Colossians 3:12-14
What is written? (ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
What does it say?
As God’s chosen to be holy, put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience to bear with one another, forgiving each other when you have a complaint. Just as you have been forgiven by the Lord, so must you forgive. Above all, put on love, which encompasses all of these behaviors in perfect harmony.
What is its immediate context?
Paul is encouraging the Colossians to “keep seeking the things above” (vs 1) and imploring them to “put off” (vs 8) the sins of the world. He continues to give specific “in the Lord” behavioral instructions for wives (vs 18), husbands (vs 19), children (vs 20), fathers (vs 21), and slaves (vs 22).
How Colossians 3:12-14 is applied across Bible answers
What is Godly love?
A Christian's love includes behaviors showing deference to brethren that closely mirrors Paul's definition to the Corinthians1, and a spirit of forgiveness in the shadow of our own great atonement through Christ.
