The big picture
Colossians 3 opens in verse 1 with “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against…”, and closes in verse 25 with “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no…” Repeated or prominent terms include Christ, Lord, children, affection, anger. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Colossians · King James Version · 25Colossians 3:1-7
1–7: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…
Colossians 3:1–7 opens with “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the…” and reaches “In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Old garments of anger, slander, and deceit put away as compassion, forgiveness, love, peace, word, and song are put on, with particular weight carried by Christ, affection, appear.
Context that brings the passage to life
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Colossians 3:1-7
King James Version1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Colossians 3:8-14
8–14: Now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy…
Colossians 3:8–14 opens with “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of…” and reaches “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Old garments of anger, slander, and deceit put away as compassion, forgiveness, love, peace, word, and song are put on, with particular weight carried by bond, Christ, anger.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, blasphemy, communication. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
Colossians 3:8-14
King James Version8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:15-21
15–21: Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are…
Colossians 3:15–21 opens with “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and…” and reaches “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Old garments of anger, slander, and deceit put away as compassion, forgiveness, love, peace, word, and song are put on, with particular weight carried by Lord, children, hearts.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Colossians 3:15-21
King James Version15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17And what soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Colossians 3:22-25
22–25: Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not…
Colossians 3:22–25 opens with “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as…” and reaches “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Old garments of anger, slander, and deceit put away as compassion, forgiveness, love, peace, word, and song are put on, with particular weight carried by Lord, receive, wrong.
Colossians 3:22-25
King James Version22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23And what soever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Colossians 3:1 begins with “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
Where the chapter turns
Colossians 3:8 forms a natural hinge: “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
The final note
Colossians 3:25 leaves the reader with “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Christ, Lord, children, affection, anger, appear help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does blame move through the conversation?
The man points to the woman and indirectly to God; the woman points to the serpent. Neither response repairs trust.
Where does mercy appear?
Continued life, the promise involving offspring, and clothing accompany the expulsion.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.