Amplified Bible
Colossians 3:1
1Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
- New International Version (NIV)Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Context of Colossians 3:1
Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
Read all of Colossians 3Colossians 3:1 word by word
Εἰ οὖν συνηγέρθητε τῷ Χριστῷ, τὰ ἄνω ζητεῖτε, οὗ ὁ Χριστός ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ καθήμενος·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- Ifεἰei · ifG1487
- yeσυνεγείρωsunegeirō · to raise up withG4891
- thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- Christὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- seekζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
- aboveἄνωanō · aboveG507
- whereοὗhou · whitherG3757
- sittethκάθημαιkathēmai · to sitG2521
- onἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Colossians 3:1
- Colossians 2:12having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead.
- Romans 6:4We have therefore been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in newness of life [abandoning our old ways].
- Galatians 2:19For through the Law I died to the Law and its demands on me [because salvation is provided through the death and resurrection of Christ], so that I might [from now on] live to God.
- Ephesians 1:19and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength
- Ephesians 2:5even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).
- Colossians 3:2Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].
- Psalms 16:11You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
- Psalms 17:14From men with Your hand, O Lord, From men of the world [these moths of the night] whose portion [of enjoyment] is in this life—idle and vain, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And they leave what they have left [of wealth] to their children.
- Psalms 73:25Whom have I in heaven [but You]? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
- Proverbs 15:24The [chosen] path of life leads upward for the wise, That he may keep away from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) below.
- Matthew 6:20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;
- Luke 12:33“Sell your possessions (show compassion) and give [donations] to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
- Romans 8:6Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever];
- 2 Corinthians 4:18So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.
- Philippians 3:20But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
- Hebrews 11:13All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Commentaries on Colossians 3:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1If ye then - · Seeing then that ye are risen with Christ; this refers to what he had said, Colossians 2:12; : Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him. As, therefore, ye have most cordially received the doctrine of Christ; and profess to be partakers of a spiritual religion, that promises spiritual and eternal things; seek those things, and look to be prepared for the enjoyment of them.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1If ye then be risen with Christ - The apostle in this place evidently founds the argument on what he had said in Colossians 2:12; see the notes at that passage. The argument is, that there was such an union between Christ and his people, that in virtue of his death they become dead to sin; that in virtue of his resurrection they rise to spiritual life, and that, therefore, as Christ now lives in heaven, they should live for heaven, and fix their…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The Colossians exhorted to be heavenly-minded; (1-4) to mortify all corrupt affections; (5-11) to live in mutual love, forbearance, and forgiveness; (12-17) and to practise the duties of wives and husbands, children, parents, and servants. (18-25) Verses 1-4 As Christians are freed from the ceremonial law, they must walk the more closely with God in gospel obedience. As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, both cannot be followed together; and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1strive for the things above: Christians live on earth, but their true selves have been raised with Christ. This connects them to the spiritual world where Christ rules. In contrast, the commands and teachings of false teachers focus on earthly matters (2:22).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251. If ... then--The connection with Col 2:18, 23, is, he had condemned the "fleshly mind" and the "satiating to the full the flesh"; in contrast to this he now says, "If then ye have been once for all raised up (Greek, aorist tense) together with Christ" (namely, at your conversion and baptism, Ro 6:4). seek those things ... above--(Mt 6:33; Php 3:20). sitteth--rather, as Greek, "Where Christ is, sitting on the right of God" (Ep 1:20). The Head being…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 3:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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