Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; PUT ON THEREFORE - As you have put on the new man, put on all its characteristic qualities (Ellicott). THE ELECT OF GOD - no "the" in Greek (cf. ). As chosen out of darkness: answering to "seeing that ye have put off the old man" (). The order is, "elect ... holy ... beloved." Election from eternity precedes sanctification in time: the sanctified, feeling God's love, imitate it (Bengel). BOWELS OF MERCIES. So B. But, 'Aleph (') A C G f g, Vulgate, read singular, 'mercy.' Bowels express yearning compassion, which we feel to act on our inward parts ...

13._Put on therefore_. As he has enumerated some parts of the _old man_, so he now also enumerates some parts of the _new. “Then_, ” says he, “will it appear that ye are renewed by Christ, when ye are _merciful _and _kind_. For these are the effects and evidences of renovation.” Hence the exhortation depends on the second clause, and, accordingly, he keeps up the metaphor in the word rendered _put on _ He mentions, first, _bowels of mercy_, by which expression he means an earnest affection, with yearnings, as it were, of the _bowels_: Secondly, he makes mention of _kindness_, (for in this manner I have chosen to render χρηστότητα,) by which we make ourselves amiable. To this he adds _humility_, because no one will be kind and gentle but the man who, laying aside haughtiness, and high mindedness, brings himself down to the exercise of modesty, claiming nothing

12-17 We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all. While in this world, where there is so much corruption in our hearts, quarrels will sometimes arise. But it is our duty to forgive one another, imitating the forgiveness through which we are saved. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts; it is of his working in all who are his. Thanksgiving to God, helps to make us agreeable to all men. The gospel is the word of Christ. Many have the word, but it dwells in them poorly; it has no power over them. The soul prospers, when we are full of the Scriptures and of the grace of Christ. But when we sing psalms, we must be affected with what we sing. Whatever we are employed about, let us do every thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in believing dependence on him. Those wh...

Verse 12. _PUT ON - AS THE ELECT OF GOD_] As the principal design of the apostle was to show that God had _chosen the Gentiles_, and _called_ them to the same privileges as the Jews, and intended to make them as truly his people as the Jews ever were, he calls them the _elect_ or _chosen_ of God; and as the Jews, who were formerly the _elect_, were still _beloved_, and called to be _holy_, so he calls the Colossians _beloved_, and shows them that _they_ are called with the same _holy calling_. _BOWELS OF MERCIES_, c.] Be merciful, not in _act_ merely, but in _spirit_ and _affection_. In all cases of this kind let your _heart_ dictate to your _hand_ be _clothed_ with _bowels of mercy_-let your tenderest feelings come in contact with the miseries of the distressed as soon as ever they present themselves. Though I know that to _put on_, and to be c

PUT ON, THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD - The fact that you thus belong to one and the same church; that you have been redeemed by the sameblood, and chosen by the same grace, and that you are all brethren, should lead you to manifest a spirit of kindness, gentleness, and love. BOWELS OF MERCIES - Notes, Philippians 2:1. KINDNESS ... - See the notes at Ephesians 4:32. The language here is a little different from what it is there, but the sentiment is the same....

EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 3:1 SECTION VII. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE. The apostle, having delivered his attack on the system of error inculcated at Colossae, now passes from the controversial to the more practical purport of his letter. There is no break, however, in the current of his thought; for throughout this chapter he urges the pursuit of a practical Christian life in a sense and in a manner silently opposed to the tendencies of Gnosticizing error. How much more congenial was the task to which he now addresses himself we may judge, perhaps, from the ease and simplicity which mark the language of this chapter, as compared with the abrupt and seemingly embarrassed style of the last section. We may analyze the hortatory section of the Epistle ...

PUT ON THEREFORE,.... As the apostle had argued for the putting off of the members of the body, from their having put off the old man himself; so he now argues from their having put on the new man, to their putting on of his members; that is, to the exercise of the various graces of the Spirit, and the discharge of the several duties of religion; which though they would not be a robe of righteousness, or garments of salvation to them, yet would be very becoming conversation garments, such as would be adorning to themselves, to the doctrine of Christ, and their profession of it, without which they would be naked in their walk, and exposed to shame, להתלבשא ברוח קדושה, "to be clothed with the Holy Spirit", is a phrase used by the Cabalistic doctors d; and is indeed a Scripture phrase, "the Spirit of the Lord came upon", לבשה, clothed Zechariah, 2 Chronicles 24:20 and so Esther is s

Colossians 3:1. _If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God._ Your Lord and Master has gone up to heaven. You profess that he represents you, and that you have gone up there in him and with him. Then do not seek the things that are down here below, the things of earth; but live where your life has gone. Where your treasure is, there let your heart be also. «Seek those things which are above.» Colossians 3:2. _Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead,_ You profess to be dead to the world; is that profession false? You have observed that Scriptural ordinance in which you profess to be buried with Christ; was that observance only an empty form?...

III. THE PRACTICAL RESULTS: LIVING AS RISEN WITH CHRIST (3-4) CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The life hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1)_ 2. The contrast: The old man and the new man (Colossians 3:5) 3. Manifesting Christ (Colossians 3:12) 4. Relationships (Colossians 3:18; Colossians 4:1) Colossians 3:1 Risen with Christ; such is the believer's position. “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Chri

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE RISEN WITH CHRIST. Those who are risen with Christ must aspire to the things above, in the region of Christ's heavenly session at God's right hand. Their minds must be set, not on terrestrial things, but on things high and heavenly. So far as their old life was concerned they died (_i.e._ in baptism); their life now is a hidden life in God. That is what it means to be united with Christ (Colossians 3:3). It is Christ who is our life. Hidden though He be, He shall be manifested at His coming: and His manifestation will involve our manifestation also with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4). Put to death then the members on the earth fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, covetousness. These things incur God's wrath. The Colossians had formerly practised them; but they must now,