If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self^[d]with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ¹¹ Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1) Paul starts this passage with an “if then” statement, what is he referring to?
Chapter 3 starts with “if then” or some translations start chapter 3 with “therefore”. We have to remember this is a letter written to a group of people and it did not have chapter breaks in its original form. Paul is simply making the case all throughout Colossians that, if you say you are a believer, then live like it. He ended chapter 2 arguing for an authentic faith from people claiming to be followers. The start of this chapter is no different, if you are a believer, “if you have been raised with Christ…” then your life should reflect that truth. You are free stop living like you are still enslaved!

2) In this chapter, Paul says that we have died, what does he mean by this?
Paul is reminding these Colossian believers of the truth of their salvation. They are dead to earthly things, they are dead to things of the flesh, but the second part of that is their life is hidden in Christ. Yes, they are dead, but their life is now under Christ’s authority and rule, which radically changes the way they live, which Paul explains in the following verses.

3) All throughout this passage Paul is discriminating between two different mindsets. What are we to put to death and what are we to put on?
Paul draws a line in the sand between what believers are dead to and are no longer obligated to have in their life and what believers are to put on and foster while living out their faith. Put to death evil things, idolatry, slander, malice, immorality, etc. These are things we can tangibly put a finger on in life. Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, forgiveness, and God’s peace to name a few. This is a Biblical description of a believer imitating Christ and putting self aside.

4) What do the words “put on” mean?
In the original language, the implication for the words “put on” is like putting on clothing. It also refers to sinking into your clothing. Not that we would use those terms to get dressed in the morning but you get the idea. It is not only something that is visible, but it is also something that permeates the entire self.

1) Paul starts this passage with an “if then” statement, what is he referring to?Paul is encouraging the Colossian church through this letter and we get the privilege of reading it and finding encouragement today. Paul is saying, “Don’t go back…don’t go back to your former ways or think for a second you are still that person or still caught in that old self…you are free…so live like it!” The start to this chapter helps us understand what Paul is trying to say and where he is going with this letter. He wants us to know the capital T truth of our salvation. Our life is hidden in Christ and nothing can change that, so live out your salvation with that knowledge.

2) In this chapter, Paul says that we have died, what does he mean by this?
You are dead to your former things and former ways of life. Sisters, you are free in Christ! All of those moments during the day or maybe even seasons of life where we question and wonder about who we are and find ourselves grasping for answers, be encouraged! Stay focused on the truth of your inheritance and do all things to His glory (Col 3:16-17) Let His Word be your dictionary for defining who you are and whose you are!

3) All throughout this passage Paul is discriminating between two different mindsets. What are we to put to death and what are we to put on?
I challenge to you to take this passage and make a list with two columns. The heading on column one-Take Off (put to death) and the heading on column two- Put On (Bring Life). Read this passage again and write down what belongs in each column then ask yourself-where am I living? Am I stuck in the past, attached and grasping for things leading to death, or am I clinging and sinking into the things of life? God is a good God even on days when our past stops us in our tracks or a situation cements our feet. Be reminded of who you are and live like it!

4) What do the words “put on” mean?
As we read the list of things to “put on” or “sink into” there is an opportunity for us as believers to evaluate our own lives. Paul was asking the Colossians to wake up to the truth of who they were in Christ and realize that they are not entangled in this world. Remember that today this world has no hold on you because you are His. Let Him who began a good work in your complete it! (Phil 1:6)

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Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

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