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Col. 3:1. So, if you have been raised with Christ, then seek the things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. “If you are risen with Christ, seek those on high, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God”: “Be wise on heaven, not on earth.” You have shared the resurrection with Christ, and He is above all, dwelling with the Father in heaven; Therefore, imitate the life above. Col. 3:3 . For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:4. When Christ, your life, appears, then you will appear with Him in glory. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”: “when Christ appears, your life, then you will appear with Him in glory.” You have become dead to real life, because you were buried with Christ in baptism, and you accepted the hope of resurrection. For this means what is said: “your life is hidden with Christ in God.” As soon as He rose, we all were resurrected, but we still do not see the actual event, but the secret of our resurrection is hidden in Him. Therefore, when he appears a second time, then we will experience the resurrection and enjoy immortal life. Very opportunely, the Apostle expressed himself about Christ: “he will appear,” for He is invisible to you, and completely unknown to the unfaithful. He used the same expression about us; says: “appear in glory”; because in hope we have the promise of good things, and then what is now unknown will be manifest. And since the Apostle rejected legal observations, so that they would not think that one can sin without fear, he, of necessity, offers wise instructions about this. Col. 3:5. Therefore, put to death your members on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust and covetousness, which is idolatry. “Put to death therefore your evils that are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The Apostle called these bodily “blows,” because through them these passions are aroused. That is why he expressed himself with limitation, did not say: “your luck,” but added: “even on earth,” that is, the inclination of thoughts to the worse. And it’s as if the Apostle says this: “Let the body not lead to the effectiveness of sin.” He called “covetousness” idolatry, because the Savior called mammon master (Matthew 6:24), teaching that he who is enslaved to the passions of covetousness honors wealth as God. Col. 3:6. For which the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience. “For their sake the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.” The apostle, of necessity, added a threat of punishment. Col.3:7. In which you also once turned when you lived between them. “You sometimes walk in them, and sometimes you live in them.” So in the Epistle to the Corinthians he said: “And these things were not, but were washed, but were sanctified, but were righteous,” and so on (1 Cor. 6:11). Col.3:8. And now you put everything aside: anger, rage, malice, slander, and foul language of your lips. Col. 3:9. Do not tell lies to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds. “Now put it all aside.” Then he says what exactly: “Anger, rage, malice, blasphemy, slander from your mouth”: “do not lie to one another.” Having thus explained what he called bodily ouds, he also shows the body itself, the ouds of which make up all this. “Putting off the old man with his deeds. “Old man” called the old way of life. For he says: “you sometimes walk in them, while you live in them.” You put off this old man in baptism. Col. 3:10. And having put on the new, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created it. “And having put on the new, the mind is renewed in the image of Him who created it.” For in the beginning the God of all things created us and imprinted on us the exact features of God’s image, which were damaged by sin. The Apostle said this both in the Epistle to the Romans: “Whom He foreknew, and appointed to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29), and in the Epistle to the Philippians: “He will transform the body of our humility, so that we may be conformed to the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:21). Col. 3:11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all. “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freedom, but all things and Christ in all.” The Apostle turned his speech from the image to the prototype. For, speaking about all-holy baptism, he depicts for us life in the future life. There is not the slightest such difference in it, but after the cessation of sin, God’s will is accomplished in everyone. This is what the Apostle said: “Christ is all and in all.” This is what he says in the Epistle to the Corinthians: “that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). Therefore, in the future life we ​​will put on a completely new person, because in it we will get rid of corruption and put on incorruption, and in baptism we make a foreshadowing of the future life. Col. 3:12. Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, Col. 3:13. Forbearing with one another and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone: just as Christ forgave you, so do you. “Be clothed with the election of God, holy and beloved, in the womb of generosity, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering”, “accepting one another and forgiving yourself if anyone blames anyone.” Then this advice is confirmed by example. “Just as Christ forgave you to eat, so do you.” Look at the Lord’s love for mankind; how many sins has forgiveness granted you? Therefore, imitate the Master, and let everyone forgive the sins committed against him by his brother. Col. 3:14. Above all, put on love, which is the sum of perfection. “Above all these is love, which is the essence of perfection.” For she is both the keeper and the follower of the other commandments. And just as connections give strength to buildings, so it brings perfection and connects the members of the body. Col. 3:15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be friendly. “And let the peace of God dwell” (βραβευέτω) “in your hearts, in your life and in your name, in one body.” Of you all, God who called you formed one body; therefore do not crush it. But if anyone experiences anything sorrowful from someone, let him keep peace in his heart, which determines and distributes rewards for deeds, and brings into unanimity pleasing to God. “And be grateful.” Show your gratitude to the Master by your actions. Col. 3:16. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom; teach and admonish one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. “Let the Word of God of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourself, in psalms and songs and spiritual songs, singing in grace in your heart to the Lord.” Continuous teaching of the words of God is also prescribed by the old law. For it is said: “And let those who sit in the house speak about them and walking the path, lying down and standing up" (Deut. 6:7). The divine Apostle also commands the same, namely: to always keep the teaching of Christ in the soul, to hymn Christ and sanctify the tongue with spiritual songs. And this: “in the heart” means: not only with the lips. Col. 3:17. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. And “everything you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father.” since they commanded to honor the Angels, the Apostle commands the opposite of this, namely: to decorate both words and deeds with the remembrance of the Lord Christ, and says: “By this way,” and not through the Angels, send thanksgiving to God and the Father. For this reason, following the law and wanting to heal an old illness, the Council of Laodicea legalized not to pray to the Angels and not to forsake our Lord Jesus Christ. After this, the Apostle offers private instructions. Col. 3:18. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. “Wives, submit to your husbands as you ought in the Lord.” Since it also happened that pious wives married wicked ones, I made a restriction out of necessity. For he said: about the Lord, that is, as the law of the Lord commands. Col. 3:19. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. “Husbands, love your wives and do not be grieved towards them.” He prescribed obedience for wives by law, and love for husbands, commanding them to treat their wives meekly, as if they were their own members. Col. 3:20 . Children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. “Children, listen to your parents in everything: this is what pleases the Lord.” For God commanded this in His law. Col. 3:21. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, so that they do not become discouraged. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, so that they do not lose heart.” And you should not insult children, but do whatever is decent and to please them. Col. 3:22. Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh in everything, not only serving them in appearance as people-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God. “Rabbi, listen to the carnal masters in everything.” The apostle showed that the soul is free and only the body is subject to slavery. “Not working before your eyes like a people-pleaser, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God.” Serve your masters with proper prudence, without any malice. Explaining this: “not working before your eyes,” the Apostle added: Col. 3:23. And whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men. “And whatever you do, do it from the heart.” And to make them even more zealous, he added: “As the Lord, and not as a man.” For for this there is a reward prepared for you. And this is what the subsequent words allow us to see. Col. 3:24. Knowing that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward, for you serve the Lord Christ. “Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of your wealth; You work for the Lord Christ." Sufficient consolation for slaves is to know that they serve not people, but the Lord. Since unjust people can also be masters, the Apostle necessarily added: Col. 3:25. And whoever does wrong will receive according to his unrighteousness; He has no partiality. “But the one who offends will receive the insult, and there will be no reproach.” If the masters, says the Apostle, do not reward you with good for your service, then there is a truthful Judge, who does not distinguish between slave and master, but pronounces a fair determination. You might be interested in: