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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/colossians/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/colossians/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/colossians/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/colossians/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/colossians/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And beyond all these, <i>put on</i> love, which is <i>the</i> bond of perfect unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/colossians/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And above all these things <i>put on</i> charity, which is the bond of perfectness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/colossians/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/colossians/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />In addition to all these things <i>put on</i> love, which is the perfect bond of unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/colossians/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/colossians/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And beyond all these things <i>put on</i> love, which is the perfect bond of unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/colossians/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Above all these things <i>put on</i> love, which is the perfect bond of unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/colossians/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Beyond all these things put on <i>and</i> wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/colossians/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/colossians/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/colossians/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/colossians/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/colossians/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/colossians/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/colossians/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/colossians/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/colossians/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/colossians/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/colossians/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/colossians/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And over all these put on love, which is the perfect bond of union;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/colossians/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/colossians/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and above all these things, [have] love, which is a bond of the perfection,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And beyond all these, <i>put on</i> love, which is <i>the</i> bond of perfect unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/colossians/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and above all these things, have love, which is a bond of the perfection,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/colossians/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And over all these, love, which is the bond of completion.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/colossians/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/colossians/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/colossians/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/colossians/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/colossians/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And with all these things have love, which is the bond of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/colossians/3.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And with all these things, love, which is the bond of perfection.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/colossians/3.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />and over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/colossians/3.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />and in all these things put on divine love, which is the bond of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/colossians/3.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/colossians/3.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />to all this add love, which is the band of perfect union:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And over all these put on love, which is the perfect bond of union;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/colossians/3.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />and over all these <i>put on</i> love, which is the uniting-bond of perfectness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/colossians/3.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />And above all these <i>put on</i> love, which is the band of perfection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/colossians/3-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7q-K-qsfihQ?start=618" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/colossians/3.htm">Putting on the New Self</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">And</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">over</a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: pasin (Adj-DNP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">all</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: toutois (DPro-DNP) -- This; he, she, it. ">these virtues</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/26.htm" title="26: agapēn (N-AFS) -- From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.">put on love,</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: ho (RelPro-NNS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">which</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">is</a> <a href="/greek/4886.htm" title="4886: syndesmos (N-NMS) -- That which binds together; a band, bond. From sun and desmon; a joint tie, i.e. Ligament, uniting principle, control.">the bond</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5047.htm" title="5047: teleiotētos (N-GFS) -- Perfectness, perfection, maturity. From teleios; completeness.">of perfect unity.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">15</span>Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-1.htm">1 Corinthians 13:1-13</a></span><br />If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. / If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. / If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-21</a></span><br />Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. / This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8-10</a></span><br />Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. / The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">Ephesians 4:1-3</a></span><br />As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: / with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, / and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a></span><br />But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a></span><br />A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-8.htm">1 Peter 4:8</a></span><br />Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37-40</a></span><br />Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/3-14.htm">1 John 3:14-18</a></span><br />We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. / Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. / By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Ephesians 5:2</a></span><br />and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/3-12.htm">1 Thessalonians 3:12</a></span><br />And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/16-14.htm">1 Corinthians 16:14</a></span><br />Do everything in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/1-5.htm">2 Peter 1:5-7</a></span><br />For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; / and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; / and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-9.htm">Romans 12:9-10</a></span><br />Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. / Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-12.htm">John 15:12-13</a></span><br />This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. / Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2"> And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.</p><p class="hdg">charity.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/colossians/2-2.htm">Colossians 2:2</a></b></br> That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34</a></b></br> A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/15-12.htm">John 15:12</a></b></br> This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.</p><p class="hdg">the.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/1-4.htm">Ephesians 1:4</a></b></br> According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/4-3.htm">Ephesians 4:3</a></b></br> Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-12</a></b></br> Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/philippians/1-16.htm">Add</a> <a href="/mark/3-27.htm">Binds</a> <a href="/colossians/3-11.htm">Bond</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/16-14.htm">Charity</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-2.htm">Completely</a> <a href="/philippians/4-2.htm">Harmony</a> <a href="/colossians/2-19.htm">Joined</a> <a href="/colossians/2-2.htm">Love</a> <a href="/colossians/1-28.htm">Perfect</a> <a href="/philippians/3-12.htm">Perfection</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Perfectness</a> <a href="/colossians/3-1.htm">Together</a> <a href="/colossians/2-6.htm">Union</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-13.htm">Unity</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">Virtues</a> <a href="/colossians/3-7.htm">Walk</a> <a href="/colossians/2-14.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/colossians/4-18.htm">Add</a> <a href="/numbers/30-3.htm">Binds</a> <a href="/revelation/13-16.htm">Bond</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/3-6.htm">Charity</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/5-23.htm">Completely</a> <a href="/1_timothy/1-18.htm">Harmony</a> <a href="/1_john/1-6.htm">Joined</a> <a href="/colossians/3-19.htm">Love</a> <a href="/colossians/4-12.htm">Perfect</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/3-10.htm">Perfection</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Perfectness</a> <a href="/colossians/4-3.htm">Together</a> <a href="/1_john/2-24.htm">Union</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-8.htm">Unity</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">Virtues</a> <a href="/colossians/4-5.htm">Walk</a> <a href="/colossians/4-4.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Colossians 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-1.htm">He shows where we should seek Christ.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">He exhorts to holiness;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-10.htm">to put off the old self, and put on Christ;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-12.htm">exhorting to charity, humility, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-18.htm">and other duties.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/colossians/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/colossians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/colossians/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And over all these virtues</b><br>This phrase suggests a hierarchy or prioritization of virtues, indicating that love is the supreme virtue that should be placed above all others. In the context of <a href="/colossians/3.htm">Colossians 3</a>, Paul has been discussing various virtues such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. The imagery of "putting on" these virtues is akin to clothing oneself, which is a common metaphor in Paul's writings (see <a href="/ephesians/4-24.htm">Ephesians 4:24</a>). This metaphor would resonate with the Colossian audience, who were familiar with the importance of clothing in Roman society as a symbol of identity and status.<p><b>put on love</b><br>The act of "putting on" love implies an intentional and active choice, much like dressing oneself. Love is not merely an emotion but an action and commitment. In the biblical context, love (agape) is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional, reflecting the love of Christ. This aligns with Jesus' commandment in <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a>, where He instructs His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. Love is the defining characteristic of a follower of Christ and is central to Christian ethics.<p><b>which is the bond of perfect unity</b><br>Love is described as the "bond" that holds everything together in perfect unity. The Greek word for "bond" (syndesmos) can refer to ligaments that hold the body together, suggesting that love is the force that unites and strengthens the community of believers. This unity is not merely the absence of conflict but a harmonious and complete oneness that reflects the unity of the Trinity. The concept of unity is echoed in <a href="/ephesians/4-3.htm">Ephesians 4:3</a>, where believers are urged to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. In a historical context, the early church faced divisions and false teachings, making the call to unity through love particularly relevant.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of the letter to the Colossians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_church_at_colossae.htm">The Church at Colossae</a></b><br>A Christian community in the ancient city of Colossae, located in modern-day Turkey. Paul wrote to them to address false teachings and to encourage them in their faith.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>Central to Paul's teachings, Jesus is the embodiment of love and the ultimate example of how to live a life pleasing to God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_supremacy_of_love.htm">The Supremacy of Love</a></b><br>Love is the greatest of all virtues and should be the overarching principle in our lives. It is the glue that holds all other virtues together.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/love_as_a_unifying_force.htm">Love as a Unifying Force</a></b><br>Love creates unity within the body of Christ. It transcends differences and fosters a spirit of harmony and peace.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/practical_expression_of_love.htm">Practical Expression of Love</a></b><br>Love should be active and visible in our daily interactions. It is not just a feeling but a commitment to act in the best interest of others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/love_reflects_christ.htm">Love Reflects Christ</a></b><br>By putting on love, we reflect the character of Christ, who is the ultimate example of sacrificial and unconditional love.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/love_and_spiritual_maturity.htm">Love and Spiritual Maturity</a></b><br>Spiritual maturity is marked by the ability to love others deeply and genuinely. It is a sign of growing in Christ-likeness.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/colossians/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">Above all.</span>--Properly, <span class= "ital">over all--</span>as a bond or cincture to keep all together. Love is the general principle, harmonising all the special graces named above.<p><span class= "bld">The bond of perfectness.</span>--The bond of that harmony of character which is perfection. The phrase is remarkable, apparently suggested by the claim to perfection, set up by the Gnostic teachers. They sought such perfection in knowledge peculiar to the few; St. Paul in the love which is possible to all. For as he elsewhere urges (<a href="/1_corinthians/8-1.htm" title="Now as touching things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.">1Corinthians 8:1</a>)," Knowledge puffs up, charity builds up;" knowledge gains a fancied perfection, charity a real perfection.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/colossians/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And over all these things</span> (put on) <span class="cmt_word">love, which</span> (thing) <span class="cmt_word">is the bond of perfectness</span> (<a href="/colossians/2-2.htm">Colossians 2:2</a>; <a href="/ephesians/4-2.htm">Ephesians 4:2, 3</a>; <a href="/ephesians/5-1.htm">Ephesians 5:1</a>; <a href="/philippians/2-2.htm">Philippians 2:2</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/13.htm">1 Corinthians 13</a>; <a href="/galatians/5-13.htm">Galatians 5:13-15, 22</a>; <a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8-10</a>; <a href="/2_peter/1-7.htm">2 Peter 1:7</a>; <a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-21</a>; <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34, 35</a>). In <a href="/1_corinthians/13.htm">1 Corinthians 13</a>. "love" is the substance or substratum of the Christian virtues; in <a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22</a> it is their head and beginning; here it is that which embraces and completes them. They imply love, but it is more than them all together. They lie within its circumference; wanting it, they fall to pieces and are nothing. (For <span class="greek">συνδεσμός</span> ("bond" or "band"), comp. <a href="/colossians/2-19.htm">Colossians 2:19</a>.) In <a href="/ephesians/4-3.htm">Ephesians 4:3</a> we have the "bond of peace" (see next verse). Love is <span class="accented">the bond</span> in the active sense, as that <span class="accented">wherewith</span> the constituents of a Christian character or the members of a Church are bound together: peace, in a passive sense, as that <span class="accented">wherein</span> the union consists (comp. <a href="/1_corinthians/1-10.htm">1 Corinthians 1:10</a>; <a href="/2_corinthians/13-11.htm">2 Corinthians 13:11</a>). "Love" (compare "covetousness," ver. 5) is made conspicuous by the Greek definite article - being <span class="accented">that eminent, essential</span> grace of Christian love (<a href="/colossians/1-4.htm">Colossians 1:4, 8</a>; <a href="/colossians/2-2.htm">Colossians 2:2</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/13.htm">1 Corinthians 13</a>; <a href="/1_john/4-16.htm">1 John 4:16</a>, etc.). "Perfectness" is genitive of object, not of quality: love unifies the elements of Christian goodness and gives them in itself their "perfectness" (<a href="/romans/13-10.htm">Romans 13:10</a>). (For "perfectness," see note on "perfect," <a href="/colossians/1-28.htm">Colossians 1:28</a>; and comp. 4:12.) Against Galatian teachers of circumcision, and Corinthian exalters of knowledge, the apostle had magnified the supremacy of love (<a href="/galatians/5-6.htm">Galatians 5:6</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/8-1.htm">1 Corinthians 8:1-3</a>); and so against the Colossian mysticism and asceticism he sets it forth as the crown of spiritual perfection, the goal of human excellence (comp. <a href="/ephesians/4-15.htm">Ephesians 4:15, 16</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/colossians/3-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">And</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">over</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπὶ</span> <span class="translit">(epi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> </span><span class="str2">On, to, against, on the basis of, at. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="grk">πᾶσιν</span> <span class="translit">(pasin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">these [virtues]</span><br /><span class="grk">τούτοις</span> <span class="translit">(toutois)</span><br /><span class="parse">Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> </span><span class="str2">This; he, she, it. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">[put on] love,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀγάπην</span> <span class="translit">(agapēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_26.htm">Strong's 26: </a> </span><span class="str2">From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which</span><br /><span class="grk">ὅ</span> <span class="translit">(ho)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">is</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐστιν</span> <span class="translit">(estin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[the] bond</span><br /><span class="grk">σύνδεσμος</span> <span class="translit">(syndesmos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4886.htm">Strong's 4886: </a> </span><span class="str2">That which binds together; a band, bond. From sun and desmon; a joint tie, i.e. Ligament, uniting principle, control.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of perfect unity.</span><br /><span class="grk">τελειότητος</span> <span class="translit">(teleiotētos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5047.htm">Strong's 5047: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perfectness, perfection, maturity. From teleios; completeness.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/colossians/3-14.htm">NT Letters: Colossians 3:14 Above all these things walk in love (Coloss. Col Co) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/colossians/3-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Colossians 3:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Colossians 3:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/colossians/3-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Colossians 3:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Colossians 3:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>