Colossians 3:9-11 — Put Off and Put On

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

do not lie (v.9) — tense indicates continuing action — “Stop lying”

old (v.9) = that which belongs to a past period and is worn out

new (v.10) — in contrast to that which is of long duration, new in time

renewed (v.10) — continuous present tense

renewed in knowledge (v.10) — constantly taking on more of the image of the Creator

Him (v.10 — 1st use) — God

him (v.10 — 2nd use) — the new man

where there is neither (v.11) = where there cannot be

barbarian (v.11) = one who spoke an unintelligible language

The various groups mentioned have to do with distinctions of national privilege (Greek and Jew), legal or ceremonial standing (circumcision and uncircumcision), culture (barbarian and Scythian, the latter thought of as the lowest of the barbarians), and social caste (bondman, freeman). — Vaughan, page 98.

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The reference is probably shaped by the conditions of the Colossian Church, where the form of error was partly Judaistic and ceremonial, insisting on circumcision; where the pretense of superior knowledge affected contempt for the rude barbarian, and where the distinction of master and slave had place as elsewhere. — Wuest, pages 221-222.

all (v.11 —1st use) — all things

So distinctions don’t matter — only Christ matters.

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