Colossians 3:7

In the which "things," mentioned just above. Otherwise we may render, "among whom" (R. V. margin); i.e. among "the children of disobedience." If those words are not retained in the text, this latter rendering of course falls.

walked The same verb is rendered (by A. V.) in the parallel, Ephesians 2:3, "had our conversation," that is, our action and intercourse in life. The metaphor "walk" in such a sense is common in St Paul. See above on Colossians 1:10. With this searching appeal to memory cp. 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 4:22; Ephesians 5:8; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 4:3.

sometime "Sumtyme," Wyclif; antique English for "once on a time." So "sometimes" in the A. V. of Ephesians 2:13. In Ephesians 2:3 (parallel here) the A.V. renders the same Greek, "in times past."

lived Not merely "existed," or "dwelt," but found what seemed "life." See on Colossians 2:20 above. From the "life" issues the "walk," as Lightfoot points out. "He argues from the withdrawal of the cause to the withdrawal of the effect" (Calvin).

in them Far better, with mss. &c., in these things (R. V.).