Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Study Note
Study Note
The imperative to 'put on…bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering' addresses the 'elect of God, holy and beloved' — identity-language drawn from Deuteronomy 7:6 and Isaiah 43:4 — grounding the ethical demands in prior election and love rather than in aspiration. The clothing metaphor ('put on,' endysasthe) parallels the earlier 'put off the old man' and 'put on the new man' of verses 9-10, presenting virtue as the wardrobe of the new humanity created in Christ's image. The list's social range — from inward compassion to interpersonal patience — reflects the community context of the household codes following in 3:18-4:1, where these virtues are displayed in domestic relationships. Ephesians 4:32's parallel list confirms this as a shared catechetical formula of early Christian moral instruction.
Other Translations
Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;
Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,
As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;
Cross References
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: …
For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed …
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal …
And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and …
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a …
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with …
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember …
Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I …
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days …
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it …