3:1 If 1 ye then 2 be a risen with Christ, 3 seek those
things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God.
(1) Another part of this epistle, in which he takes occasion by
reason of those vain exercises, to show the duty of a
Christian life: which is an ordinary thing with him, after
he has once set down the doctrine itself.
(2) Our renewing or new birth, which is accomplished in us by
being partakers of the resurrection of Christ, is the
source of all holiness, out of which various streams or
rivers afterwards flow.
(a) For if we are partakers of Christ, we are carried as it
were into another life, where we will need neither meat
nor drink, for we will be similar to the angels.
(3) The end and mark which all the duties of Christian life aim
at is to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and to give
ourselves to those things which lead us there, that is, to
true godliness, and not to those outward and physical
things.
3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the b
earth.
(b) So he calls that show of religion which he spoke of in
the former chapter.
3:34 For ye are dead, 5 and your life is hid with Christ in
God.
(4) A reason taken of the efficient causes and others: you are
dead with regard to the flesh, that is, with regard to the
old nature which seeks after all transitory things. And on
the other hand, you have begun to live according to the
Spirit; therefore give yourselves to spiritual and
heavenly, and not to carnal and earthly things.
(5) The taking away of an objection: while we are yet in this
world, we are subject to many miseries of this life, so
that the life that is in us, is as it were hidden. Yet
nonetheless we have the beginnings of life and glory, the
accomplishment of which lies now in Christ's and in God's
hand, and will assuredly and manifestly be performed in the
glorious coming of the Lord.
3:56 Mortify therefore your c members which are upon the
earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(6) Let not your dead nature be effectual in you any more, but
let your living nature be effectual. Now the strength of
nature is known by the desires. Therefore let the
affections of the world die in you, and let the contrary
desires which are spiritual, live. And he reckons up a
great long list of vices, and their contrary virtues.
(c) The desires and lusts that are in us, are in this
passage very properly called members, because the
reason and will of man is corrupted, and uses them as
the body uses its members.
3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God d cometh on the
children of disobedience:
(d) Used to come.
3:9 Lie not one to another, 7 seeing that ye have put off the
old man with his deeds;
(7) A definition of our new birth taken from the parts of it,
which are the putting off of the old man, that is to say,
of the wickedness which is in us by nature, and the
restoring and repairing of the new man, that is to say, of
the pureness which is given us by grace. However, both the
putting off and the putting on are only begun in us in this
present life, and by certain degrees finished, the one
dying in us by little and little, and the other coming to
the perfection of another life, by little and little.
3:10 And have put on the new [man], 8 which is renewed in e
knowledge after the image of him that created him:
(8) Newness of life consists in knowledge which transforms man
to the image of God his maker, that is to say to the
sincerity and pureness of the whole soul.
(e) He speaks of an effectual knowledge.
3:119 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but
Christ [is] all, and in all.
(9) He tells them again that the Gospel does not refer to those
external things, but true justification and sanctification
in Christ alone, which have many fruits, as he reckons them
up here: but he commends two things especially, that is,
godly harmony, and continual study of God's word.
3:12f Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, g bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of
mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(f) Put on in such a way, that you never put off.
(g) Those most tender affections of exceeding compassion.
3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the
h bond of perfectness.
(h) Which bonds and knits together all the duties that
take place between men.
3:15 And let the peace of God i rule in your hearts, to the
which also ye are called in k one body; and be ye
thankful.
(i) Rule and govern all things.
(k) You are joined together into one body through God's
goodness, so that you might help one another, as fellow
members.
3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in l psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.
(l) By "psalms" he means all godly songs which were written
upon various occasions, and by "hymns", all such as
contain the praise of God, and by "spiritual songs",
other more special and artful songs which were also in
praise of God, but they were made fuller of music.
3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the m
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father
by him.
(m) Call upon the name of Christ when you do it, or do it
to Christ's praise and glory.
3:1810 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it
is n fit in the Lord.
(10) He goes from precepts which concern the whole civil life
of man, to precepts pertaining to every man's family, and
requires of wives subjection in the Lord.
(n) For those wives do poorly, that do not set God in
Christ before them in their love; but this philosophy
does not know.
3:1911 Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against
them.
(11) He requires of husbands that they love their wives, and
treat them gently.
3:2012 Children, obey [your] parents in o all things: for
this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
(12) He requires of children, that according to God's
commandment they are obedient to their parents.
(o) In the Lord; and so it is expounded in (Eph 6:1).
3:2113 Fathers, provoke not your children [to anger], lest
they be discouraged.
(13) Of parents, that they are gentle towards their children.
3:2214 Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according
to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in
singleness of heart, fearing God:
(14) Of servants, that fearing God himself to whom their
obedience is acceptable, they reverently, faithfully, and
from the heart, obey their masters.
3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the p reward of
the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
(p) Because you will have duly obeyed your masters, the
time will come, that you will be changed from servants
to sons, and you will know this for certain, which will
be when you are made partakers of the heavenly
inheritance.
3:2515 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong
which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
(15) He requires of masters, that being mindful how they
themselves also will render an account before that
heavenly Lord and Master, who will avenge wrongful deeds
without any respect of masters or servants, they show
themselves just and upright with fairness to their
servants.
