Colossians 3:1-11

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, expositions and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit
    • "Idolatry"
    • "Subdue Desires and Passions" 
  • "Two as One," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Vision I.I, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • I.III.4, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • III.11, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • IV.8, VI.16, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XI, On Idolatry, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XXIII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XVII, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
  • II.VI.7, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • II.30, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • IV.Summary.31, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen / Rufinus (c.230)
  • VI.3, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • IV.LXXII, V.XLIX, VII.XXXVIII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • XI.13, XII.33, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • Epistle LI -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Commentary by St John Chrysostom: Homily VIII.
    • "He said that this is not our life, but another, that which is in heaven."
  • "Exhortation to Truly Good Works," Colossians 3:1-7, Martin Luther, c. 1525.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "The end and mark which all the duties of Christian life aim at is to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and to give ourselves to those things which lead us there, that is, to true godliness, and not to those outward and physical things."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, both cannot be followed together; and affection to the one will weaken and abate affection to the other."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The Head being quickened, the members are also quickened with Him. Where the Head is, there the members must be."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Like the tree in the winter, not dead, but the life hidden. When the spring comes, its life shows itself in glory."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Colossians 3:1-4 (Easter A), Walter F. Taylor, Jr., Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "When Jesus is killed and when he is raised, in some way we are killed and we are raised with him. And his past-tense resurrection and our past-tense-but-still-future resurrection help us to lift our eyes to the heavens above, both to see the resurrected Christ and to orient our lives to him."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Easter Sunday," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "...we can see that this notion of being hidden in God and then being revealed is a pattern for thinking about spirituality and about spiritual action - at any time."
  • Colossians 3:1-4 - Easter A: Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Colossians 3:1-11, Christ and the Powers of Darkness: Lessons from Colossians, Robert Paul Roth, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1986.
  • "Real Life in Christ," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources.
  • "Walking the Talk," Expository Essay, Col. 3, Dr. William R. Long.
    • "Paul's ethical advice makes most sense to me if I can apply it to real life problems or struggles in which I am engaged today."
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Colossians 3:1-11, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "Whichever way you come to the Story, there is a need to jettison such unhelpful pausing points as anger, malice, slander, and abusive language."
  • "Think and Act from Above," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
    • "Reflect on your baptism. How have you tried to see your life in Christ? Does such a view change your outlook?"
  • "Resurrection Living," William D. Dennison, in Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed).
    • "Through Christ's Spirit, the believer is in complete union with the victory of Christ's resurrection, and he lives that resurrection presently in heavenly union with his beloved Savior, even as he continues to journey on earth."
  • "The Old Man," David L. Roth, in Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed).
    • "It's certainly true that this age is tethered to the patience of God. And he will certainly come someday (the not-yet) and will bring heaven with him (the not-here). That's our hope. But it is primarily the "here" and "now" aspects of heaven—the things of faith that Paul just discussed—that provide the foundation for his exhortation in this particular passage."
  • "First Thoughts on Year C Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 10, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "The reference to "all" may also have a much wider focus: all people and all of creation. That is at least the goal of this love which flows from the heart of God and that needs to be the goal of that love in and through our lives as well, so that no one is beyond it and no part of creation beyond our care and concern."
  • Colossians 3:1-11 - Proper 18C: Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
• Articles & Background:
  • "Tempering the Spirit of Wrath: Anger and the Christian Life," Robert C. Roberts. The Christian Century, 1997. At Religion OnLine.
    • "We must admit that the condemnation ingredient in anger always involves an illusory self-perception. But sometimes illusions are an inevitable part of our human situation and ones that we get around not by eradicating them but by compensating for them."
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  • Barram, Michael, "Between Text and Sermon: Colossians 3:1-17," Interpretation, 2005.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Bloom, Metropolitan Anthony, "The Life of Prayer," Theology Today, 2004.
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  • Campbell, Douglass A., "The Scythian Perspective in Col. 3:11: A Response to Troy Martin," Novum Testamentum, 1997.
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  • Foster, Richard J., "Salvation Is for Life," Theology Today, 2004.
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  • Gibbs, Jeffrey A., "Homiletical Helps on LSB Series A - Epistles," (Colossians 3:1-4 begins on page 81), Concordia Journal, 2008.
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  • Howington, Nolan P., "Liberating Christ (Colossians 3:1-11)," Review & Expositor, 1958.
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  • Krause, Deborah, "Keeping It Real: The Image of God in the New Testament," Interpretation, 2005.
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  • Levison, John R., "2 Apoc. Bar. 48:42-52:7 and the Apocalyptic Dimension of Colossians 3:1-6," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1989.
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  • Maier, Harry O., "A Sly Civility: Colossians and Empire," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2005.
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  • Martin, Troy, "The Scythian Perspective in Col 3:11," Novum Testamentum, 1995.
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  • Moule, C.F.D., "'The New Life' in Colossians 3:1-17," Review & Expositor, 1973.
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  • Roberts, Robert C., "Tempering the Spirit of Wrath: Anger and the Christian Life," The Christian Century, 1997.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Roth, Robert Paul, "Christ and the Powers of Darkness: Lessons from Colossians," Word & World, 1986.
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  • Walsh, Brian J., "Late/Post Modernity and Idolatry: A Contextual Reading of Colossians 2:8 - 3:4," Ex Auditu, 1999.
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• Sermons:
  • "Living in the Fullness of God," Lori Claudio, Day 1, 2001.
  • "Take It Off? Take It All Off?" the Rev. Linda Hollies, Day 1, 1998.
• With Children:
  • "Now Set Your Hearts on What Is in Heaven," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "New Clothes," "The Greatest Wish," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Colossians 3:3, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Colossians 3:1-4, Colossians 3:1-4, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Colossians 3:2, 3, 4, 11. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymn selections, Colossians 3:1-4, (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
  • "Christ Has Died and Christ Is Risen," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, a new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Break Thou the Bread of Life
    • Chief of Sinners
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Colossians