For this week’s scripture study, we are going to make use of your study Bibles. I will be using my NLT Parallel Study Bible.¹ If you don’t have a good study Bible, biblegateway.com is a great free resource.

Text: Colossians 3:7-9, 12-16

Key Verse: Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

• Reading in Context
  1. Read Colossians 3:1-4:6
     • My Bible breaks down Colossians into four categories or topics. This passage falls under “Living the New Life in Christ,” and then breaks it down further into subtopics: 3:1-11 “Living the New Life,” 3:12-17 “New Relationships,” 3:18-4:1 “Instructions for Christian Households” and 4:2-6 “An Encouragement for Prayer.” What (if any) titles does your Bible give to this passage? Does this help you in your understanding of it?
       • My Thoughts: This makes me think of the MercyMe song “Welcome to the New.” Here’s the YouTube link to the song: https://youtu.be/99BfTQh14f8 I am reminded that no change or transformation within us can come apart from Christ. “Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (3:2-3).
     • Let’s look at the historical background to the book of Colossians. Using your study Bible, go to the beginning of the book and look for the book introduction. If you are using Bible Gateway, you can: 1. Type “Colossians” in the search bar, 2. Click on “Book of Colossians,” 3. Click the blue button “Study This” in the top right hand corner of the screen, 4. Scroll down to Encyclopedias and click on “Encyclopedia of the Bible” 5. From there, you will find “The Epistle of Colossians” 6. When you click on it, a lengthy description of the book will pull up. This is the information you are looking for:
       • Author:
       • Setting:
       • Hint: Where was this book written? Colossians is an epistle (letter). Who was its recipient?

     • Background:
     • Purpose:
     • Key Verses: “For in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (2:9-10).

• Bonus: Read through the whole book of Colossians this week. It’s only 4 chapters!

• Digging Deeper
• Only looking at our key verse and passage, list the cross references your Bible gives:
• 1. *Hint: You can often find cross references in the center column of your Bible, but they can also be found at the bottom in a footnote or study notes or off to the side of the main text.

• Example: Colossians 4:6: See also Mark 9:50, Ephesians 4:29 and 1 Peter 3:15
• Now, pick some of the verses you listed and read them!

• Circle or highlight key words of phrases that stand out to you in the passage. I’ve underlined a few to illustrate.
• “put them away:” NLT translates it “get rid of” and further explains in the study notes that this literally means to “take off”
• “anger:” Greek “orge,” a noun meaning “a strong feeling of displeasure and antagonism, often the response to a standard being violated. This anger can range from an appropriate response of anger against injustice to sinful, selfish anger.”
• “love:” Greek “agape” “This noun means the attitude or emotion of deep affection for another person, with a focus on loving action and not feelings alone. This love is extolled as a cardinal virtue.”
• “peace:” Greek “eirene” “This noun means a state of concord, peace, and harmony among parties. There is no necessary implication of a previous state of discord. The word can also signify an internal sense of well-being. It often refers to the peace between God and human beings made possible through Christ” (emphasis mine).
• Now, go back and look at the words/phrases you highlighted. Use your study Bible or a free resource like biblehub.com to dig a little deeper. Compare multiple translations or even take a look at the Greek words/meaning (Bible Hub gives you this option). Does this give you any added clarity to the passage or how it might apply to your life and this study?

1. “In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices . . . Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. . . . Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

¹ NLT Parallel Study Bible © 2011 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188