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Colossians 3:12-14

歌罗西书 3:12-14

The Passage

Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

In the other language

所以，你们既是神的选民，圣洁蒙爱的人，就要存怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心。倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。

Theme

Put on love

Bring a question to this passage

Many readers arrive here from a real question. These are reflections for how this passage speaks to the questions people bring most often — not an answer about what will happen, but an invitation to sit with it slowly.

How do I face this season of pressure at work?

Before Paul names compassion, kindness, humility, and perseverance, he addresses people as beloved. The qualities he asks them to put on follow that belonging; they are not a way to earn it. This passage does not settle questions about workload or unfair treatment, but it offers a way to meet the people involved. Pressure can shorten your patience and make a colleague seem like nothing more than an obstacle. Love invites you to see a person again. Forgiveness need not call harm acceptable, and kindness can accompany a clear boundary. When in your working day could you pause, knowing this passage does not settle questions of workload or fairness, to consider what kindness with a clear boundary might look like?

Carry thisKindness and clear boundaries can belong in the same response.

Other passages for this questionGenesis 1:26-28 · Isaiah 41:10 · 1 Corinthians 7:3-4

I want to learn to love better in this relationship.

Before naming what you should put on, this passage names belonging: chosen, holy, beloved. Compassion and kindness are not presented as ways to earn that identity. They are ways of living from it. If you want to love better, these words offer something concrete: patience with another's limitations, humility about your own, and forgiveness where there is a real complaint. Forgiveness does not make the hurt imaginary or remove the need for honest boundaries. Above all, love holds these practices together, so kindness is more than politeness and patience more than silence. How might remembering that you are beloved make room for compassion and honesty in this relationship?

Carry thisLove gives compassion, patience, and forgiveness a shared shape.

Other passages for this questionGenesis 1:26-28 · Isaiah 41:10 · 1 Corinthians 7:3-4

What do I need to let go of in the coming weeks?

You are addressed here as beloved, before anything is asked of you. The passage does not specify what to release in the coming weeks, but it offers qualities you can practice. Compassion, kindness, and humility give your attention somewhere gentle to rest. You might notice a complaint you have been rehearsing. Forgiveness does not require pretending that the hurt was small. It can begin with bringing that hurt honestly before God. Love holds these practices together, without asking you to force a quick resolution. Before naming what you need to let go of, how might remembering that you are beloved soften the way you hold it?

Carry thisLove can shape your response without denying the hurt.

Other passages for this questionGenesis 1:26-28 · Isaiah 41:10 · 1 Corinthians 7:3-4

How can I find stillness in a busy life?

Stillness in a busy life is not directly addressed here, but this passage offers a way to inhabit your days with love. You are named as beloved before you are asked to put on compassion, kindness, humility, and patience. These qualities need not become more tasks; they can soften the way you carry the tasks already before you. Bearing with another person or receiving Christ’s forgiveness may open a quiet space where you no longer have to hurry toward blame or defend yourself. This passage does not directly address stillness. Is there a moment in your busy day when receiving Christ’s forgiveness might help you meet yourself and others with greater gentleness?

Carry thisLove matters alongside everything you need to get done.

Other passages for this questionGenesis 1:26-28 · Isaiah 41:10 · 1 Corinthians 7:3-4

Have a different question?

Write what you are actually carrying right now, and Lectio will answer it with this passage — Colossians 3:12-14.

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Colossians 3 — in context

6for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;

8but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.

20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

More from Colossians

Related topics

Relationships and Family

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