Colossians 3:12

3:12-17 We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all. While in this world, where there is so much corruption in our hearts, quarrels will sometimes arise. But it is our duty to forgive one another, imitating the forgiveness through which we are saved. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts; it is of his working in all who are his. Thanksgiving to God, helps to make us agreeable to all men. The gospel is the word of Christ. Many have the word, but it dwells in them poorly; it has no power over them. The soul prospers, when we are full of the Scriptures and of the grace of Christ. But when we sing psalms, we must be affected with what we sing. Whatever we are employed about, let us do every thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in believing dependence on him. Those who do all in Christ's name, will never want matter of thanksgiving to God, even the Father.

Colossians 3:12-13. Put on therefore — In a higher degree than before; as the elect, or chosen, of God — The appellation given in the New Testament to all the true disciples of Christ, to all that so believe in him as to be pardoned and renewed; see on Ephesians 1:4 : holy — Dedicated and conformed to him; and beloved — By him, or set apart to his service, and blessed with the tokens of his peculiar favour.

Bowels of mercies — Οικτιρμων , of tender mercies, namely, toward all the afflicted, destitute, and distressed, especially those of the household of faith; kindness — Benevolence toward one another and all men, or sweetness of disposition, as χρηστοτης properly signifies; humbleness of mind — In your behaviour toward others, engaging you to condescend even to those that are in the lowest stations of life; meekness — Under whatever injuries or provocations you may receive, always restraining you from returning evil for evil, railing for railing, and from resenting any injury that may be done to you; long-suffering — Amidst the failings, weaknesses, and faults of your fellow-Christians; or when your trials, whether immediately from the hand of God or man, are either continued long, or are violent in their degree; forbearing — Or patiently bearing with one another, if any thing is now wrong; and forgiving one another — What is past; if any man have a quarrel — Μομφην , complaint; against any: even as Christ forgave you, &c. — And thereby set you an example, that you might be always disposed to forgive the faults of your offending fellow-Christians or fellow- creatures. See on Ephesians 4:32 .

Colossians 3:12 . Ἐκλεκτοὶ , elect ) This is equivalent to a substantive; its epithets are, holy and beloved . He calls them the elect of God , as Romans 8:33 . The order of the words admirably corresponds to the order of the things [‘elect’ before ‘holy,’ and ‘holy’ before ‘beloved’]: eternal election precedes sanctification in time. The ‘sanctified’ feel the love of God, and then in consequence afterwards imitate it.— σπλάγχνα , bowels ) Ephesians 4:32 .— ταπεινοφροσύνην , humility of feeling, humbleness of mind ) ib. Colossians 4:2 [ ταπεινοφροσύνης , “with all lowliness”]. These virtues are kept in exercise by ‘forbearing’ and ‘forgiving.’ [See next ver.]

(12) Elect of God. —For the description of the election here signified see Ephesians 1:4-6 . The name is obviously applied to the whole Church, as “elect to privilege “; it is not opposed to “called” (as in Matthew 20:16 ), but coincident with it, representing, indeed, the secret act of God’s gracious will, which is openly manifested in calling. (Comp. the other instances of the word in the Epistles, Romans 8:33 ; Romans 16:13 ; 1Timothy 5:21 ; 2Timothy 2:10 ; Titus 1:1 ; 1Peter 1:1 ; Revelation 17:14 .) Holy and beloved.—Of such election there are here two signs. The elect are “holy,” consecrated to God in thought and life; and “beloved,” accepted and sustained in their consecration by His love. Both epithets belong to them as conformed to the image of Christ (Rev. 8:29); for He is “the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34), who “sanctifies Himself for us, that we also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:19); and He is also the “Beloved,” the “Son of God’s love” (Colossians 1:13; Matthew 3:17; Ephesians 1:16), and we are accepted in Him. The two epithets here seem intended to prepare for the two-fold exhortation following. They are “beloved,” therefore they should love one another (Colossians 3:12-15); they are holy, therefore they should thank God and live to His glory (Colossians 3:16-17). (12, 13) Comp. Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:31; Ephesians 5:1-2.

The word “tenderhearted” in those passages corresponds to the “bowels (or, heart) of mercies” here;” kindness” and “forgiveness,” “humility,” “gentleness,” “forbearance,” appear in both. But the enumeration here is more exact in order of idea. St. Paul starts with the natural and universal instinct of compassion or sympathy; he next dwells on “kindliness and lowliness of mind,” which are closely akin, since readiness to oblige others grows naturally out of a self-neglectful humility; from these he passes to “gentleness and long-suffering “in case of injury, ready” to forbear and to forgive; lastly, from these particulars he rises to the general spirit of “love,” ruling under “the peace of God.”

12. the elect of God—There is no "the" in the Greek, "God's elect" (compare Ro 8:3; 1Th 1:4). The order of the words "elect, holy, beloved," answers to the order of the things. Election from eternity precedes sanctification in time; the sanctified, feeling God's love, imitate it [Bengel]. bowels of mercies—Some of the oldest manuscripts read singular, "mercy." Bowels express the yearning compassion, which has its seat in the heart, and which we feel to act on our inward parts (Ge 43:30; Jer 31:20; Lu 1:78, Margin). humbleness of mind—True "lowliness of mind"; not the mock "humility" of the false teachers (Col 2:23; Eph 4:2, 32).

Put on, therefore, as the elect of God - The fact that you thus belong to one and the same church; that you have been redeemed by the sameblood, and chosen by the same grace, and that you are all brethren, should lead you to manifest a spirit of kindness, gentleness, and love. Bowels of mercies - Notes, Philippians 2:1. Kindness ... - See the notes at Ephesians 4:32. The language here is a little different from what it is there, but the sentiment is the same.

Colossians 3:12 . This verse and Colossians 3:13 are parallel to Ephesians 4:2 ; Ephesians 4:32 . The ethical consequences of having put on the new man are now drawn out in detail.— ἐνδύσασθε οὖν : not since Christ has become all and in all to you (Lightf.), but since you have put on the new man.— ὡς ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ : i.e. , as conformity to your position as God’s elect demands. The election is God’s choice of them in Christ before creation ( Ephesians 1:4 ).— ἅγιοι καὶ ἠγαπημένοι qualify ἐκλ ., and are not vocatives. ἠλ . means, as elsewhere in N.T., beloved of God; he is speaking of their position as Christians.— σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ : “a heart of compassion,” the σπλ . being regarded as the seat of emotion.— χρηστότητα : almost “sweetness of disposition”. It is opposed to “severity” (of God) in Romans 11:22 .— ταπεινοφροσύνην , πραΰτητα : both virtues towards fellow-men, and quite different from ταπ . in Colossians 2:18 . Neither has reference to man’s relation to God. Each is a specifically Christian virtue.

Put on therefore: as he had mentioned some particular vices of the old man they were to put off, Colossians 3:8 , he doth here infer, that they might be complete in Christ, there be particular virtues and graces of the new man they are to put on, or, being new creatures, continually to exercise themselves in. As the elect of God, holy and beloved; chosen of God before all time, and effectually called in time from the rest of mankind; see John 15:16 Romans 8:29,30 Eph 1:4,5 2 Thessalonians 2:13 : saints not only by obsignation, but renewed by the sanctifying Spirit, Colossians 1:2 1 Peter 1:2 ; beloved with a gratuitous and special love of complacency, John 14:21 Romans 1:7 1 Thessalonians 1:4 . Bowels of mercies; he would have us put on, i.e. exercise, (being sanctified by the Spirit), mercy, not simply, but according to the Hebrew phrase, bowels of mercies, i.e. tendernesses of compassions, resenting the miseries of our brethren, as sharing with them in their sufferings, from our very heart: see Luke 6:36 Romans 12:15 Galatians 6:2 Ephesians 4:32 1 Peter 3:8 . Kindness; courtesy and goodness, Galatians 5:22 ; endeavouring to succour one another in all offices of benignity, 2 Corinthians 6:6 1 Peter 5:14 . Humbleness of mind; a sincere (not an affected) lowliness of spirit: See Poole on "Ephesians 4:2" , See Poole on "Philippians 2:3" .