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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

CHAPTER THREE:
“EXALTED THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS”

[“Elevated Thinking”]
Key Word: Minds
Theme Verse: 2

Colossians 3:1-4 – Minds Fixed on Heaven

CO3:1 So, if all of you have been raised up together with the Christ, 118 continue seeking those things above, 119 where the Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 120 [Psalm 110:1]

118	Raised up together with the Christ: Or, CON: partakers of Christ’s resurrection. Paul may mean a spiritual resurrection as the Nazarene does in John 5:24. [1 John 3:14] See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Romans 6:3-5. [Ephesians 2:6]

119

Seeking those things above: Or, KNX: lift your thoughts above; NEB: aspire to the realm above. Paul goes on to explain that this is heaven where Christ is enthroned. If the Church were to live on earth forever, as some teach, there would be a certain false-tone to Paul’s words. Christians are to remain “eternal in the heavens” [2 Corinthians 5:1], though this does not rule out temporary visits to the earth. Paul also has in mind a spiritual-mindedness that has ceased concentrating on the world. [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Romans 8:5-8] Though the Saints will spend eternity in the Celestialum as inhabitants of the New Jerusalem, this Holy City will visit the earth.

120	Sitting at the right hand of God: Paul alludes to one of his favorite texts, Psalm 110:1. Compare Ephesians 1:19-21, 1 Corinthians 15:24 and Hebrews 10:12, 13. Christ was already reigning as King.

CO3:2 Continue thinking about things above, 121 and do not keep thinking about earthly things. 122

121

Continue thinking about things above: That is, “let your thinking be absorbed with higher spiritual things.” Or, KJV: set your affections on things above; WMS: practice occupying your minds with; KNX: you must be heavenly-minded; PME: give your heart to the heavenly things; NEB: let your thoughts dwell on that higher realm. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Romans 8:5-8 and Galatians 6:8. [Philippians 3:20; 4:8; 1 Peter 1:13]

122

Earthly things: Or, KNX: earthly-minded. [John 3:31; 1 John 2:15] These would include that list Paul gives in Romans 1:18-32 and the works of the flesh at Galatians 5:19-21. It is a sad fact that the fast majority of modern Christians concentrate more on “earthly things” than the spiritual. This is demonstrated in conversation and lifestyle.

CO3:3 For all of you died 123 and your life is carefully concealed 124 with the Christ in union with The God.

123	You died: See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Ephesians 2:1-7. [Romans 6:2; 7:4]

124	Your life is carefully concealed with the Christ: That is, “your future life ‘eternal in the heavens’ is hidden with the Christ.” Or, WMS: now hidden in God through your fellowship with Christ. [Galatians 2:20] See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on 1 Peter 1:4, 5.

CO3:4 Whenever the Christ – our Life – becomes visible, 125 then all of you, also, together with him, will become visible in glory. 126

125

Becomes visible: Or, manifest, appears. The Greek is PHANEROTHE [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5319, to make manifest or visible] and comes from a root to mean a lamp which makes something visible, or manifest. See the use of the word at Hebrews 9:28 and 1 John 2:28. Daniel 12:1 foretold that Michael would “appear.” [Compare the JPS Tanakh] See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Matthew 24:30, 31.

126	Become visible: The Saints will also become manifest. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Romans 8:19-21. [1 Thessalonians 3:13; Revelation 17:14]

Colossians 3:5-11 – Deaden Your Earthly Body

CO3:5 So, all of you deaden your earthly members 127 to sexual immorality, 128 impurity, 129 passion, 130 evil desire, 131 and harmful greed 132 which is idolatrous. 133

127

Deaden: That is, “put your earthly parts to sleep and make them unconscious to fleshly matters.” Or, KJV: mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; GDS: treat as dead. [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Galatians 5:24] The Nazarene disciple must learn “to perfect holiness in the fear of God.” [2 Corinthians 7:1]

128	Sexual immorality: Or, fornication, prostitution. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on PORNEIA in Galatians 5:19. Such includes rape, incest, homosexuality, adultery and other forms of sexual vice. [1 Corinthians 7:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3]

129	Impurity: Or, uncleanness, impurity, dirty-mindedness, indecency. The Greek is AKATHARSIAN and means that which is unclean or dirty. Those things that shock human society. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Galatians 5:19 and AKATHARSIA in Nazarene Principles 2000©.

130	Passion: Or, inordinate affection, lust, sexual appetite. The Greek is PATHOS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3806, depraved passion, vile passions]. [Ephesians 5:3; 2 Timothy 2:22]

131

Evil desire: Or, unholy desire, hurtful desire. The Greek is EPI-THYMIAN, a heightened-desire, or overly desirous. [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1939, desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust] Human desire is proper in its place. However, when desire becomes an obsession, or an uncontrollable drive, it leads to corrosive self-destruction.

132

Greed: Or, covetousness. When a Jew asked Jesus to make his brother to give him what was likely his rightful inheritance, the Nazarene responded: “Be on guard against every form of greed!” [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Luke 12:15 (Exodus 20:17)] We covet what we see, and this results from selfishness. There are degrees of greed, but the smallest seed can become a massive tangle, choking faith. [Compare Mark 4:19.] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4124, greedy desire to have more.

133	Idolatrous: The latter, greed, is a form of idolatry against which Christians are to guard themselves. [1 John 5:21]

CO3:6 It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming. 134

134

On account of these the wrath of God is coming: It is a sobering thought that God’s wrath will come against the greedy as well as those sexually immoral. [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Romans 1:18; Ephesians 5:6] This will be no later than Judgment Day. See the Biblical Article God and Judgment.

CO3:7 All of you once walked in these things when you used to live in them. 135

135	In these you once walked, when you lived in them: That is, “You used to have such a life-style in your former conduct.” Compare 1 Corinthians 6:11.

CO3:8 However, now, get rid of all of it 136 – wrath, anger, harmfulness, abusive speech, 137 foul talk – remove all of it out of your mouth! 138

136	Get rid of: Or, rid yourselves, put them all aside.

137	Anger, wrath, harmfulness, abusive speech: Or, insults, passionate outbreaks, ill-will. The tongue must be controlled. [James 3:1ff] All the faith in the world will never cancel the debt of sin caused by habitual slander. [Matthew 12:35, 36]

138	From your mouth: Or, foul-mouthed abuse, filthy talk, abusive talk, obscene talk. [Ephesians 5:4]

CO3:9 Having stripped off the old person 139 you were with all of its bad habits, stop lying to one another. 140

139	Stripped off the old person: Or, man, human, person, personality, self; strip off, rid yourself. The Greek is ANTHROPON [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #444, a man, a human]. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Ephesians 4:22.

140

Stop lying: God hates lies. [Psalm 5:6; 34:13] Liars are compared to cowards and the sexually immoral. [Revelation 21:8] Compare notes on Ephesians 4:25. Paul goes on to discuss the New Person in Christ. One of the first characteristics of the New Person is that such a disciple no longer lies to others.

CO3:10 And now that you have put on the New Person, 141 continue to be renewed in complete knowledge in harmony with the image of the One who created 142 [this New Person].

141

New person: Or, TCN: clothe yourselves with that new self; PME: have begun life as the new man. Compare notes on Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:24. The new Christian is a completely different person in the sense that old habits, attitudes, and life-style have ceased – though what the individual is as a person may take longer to change.

142

Renewed: Or, RHM: moulded afresh; WMS: the process of being made new; KNX: being refitted all the time for closer knowledge. The Greek is ANAKAINOUMENON [or, new again; newly created over]. Humankind was created in the image of God. That is the human heart and mind bear certain characteristics possessed by God. Four of His cardinal attributes are love, justice, power, and wisdom. The New Person in Christ – by becoming more and more familiar with the teachings of he Nazarene and his inspired disciples – is characterized by a loving personality, a fair and just personality, a person who has control of emotions and actions, and is manifest by wise conduct and choices. In all of these character traits two things become more and more visible to others: conviction and trust in God, and a loving concern for others manifest in seeking their highest good. The next verse puts some particular slants to the thinking of this New Person in Christ.

CO3:11 [Regarding this New Person] – it is not non-Jew or Jew, 143 circumcised or uncircumcised, 144 foreigner, 145 uncivilized, 146 slave, freeman 147 – it is everything that is in Christ. 148

143

Non-Jew and Jew: This New Person created after The God’s image is neither Jewish nor Greek. Compare notes on Galatians 3:29. An observer who knows the New Person in Christ does not see either a Jew [with that ritualism characterized by the Law of Moses], nor, that Platonic philosophy found in Greek religions.

144	Circumcised and uncircumcised: The New Person in Christ cannot be characterized as either belonging to those circumcised or to those uncircumcised, that is Jew or non-Jew.

145

Foreigner: The New Person in Christ is not a foreigner or “barbarian.” This could be viewed in this way: The New Disciple has no social prejudice. Such cannot be categorized as belonging to this or that social or cultural background as the dominant feature of lifestyle or habits. “Barbarian” now has a much harsher tone that it did when Paul wrote. It has the meaning more of a foreigner. No Christian is a foreigner in the Church, for all are welcome and all are equal as brothers and sisters in Christ.

146

Civilized: Or, Scythian. Considered the worst of the uncivilized human beings from what is today Russia and Mongolia. The New Person in Christ cannot be viewed by others – nor by himself – as such a person just because of coming from a certain region, or have certain facial characteristics. There is no racism or nationalism within the New Person in Christ.

147

Slave, free man: The New Person in Christ may have been a slave or a freedman in the 1st Century, but neither is such within the Church. The free person cannot look down on the Christian fellow as a lesser person because of being a slave. Though slavery has been essentially abolished from the planet, another form has taken its place – economic and social slavery. The New Person in Christ who is blessed with riches cannot behave as though he or she was such. Nor should the poor New Person in Christ treat the well-to-do with a reverse snobbery, and display jealous or envious characteristics in speech or attitude.

148

Everything that is in Christ: Or, MOF: Christ is everything and everywhere; GDS: Christ is everything and in us all; KNX: there is nothing but Christ in any of us; PME: Christ is all that matters, for Christ lives in them all. No matter where on the planet Christ should be everything to each New Person without prejudice or partiality. No matter the background of any New Person in Christ, Christ should reside in all.

Colossians 3:12-14 – New Clothing

CO3:12 As the Elect of God – holy and beloved 149 - clothe yourselves with empathy and compassion, 150 kindness, 151 humility, 152 meekness, 153 tolerance. 154

149	Clothe yourselves with: Or, dress, put on the garments. Like brand new clothing put on the same old person, the New Person in Christ must be characterized by a completely new attitudes and qualities. Paul lists some of these in the following phrases.

150	Compassion: Or, tenderness of heart, heart of pity, tender affections of compassion, merciful in action. The New Person is compassionate – humane, gracious, forgiving, sympathetic, empathic. [Philippians 2:1]

151

Kindness: The New Person in Christ is known to be kind toward others and this is manifest in empathy and charity. Kindness is also marked by good manners ad courtesy. This kindness is not limited to just other Christians, for God is “kind toward the unthankful and wicked.” [Luke 6:35] See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Galatians 5:21, 22.

152	Humility: Or, lowliness, self-humiliation, humble in mind. One knows they are meeting a New Person in Christ when humility is manifest – arrogance and egotism completely lacking. [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Romans 12:16 and Philippians 2:2-5]

153

Meekness: Or, gentleness, mildness. The adversarial, confrontational, aggressive person has not become a New Person in Christ. Nor have the opinionated or self-righteous. The New Person in Christ is known by his/her willingness to yield on matters of no great import, to be reasonable in sharing convictions with others. Most of all, the meek New Person in Christ is willing to learn, and indeed, receive rebuke and reproof when that is necessary. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Galatians 5:22, 23.

154	Tolerance: Or, patience, forbearance, longsuffering. The New Person in Christ is known as a patient Christian who is not easily upset, but is willing to suffer long with the weak and immature. See notes on Ephesians 4:2. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Galatians 5:22, 23.

CO3:13 Be patient and tolerant of one another even if someone has a complaint against another. 155 Forgive one another, just as the Sovereign LORD graciously forgave all of you, you must also be forgiving. 156

155

If one has a complaint against another: Or, quarrel, grievance. Paul provides a specific example of this patience as it is displayed in a forgiving disposition even when there is a legitimate “complaint” against another. His words are a virtual commentary on the Master’s Prayer at Matthew 6:12 and the Lord’s own commentary at Matthew 6:14. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Ephesians 4:32.

156	Forgiving: That is, “cancel any debt of sin against you.” See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Matthew 6:14, 15. We will only be forgiven by that standard by which we forgive.

CO3:14 And above everything else show compassionate affection, 157 for this results in perfect unity. 158

157

Compassionate affection: That is, love, loving concern, benevolent empathy, charity. Or, MOF: love is the link of the perfect life. The final piece of clothing is that of love – that real [divine] love manifest in positive action for a neighbor’s or enemy’s highest good. The very least that love performs is “to never work harm toward another.” [Romans 13:10] See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on 1 Corinthians 13:5-7.

158	Unity: Or, PME: love to the golden chair of all the virtues. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Ephesians 4:3. All of the previous virtues or moral attributes are bound together to produce “perfect harmony” within the Church.

Colossians 3:15-17 – Christ’s Peace In Control

CO3:15 In addition, permit the peace and harmony of the Christ to be the controlling factor within your hearts 159 as you were called as one Body. 160 And by all means be thankful. 161

159

Controlling factor: Or, KJV: peace of God; RHM: the peace of Christ act as umpire; GDS: let the ruling principle in your hearts be Christ’s peace. The Greek is BRABEUETO [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1018, to be an umpire] and literally means “umpire” – one who referees. All of the qualities Paul lists will materialize from that New Person who allows Christ and his inner tranquility rule the heart rather than self. Compare John 14:27 and Philippians 4:7.

160

One Body: Not just Christ’s inner tranquility, but also “peace” as a referee for the good of Church unity. The early Church had several serious attacks against its unity. First, because of the Jewish pressure to force the Church into a mold that leaned more toward Moses than Christ. Compare notes on Ephesians 2:15. And second, the later Greek attack that was more successful.

161	Be thankful: Or, grateful. In the midst of all of these heavy injunctions to the New Person in Christ, Paul exhorts the simple plea to be grateful. It often happens that life becomes such a burden that persons fail to “be thankful.” As long as one has breath they must be thankful for it.

CO3:16 Allow Christ’s word take up residence within you with all of its rich 162 wisdom. 163 Continue teaching and admonishing yourselves – in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs 164 of thankfulness – within your hearts to God. 165

162

Rich: Or, KIT: let it be indwelling; PME: let Christ’s teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom; TAY: remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise. When all is said and done, a Christian – that New Person in Christ – is first of all a student of the Master’s teachings. For these to “dwell… richly” in a person, regular meditative reading of the Nazarene’s Sayings must be part of daily life. The New Person in Christ is characterized by a rich knowledge and understanding of his words, and as a result they take up residence within the heart and mind. Compare Colossians 2:3. [1 Corinthians 2:7]

163

Wisdom: This rich treasure of Christ’s teachings must do more than inspire and provide inner peace – it is used by the New Person in Christ to teach and admonish other members of the Nazarene community in the practical use of this knowledge. Each New Person in Christ may be taught and admonished, even as each one may teach and admonish others in the fellowship as Paul gives orders elsewhere. [Titus 1:9; 2:4]

164

Spiritual songs: On one recorded occasion Jesus sang hymns based on the Scriptures. [Matthew 26:30] Paul sang hymns. [Acts 16:25] And, he mentioned hymns in the context of Christian meetings. [1 Corinthians 14:15, 26] Nowhere is a musical instrument of any kind ever suggested in congregational meetings. Judging form the Christian Scriptures along music did not have the same place it does in many modern churches, in some cases where such as become something of a stage show. Music is an emotional force and though it can be used for good, it can also be used to inspired satanic dispositions.

165

God: Some versions render this so that the idea of these songs and singing would be something within the believer. Some groups permit no musical instruments at all and understand this verse as an inner spiritual hymn of the heart. There is no mention of musical instruments anywhere in the Christian Bible, though such are present in the Hebrew Bible. Paul again mentions thankfulness.

CO3:17 Everything you do – in speech or deed – keep doing it in the name of the Master Jesus, 166 always giving thanks to God the Father through him.

166	In the name of the Master Jesus: Prayer need be a constant company before we speak or act so that everything the New Person in Christ does is done “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Also, the authority of Christ’s name has great power in succeeding in word or dead.

Colossians 3:18-25 – Subjection

CO3:18 All of you wives, continue being submissive to your husbands as it is becoming a disciple of the Master. 167

167

Wives, be submissive: Or, BAR: accept the authority of your husbands, for this is fitting in a Christian household. Paul now gives practical examples of the affects on this New Person in Christ. First, wives are exhorted to “adapt themselves” [PME], or “be in subjection” [ASV] to their husbands. Such woman as a New Person in Christ will be familiar with, and apply in her life, that godly counsel in Ephesians 5:22, 24, 33 and Titus 2:3-5. See the work The Biblical Woman in Nazarene Commentary 2000© Submissiveness is only needed when there is a disagreement. If the wife and husband agree there is never a need for submission. Submissiveness is also characterized by speech.

CO3:19 All of you husbands, continue showing compassionate affection to your wives and do not become personally embittered regarding them. 168

168

Husbands, continue showing compassionate affection to your wives: Or, not be embittered, treat harshly. The husband who is a New Person in Christ will be characterized by the treatment of his wife in love. He will have read and meditated on such verses as Ephesians 5:25-29, 33. See the subject of The Godly Husband in Biblical Articles. Compare notes on Malachi 2:13-16 and God’s attitude toward the tyrannical husband.

CO3:20 All of you children, continue obeying your parents 169 in everything, for this is well-pleasing to the Master.

169	Children, continue obeying your parents in everything: A commandment now over three and a half thousand years old. Children and youths who become a New Person in Christ are known by others as obedient to their parents in everything. Compare notes on Ephesians 6:1.

CO3:21 All of you fathers, avoid irritating your children 170 so that they do not become discouraged. 171

170

Fathers: Or, avoid irritating, stop exasperating, don’t over correct; BAR: not make life intolerable for your children. See notes on Ephesians 6:4. The father who is a New Person in Christ is godly as a parent, guiding, leading, and disciplining in a manner after Christ. Compare 1 Thessalonians 2:11 and Hebrews 12:9.

171

Discouraged: Or, disheartened, dispirited. BAR: take all the heart out of them. The man who is a father and a New Person in Christ must be a parent characterized by love, and when he finds it necessary to discipline he will be consistent and fair. The children can count on his example and his godly direction. They know he is not a hypocrite who behaves one way at church and another way at home. They know he is just and fair and that when they err they may come to him expecting wise counsel.

CO3:22 All of you slaves, continue to obey your [human] masters 172 in everything – not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Master.

172	Slaves: Or, obey the orders [BAR]. Compare notes on Ephesians 6:5 and Titus 2:9. For details on slavery see Paul’s epistle to Philemon.

CO3:23 What ever you are doing work whole-souled as if to the Master and not to humans. CO3:24 For you are aware that it is from the Master you will be awarded the inheritance. All of you [slaves], continue to serve the Master Christ. CO3:25 Because the wrongdoer will be paid for any wrongdoing. 173 There is no partiality.

173	The wrongdoer: Compare Romans 2:11. God will repay the wrongdoer at the Judgment. [2 Corinthians 5:10] All must finally answer to “the Judge of all the earth.” See the Biblical Article God and Judgment.

Review Questions on Chapter Three

Summary of Chapter Three