Colossians 3:4-5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:4

Verse 4 4.But when Christ, our life, shall appear. Here we have a choice consolation — that the coming of Christ will be the manifestation of our life. And, at the same time, he admonishes us how unreasonable were the disposition of the man, who should refuse to bear up (435) until that day. For if our life is shut up in Christ, it must be hid, until he shall appear read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:5

Verse 5 5.Mortify therefore. Hitherto he has been speaking of contempt of the world. He now proceeds further, and enters upon a higher philosophy, as to the mortification of the flesh. That this may be the better understood, let us take notice that there is a twofold mortification. The former relates to those things that are around us. Of this he has hitherto treated. The other is inward — that of the understanding and will, and of the whole of our corrupt nature. He makes mention of certain... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-4

Our risen life. "If then ye were raised together with Christ." At this point the apostle leaves the polemical and begins the practical. Doctrine again forms the foundation for exhortation. As in combating asceticism he proceeded upon the fact that we were sharers with Christ in his death, so in presenting a substitute for asceticism, he proceeds upon the fact that we were sharers with him in his resurrection. Our being baptized with him extended, not only to our dying with him, but also to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-4

The Christian's higher life. Our text gives us a magnificent picture of the higher life of man, indicating the means of its beginning, the signs of its progress, and the hope of its perpetuity. I. THE EXPERIENCES OF THE BEGINNING OF THE HIGHER LIFE . These initial experiences are spoken of under the three allied figures of death, the hiding as of burial and resurrection. There is an experience: 1 . As of death. "Ye have died." The soul as it becomes Christian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-4

Present privileges: future glory. The apostle now proceeds to the application of the grand truths he has been expounding. Note in what a lofty strain he begins. As in the previous section he refutes practical errors by reminding of the sublimest doctrines, so here, before giving exhortations on special sins and duties, he seeks to lift the Colossians to the heights of that new spiritual, heavenly life it is their privilege to live. (Like a commander encouraging his troops in the field to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-17

SECTION VII . THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE . The apostle, having delivered his attack on the system of error inculcated at Colossae, now passes from the controversial to the more practical purport of his letter. There is no break, however, in the current of his thought; for throughout this chapter he urges the pursuit of a practical Christian life in a sense and in a manner silently opposed to the tendencies of Gnosticizing error. How much more congenial was the task to which he now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:1-17

The true Christian life. From above only can we be raised. There is no salvation in mere antipathy. Disgust at the vanities of life, repulsion from earthly things, will of itself never lift us beyond them; it needs the superior influence of heavenly things to do that. This the Colossian errorists did not rightly understand; or they could not have made ceremonial purifications and bodily austerities the way of holiness, the means of reaching spiritual perfection. "Touch not, taste not" ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:4

When Christ shall be manifested, our (or, your, ) life, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory ( Romans 8:18-23 ; Philippians 3:21 ; 1 Corinthians 1:7 ; 1 Corinthians 4:5 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 ; 1 Timothy 6:15 ; 2 Timothy 2:10-12 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 ; Titus 2:13 ; 1 John 3:2 ; 1 John 2:28 ). Our future destiny, with our present redemption ( Colossians 1:14 ), is wrapped up in Christ. Our life is not only "with him" ( Colossians 3:3 ); it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:4

The believer's final manifestation with Christ. "When Christ, who is our Life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory." The believer's life will not be always hidden, any more than the believer's Lord. There will be a period of manifestation for both. This marks the last stage of spiritual life. I. CHRIST IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE . This is more than saying that our life is hid with him or that he is the Author of it. "He that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:5

Make dead, therefore, the (or, your ) members that are upon the earth ( Colossians 2:11 ; Colossians 3:9 ; Ephesians 4:21 , Ephesians 4:22 ; Philippians 3:19 ; Romans 6:6 ; Romans 8:13 ; Romans 13:14 ). "Your" is omitted by most textual critics, but English idiom requires it in translation. In its absence a stronger emphasis falls on the defining clause, "that are upon the earth." As these things may no longer be pursued or studied ( Colossians 3:1 , Colossians 3:2... read more

Group of Brands