Colossians 3:14

‘And above all these things put on love which is the bond of perfectness.'

‘Above all these things.' Love is now declared to be the most important attribute of the Christian, for it sums up in itself all the others, binding them together in a perfect bond. This love has nothing to do with sexual or romantic love (which have their own Greek word) and is partly defined for us in 1 Corinthians 13:4 and Romans 13:8. But it is not limited to that for it is also the fountain of positive goodness and action in self-giving and in fulfilling all that God requires (Galatians 5:13; 1 John 3:16), exemplified by the love that Jesus Christ Himself demonstrated when He gave Himself for us (Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 4:9), and springing from faith (Galatians 5:6). It is to act towards others ‘as we would that they would act towards us' (Matthew 7:12), ‘loving our neighbour as ourselves' (Matthew 22:39; Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8), as exemplified by the good Samaritan in his attitude towards one who hated and despised him (Luke 10:29). See also Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:2.

‘The bond of perfectness.' Either that which perfectly unites together all the other Christian virtues, or as that which perfectly unites together all Christians in true fellowship.