God’s Word Translation
Colossians 3:1
1Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.
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
Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne. 2Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. 3You have died, and your 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 2:12This happened when you were placed in the tomb with Christ through baptism. In baptism you were also brought back to life with Christ through faith in the power of God, who brought him back to life.
- Romans 6:4When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life.
- Galatians 2:19When I tried to obey the laws in the Scriptures, those laws killed me. As a result, I live in a relationship with God. I have been crucified with Christ.
- Ephesians 1:19You will also know the unlimited greatness of his power as it works with might and strength for us, the believers.
- Ephesians 2:5We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness that saved you.)
- Colossians 3:2Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things.
- Psalms 16:11You make the path of life known to me. Complete joy is in your presence. Pleasures are by your side forever.
- Psalms 17:14With your power rescue me from mortals, O Lord, from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life. You fill their bellies with your treasure. Their children are satisfied ⌞with it⌟, and they leave what remains to their children.
- Psalms 73:25As long as I have you, I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
- Proverbs 15:24The path of life for a wise person leads upward in order to turn him away from hell below.
- Matthew 6:20Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal.
- Luke 12:33“Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure.
- Romans 8:6The corrupt nature’s attitude leads to death. But the spiritual nature’s attitude leads to life and peace.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever.
- Philippians 3:20We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior.
- Hebrews 11:13All these people died having faith. They didn’t receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries