And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
What does Colossians 3:14 mean?
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.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Colossians 3:12-15 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Colossians 3:14
And above all these things - Over, or upon all these things; compare the notes at Ephesians 6:16 . Charity - Love. Notes, 1 Corinthians 13:1 . Which is the bond of perfectness - The bond of all perfection; the thing which will unite all other things, and make them complete; compare the parallel place in Ephesians 4:3 . The idea seems to be that love will bind all the other graces fast together, and render the whole system complete. Without love, though there might be other graces and virtues, there would be a want of harmony and compactness in our Christian graces, and this was necessary to unite and complete the whole.
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Context in Colossians 3
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Colossians 3 belongs to the late movement of the book, especially the section often described as new life in Christ. Colossians magnifies Christ as image, creator, reconciler, head of the church, and the one in whom believers are complete. Read this chapter with the wider themes of supremacy of Christ, fullness, and reconciliation in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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