Chief Apostle transmission
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.
Where are we in the Bible?
The “therefore” at the beginning of verse 12 connects the following verses with those that precede them. In order to put on the new self, one must cast off the old (3:5-11). Both of these actions are necessary for the believer to embrace their new identity in Christ.
As the chosen, elect, and beloved, God gives the gift of new life, which we must put on. The new identity which believers have received is tightly interwoven with the obligations of the Christian life. The five virtues of verse 12 parallel the five vices in verses 5 and 8. All of the virtues involve the believer’s relations with others (not merely personal qualities). They set the Christian apart from the surrounding culture, then and still today.
Summary:
Colossians 3:12–14 calls believers to live out their new identity in Christ by putting on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness. As God’s chosen, holy, and beloved people, we are called to put on Christ, bear with those we find difficult to understand or love, and recognize that love—the bond of perfection—holds us together despite our imperfections. By tying the belt of love around all these virtues, we reflect Christ to the world and strengthen the unity of His church.
Foundational Reading
Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17
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