Read & explore together
Put On the New Self
Colossians 3:1-17 teaches how people connected with Christ are to live. The passage moves from a new focus, to turning from former sins, to putting on new character, and then to shared peace, worship, and thankful obedience.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, the writer gives commands and reasons side by side. He speaks about being raised with Christ, names practices to put away, describes the new man being renewed, and finishes with instructions for peace, teaching, singing, and thanksgiving together.
Colossians 3:1–17Main takeaway
Because their life is bound up with Christ, believers are called to put off the old man and live as the new man in thankful unity.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Seek the things that are aboveThe passage starts with identity and direction. If they were raised together with Christ, they are to seek the things above, where Christ is seated at God’s right hand.
Explanation
The passage starts with identity and direction. If they were raised together with Christ, they are to seek the things above, where Christ is seated at God’s right hand. They are to set their mind there because they died, their life is hidden with Christ in God, and Christ will be revealed in glory.
02Put to death the old practicesBecause of this, they must put to death what belongs on the earth. The list includes sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which the verse calls idolatry.
Explanation
Because of this, they must put to death what belongs on the earth. The list includes sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which the verse calls idolatry. The passage says God’s wrath comes for these things, and it reminds readers that they once walked in them.
03Put off the old man, put on the new manThe next commands name anger, wrath, malice, slander, shameful speaking, and lying. These belong with the old man and his doings, which they have put off.
Explanation
The next commands name anger, wrath, malice, slander, shameful speaking, and lying. These belong with the old man and his doings, which they have put off. They have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator. In this renewed life, Christ is all, and in all.
04Clothe yourselves for life togetherAs God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, they are to put on compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance.
Explanation
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, they are to put on compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance. They are to bear with one another and forgive each other as Christ forgave them. Above all, they are to walk in love. God’s peace is to rule in their hearts, and they were called to this in one body, so the verse also says, be thankful.
05Let Christ shape speech and actionThe closing verses are strongly shared and practical. The word of Christ is to dwell in them richly, with teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Explanation
The closing verses are strongly shared and practical. The word of Christ is to dwell in them richly, with teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Then the instruction widens to everything: whatever they do in word or deed, they are to do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does the passage give for seeking the things above?
Follow the text’s reasons: they were raised with Christ, they died, their life is hidden with Christ in God, and they will be revealed with him in glory.
02How does the passage explain why the behaviours in verse 5 must be rejected?
Notice both the command to put them to death and the warning that God’s wrath comes for these things.
03What does ‘called in one body’ add to the command about peace?
Read the verse with the surrounding commands about bearing with one another, forgiving each other, teaching one another, and giving thanks.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Colossians 3:1–17
1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,
8but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.