Colossians 3:14

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. ABOVE, [ epi (G1909) pasi (G3956)] - "over," as in Ephesians 6:16. CHARITY - the crowning grace which covers others' sins (1 Peter 4:8), must overlie all the graces enumerated. WHICH IS - i:e., for it is; literally, 'which thing is.' BOND OF (BELONGING TO) PERFECTNESS - its distinctive bond: an upper garment, completing and keeping together the whole suit, which without it would be loose. Seeming graces, where love is wanting, are hypocrisy. Justification by faith is as...

14._On account of all these things. _The rendering that has been given by others, “super omnia haec,” (_above _all these things,) instead of insuper , (_over and above_,) is, in my opinion, meagre. It would be more suitable to render it, _Before _all these things. I have chosen, however, the more ordinary signification of the word ἐπί. For as all the things that he has hitherto enumerated flow from _love_, he now on good grounds exhorts the Colossians to cherish _love _among themselves, for the sake of these things — that they may be merciful, gentle, ready to forgive, as though he had said, that they would be such only in the event of their having _love_. For where _love _is wanting, all these things are sought for in vain. That he may commend it the more, he calls it the...

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 14. _AND ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS_] επι πασι δε τουτοις. _Upon all, over all_; as the _outer garment_ envelopes all the clothing, so let _charity_ or _love_ invest and encompass all the rest. Even _bowels of mercy_ are to be set in motion by _love_; from love they derive all their _feeling_, and all their _power_ and _promptitude_ to action. Let this, therefore, be as the _upper garment_; the _surtout_ that invests the whole man. _WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS._] Love to God and man is not only to _cover_ all, but also to _unite_ and _consolidate_ the whole. It is therefore represented here under the notion of a _girdle_, by which all the rest of the clothing is _bound_ close about the body. To love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and one's neighbour as one's self, is the _perfection_ which the new covenant requires, and which t

AND ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS - Over, or upon all these things; compare the notes at Ephesians 6:16. CHARITY - Love. Notes, 1 Corinthians 13:1. WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS - The bond of all perfection; the thing which will unite all other things, and make them complete; compare the parallel place in Ephesians 4:3. The idea seems to be that love will bind all the other graces fast together, and render the whole system complete. Without love, though there might be other graces and virtues, there would be a want of harmony and compactness in our Christian graces, and this was necessary to unite

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 ...

AND ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS,.... Bowels of mercies, kindness, c. PUT ON CHARITY, or brotherly love, for without this all is nothing they will only be done in show and appearance, in mere guise and hypocrisy, if love is wanting; this actuates and exercises all the rest; it is only from this principle that true sympathy, real kindness, undisguised humility, and meekness, patient longsuffering, and forbearance, and hearty forgiveness proceeds: this is greater, and more excellent, than all the other, and adds a glory, lustre, and beauty to them; this is the upper garment that covers all the rest, for so the words may be rendered, "upon all these things put on charity"; whereby a disciple of Christ is visible, and distinguished, and is known to be what he is; this is like a strait and upper garment, keeps close all that is under it, and within it: and it is called THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS; ei...

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?...

PERFECTNESS (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 5:48). _...

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