease and well-being from His gift of Grace.
Next, Paul presents to us an important key of the Kingdom, followed by admonitions:
16. Let Christ's Word(or: the Logos, which is the Christ; the Idea which is the Anointing; or: the message of, and Reason from, the Christ; this transfer and conveyance of Meaning-bearing Information, and this Flow of Information that is a Pattern-forming Influence from the [Messiah] [other MSS: of God; of {the} Lord]) be continuously making Its home within you folks (or: progressively indwelling and residing - centered in, and in union with, you) richly and abundantly, within the midst of and in union with all Wisdom, habitually teaching [it] and placing [it] in the minds of yourselves by psalms, in hymns, by spiritual songs and odes, within grace and amidst favor, constantly singing within your hearts to, for, and with, God (or: habitually singing in, by and to God [other MSS: to {the} Lord], in union with the grace resident within your hearts {= the core of your beings}).
This is so much more than reading the Bible or memorizing verses - good as those are. The long expansion for the subject, "Christ's Word," cannot be emphasized enough. See the multiple renderings of Jn. 1:1, in my NT translation. All of this should be
"continuously making Its (His) home within us."
As the Logos created all things (Jn. 1:3), so will It/He be a new creation within us.
17. And everything - whatsoever you may be habitually doing, in word or in action (within a thought or message, or within a work or deed) - [do] everything (all; all things) within and in union with [the] Name of [the] Lord, Jesus [other MSS: of Jesus Christ; others: of {the} Lord, Jesus Christ], constantly giving thanks (expressing gratitude) to Father God (or: in union with, centered in, and for, God, [the] Father) through (or: by means of) Him.
That first clause really nails the extent and context of a life lived in union with the Lord, or as Paul says, in Gal. 5:
"So I continue saying, Be habitually walking about (= living your life) in spirit (or: by [the] Spirit; with a Breath-effect; [cf Rom. 8:4ff, 14, 23, 26]), and you would under no circumstance (or: will by no means) bring to fruition (carry to its goal; end up with; bring to maturity) the full rushing passion (the over-desire; craving) originating in flesh, or the natural realm (= pertaining to the estranged human nature, or the self which has been dominated by a system of culture or religion; or: corresponding to flesh-[righteousness]; belonging to [a religious system] of flesh-works).
Jonathan
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