Commentary on Colossians 3:1

Colossians 3[i]:1 — “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

1. Place in Colossians

Colossians 3:1 begins the practical section of Paul’s letter. In Colossians chapters 1 and 2, Paul proclaims the supremacy, sufficiency, and saving work of Christ. He warns the church against teaching that adds human rules, religious display, or spiritual speculation to Christ. In Colossians 3, Paul turns that doctrine into daily Christian living: because believers are united to the risen Christ, they must seek what belongs to Christ’s kingdom.

2. Relevant King James Version Texts

• Colossians 3:1 — “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
• Colossians 3:2 — “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
• Colossians 3:3 — “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
• Colossians 3:4 — “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
• Colossians 2:12 — “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
• Colossians 2:20 — “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances.”
• Romans 6:4 — “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of The Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
• Psalm 110:1 — “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
• Matthew 6:33 — “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

3. Exegetical Insights

• “If ye then be risen with Christ” does not express doubt. Paul argues from a settled gospel reality: believers have been joined to Christ in his death and resurrection. Their new obedience rests on union with Christ, not self-improvement.
• “Risen with Christ” connects Colossians 3:1 with Colossians 2:12. Baptism points to the believer’s participation in Christ’s death and resurrection through faith. The Christian life begins with grace received, not moral effort achieved.
• “Seek those things which are above” is an active command. Paul calls believers to keep pursuing the priorities of the risen Lord: holiness, truth, love, thanksgiving, forgiveness, and worship.
• “Where Christ sitteth” anchors Christian hope in the present reign of Christ. Jesus is not merely an example from the past; he is the living Lord who reigns at the right hand of God.
• “On the right hand of God” recalls Psalm 110:1 and speaks of honour, authority, victory, and priestly intercession. The believer’s outlook is shaped by Christ’s enthronement.

4. Theological Teaching

• Union with Christ: The believer is united to Christ by grace through faith. This union is the root of sanctification. Paul does not say, “Become worthy so that you may rise with Christ.” He says, in effect, “Because you have been raised with Christ, live as one who belongs to him.”
• Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency: Colossians teaches that Christ is supreme over creation, redemption, the church, and every spiritual power. Therefore, Christian maturity is found by holding fast to Christ, not by chasing religious techniques.
• Sanctification by grace: Colossians 3 does call for effort, but it is gospel-shaped effort. Believers put sin to death and put on Christlike character because God has already made them alive in Christ.
• Heavenly-minded earthly living: “Things above” does not mean neglecting family, work, church, or society. It means living in these places under the rule of Christ, with eternal priorities shaping ordinary responsibilities.
• Hope of glory: Colossians 3:4 shows that the Christian life is hidden now but will be revealed when Christ appears. Present holiness is strengthened by future hope.

5. Practical Application to Modern Christian Living

• Begin each day from identity, not anxiety: The believer wakes as someone raised with Christ. Prayer, Scripture, and obedience are not attempts to earn grace; they are responses to grace.
• Resist spiritual distraction: Modern life presses the heart toward status, control, pleasure, outrage, and constant comparison. Colossians 3:1 calls Christians to re-centre desire around Christ’s reign.
• Put sin to death honestly: Colossians 3:5 says, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Seeking things above includes a serious break with patterns that dishonour Christ.
• Put on Christlike character: Colossians 3:12 says, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” Heavenly-minded people become more patient, gentle, truthful, thankful, and forgiving.
• Let worship shape the week: Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to The Lord.” Christian meditation is not emptying the mind but filling it with the word of Christ.
• Serve Christ in ordinary duties: Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in The Name of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and The Father by him.” The verse applies faith to speech, work, home life, conflict, service, and unseen sacrifice.

6. Meditation Guide

Step	Practice	Prompt
Read	Read Colossians 3:1 slowly, then read Colossians 3:1–17.	What does Paul say is already true of the believer in Christ?
Reflect	Consider the words “risen with Christ.”	Where am I trying to live from fear, performance, or self-reliance rather than from union with Christ?
Repent	Name one earthly desire, habit, or attitude that is ruling your heart.	What must I put to death because it does not belong to the risen life?
Receive	Rest in Christ seated at the right hand of God.	How does Christ’s authority, intercession, and victory comfort me today?
Respond	Choose one concrete act of obedience for the next twenty-four hours.	How can I seek the things above in my speech, work, home life, church life, or private thought life?
Pray	Pray with thanksgiving and dependence.	Lord Jesus, because I have been raised with you, teach me to seek what is above. Reorder my loves, strengthen my obedience, and make my ordinary life pleasing to you. Amen.

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[i] Colossians 3
King James Version
3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.