SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:8

3:8a

But now: Paul was contrasting the way the Colossians should behave now that they had trusted Christ with the way they used to behave (3:7).

you must put aside all such things as these: In Greek the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates put aside can literally mean “take-off/remove” clothes. Here Paul was using it as an idiom. It means almost the same thing as “Put to death” in 3:5a: “Do not do any of these things any more.” This same idiom is used in Romans 13:12; Ephesians 4:22, 4:25; 1 Peter 2:1; and James 1:21.

all such things as these: It is possible that all such things refers back to the list of evil things in 3:5. But most scholars and translations say that these words refer forward to the evil things that Paul listed in 3:8b and 3:9.

3:8b

anger, rage: These two words, anger and rage, mean almost the same thing. If you have two synonyms in your language for anger, you can use them here, otherwise you can combine the two words and say, “do not be angry in any way.”

malice: To act with malice means to act in wicked, hateful ways, to do things to people just to be unkind. Here is another way to translate this word:

hateful feelings (Good News Translation)

slander: This means to say hateful, unkind, insulting things about people. This may mean telling lies about people, but it can also include saying true things about people, but with the intent to hurt them.

filthy language: This probably refers to obscene talk or cursing. If you do not have an expression in your language for speaking in this offensive or profane manner, you may be able to say, “using words that should not be spoken.”

from your lips: The Greek is literally “from your mouth.” Notice that the Berean Standard Bible, along with several other English versions, has translated the Greek word for “mouth” with lips. This is because in English it is more natural to refer to words being “on someone’s lips” than “in their mouth.” In other languages, it may be more natural to refer to the throat or the tongue. You should use the term that is most natural in your language.

© 2001 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:19

3:19b

and do not be harsh with them: One specific way that husbands can love their wives is by not treating them harshly. To treat someone harshly is the opposite of the qualities that Paul listed in 3:12 (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience). It is best to translate this as a negative command: “do not…” But if it is difficult to translate it this way, you can translate it as a positive command. For example:

and be gentle with them (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:18

Section 3:18–4:1

Paul instructed husbands and wives, children and parents, slaves and masters

In this section, Paul continued to instruct the Colossians about the way that they should behave in order to please Christ. In this section, however, he was writing about how they should behave at home rather than within the Christian community. He gave instructions to six types of people: wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters. His message was the same for all:

(a) That people should submit to those who had authority over them,

(b) That those who had authority should be considerate toward those under them.

Paul gave instructions to wives in 3:18, to husbands in 3:19, to children in 3:20, to parents in 3:21, to slaves in 3:22, and to masters in 4:1. Make sure you begin each of these verses in the same way.

Paragraph 3:18–19

Theme: Paul gave instructions to husbands and wives: that wives should be subject to their husbands, and husbands should love their wives.

3:18a

Wives: Here Paul was writing specifically to the married women. You may need to use the pronoun “you”(plural) in translating this, for example: “You believers who are married women.” In other languages it may be better to translate this “Each of you who is a married woman.” Use whichever way is most natural in your language.

submit to your husbands: The word submit means that a wife must acknowledge that her husband is the leader in their family, she must put herself under his control. In some languages it may need to be translated as “obey.” This command is in the present tense in Greek. This means that a wife should continually submit to her husband.

3:18b

as is fitting in the Lord: Paul was saying that wives should submit to their husbands because that is the way that women who belong to the Lord should behave. It is behavior that is fitting, appropriate, and correct.

Lord: This refers to the Lord Jesus.

3:19a

Husbands: Here Paul is writing specifically to the married men. You may need to use the pronoun “you”(plural) in translating this, for example: “You believers who are married men.” In other languages it may be better to translate this “Each of you who is a married man.” Use whichever way is most natural in your language.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:17

Paragraph 3:17

Theme: Paul reminded the Colossians that they belonged to the Lord Jesus. Therefore, they should do everything that people who belong to him should do.

This verse is a summary of all that Paul had commanded/urged the Colossians to do since 2:6.

3:17b

in the name of the Lord Jesus: To do something in the name of someone else is to do it as that person’s representative, or as one who acts under his authority. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment about 3:17a–b

You could reorder 3:17a–b as follows:

Since we are all representatives of the Lord Jesus, we should speak as he wants us to speak, and we should do things in the way he wants us to do them.

3:17c

God the Father: In some languages, it is more natural to say “God our(incl.) Father,” than God the Father.

through Him: That is, “through Jesus.” This means that Christians should thank God the Father “by means of the Lord Jesus.” Jesus is our mediator—he is the “go-between.” Christ takes our thanks and presents them to God the Father.

It could also mean that it is by means of Jesus and what he did that Christians can approach God to pray and give thanks. One way to express this is to say:

Always say thank you to our Father God. You can approach him to say thank you because Jesus has made it possible for you.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:16

3:16a

the word of Christ: This can mean either:

(1) the word from Christ, that is, the words, or the message, which Christ taught.

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) the word about Christ, that is, the message about Christ.

(Contemporary English Version, SSA)

Actually there is little difference in meaning between the two. You can follow either interpretation in your translation.

richly: The Greek word plousiōs that the Berean Standard Bible translates richly is a form of a word that means “wealthy.” However, in this context, it means “lavishly, abundantly, completely, thoroughly.”

dwell within you: Paul used the word dwell figuratively. Just as a person lives in a house, so the Colossians were to allow the word of Christ to live in them. It means that they should think about the word of Christ often and let it influence the things they do and say. Find a natural way to say this in your language. For example:

Carry the message about Christ with you daily.

3:16b–c

In 3:16a, Paul commanded the Colossian believers to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly. In 3:16b–c he follows this command with three verbs: “teaching…counseling…singing.” These are specific ways in which the Colossians were to let the message dwell in them.

3:16b

teach and admonish one another with all wisdom: 1:28b was very similar to this part of the verse. See the note there.

admonish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates admonish means, “warn, admonish, instruct, advise.” Paul was still writing about “the word of Christ” from 3:16a. He was instructing the Colossians to warn each other to obey that message.

with all wisdom: Here the meaning is clear: “Teach and advise each other as wisely as you can.”

3:16c

and as you sing: This instruction from Paul is parallel to 3:16b. This was another specific example of how the Colossians were to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly.

psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs: Paul was describing three types of songs. It may not be easy to make a clear distinction between them.

psalms: Most scholars agree that psalms refer to parts of the book of Psalms in the OT.

hymns: This Greek word, according to ancient Christian writings, refers to songs of praise to God and to Christ.

spiritual songs: This is where there is most disagreement. Some people say that these were songs emphasizing some point of Christian doctrine, others say they were unwritten songs that a person sang as the Holy Spirit inspired him .

It is probably best if you avoid being too specific in making a difference between these terms. If you do not have three different terms, you could combine two or more of these terms in your translation. For example:

Sing all sorts of songs to praise God.

with gratitude in your hearts to God: The word gratitude means being grateful/thankful. In this verse, Paul was instructing the Colossians to “sing” with gratitude, that is, to be singing songs that express their thankfulness to God.

in your hearts: This phrase can be connected to the rest of the verse in two ways:

(1) It is connected to “sing.” So Paul was instructing the Colossians to “sing” in their hearts. This probably does not mean to sing silently, but rather to sing sincerely, to express in their songs how they really felt.

(God’s Word, Revised English Bible, SSA)

(2) It is connected to “gratitude.” This is how many English versions translate this part of the verse.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

The word order in the Greek text supports the first interpretation. Many commentaries support this also. So although many English versions follow the second interpretation, it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:15

Paragraph 3:15–16

Theme: Paul urged the Colossians to continue to live peacefully with one another and to thank God constantly. He urged them to be totally committed to the message of Christ.

3:15a

peace of Christ: This refers to the peace that Christ gives to a believer. Christ has caused Christians to be at peace with God and with one another. In this verse, Paul was writing about being at peace with other people, specifically with other Christians (see 3:14b, 3:15b). So one way to translate this is:

Christ has caused you to be at peace with one another.

peace: In this context, peace means “the ability to be in harmony with one another.”

rule: The Greek word brabeuō that the Berean Standard Bible translates rule means “to direct, control.”

in your hearts: This can mean either:

(1) among you, as a group, or

(2) within each of you, as individuals.

Since Paul’s next phrase reminded the Colossian believers that God expected them to live peacefully with one another, the first interpretation is preferred (1).

3:15b

for to this you were called: To be called means “God chose you ⌊to be his people⌋ so that you will be at peace with one another.” Paul was giving the basis for telling the Colossians why they should always try to live peacefully with other Christians, that is, they should do this, for one of God’s purposes in choosing them was so that they would live peacefully with one another.

as members of one body: Paul used this phrase before—see the note on 1:18a. You can translate it as a figure of speech: You are ⌊like⌋ members of one body,” or give the meaning, “You are ⌊all⌋ members of the same group.”

General Comment about 3:15

It may be better in some languages to reorder this verse. The Contemporary English Version has done this:

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together peacefully. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:14

3:14a

And over all these virtues put on love: There is no verb in this part of the verse in the Greek, so many English versions repeat the verb put on from 3:12b or use a verb with a similar meaning. Paul was continuing his figure of speech of putting on clothes. Paul was saying that love was like another piece of clothing that a believer was to put on over his other clothes to “bind them all together.” If you cannot use this figure of speech in your translation, you could say:

And above everything else, be truly loving…. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
As well as all this, the most important thing is that you should love one another…

these virtues: A virtue refers to a correct way of behaving and in this case refers back to the kinds of behavior in 3:12b–13c.

3:14b

which is the bond of perfect unity: There are two opinions about what love binds together:

(1) It is the bond between Christians. For example:

Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), SSA)

(2) The bond of perfect unity is the virtues that Paul had just mentioned. Most English versions imply this by saying something like this:

binds everything together (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1). In 3:11 Paul stressed the fact that God accepts all Christians even though they come from different social classes or nations. Therefore, it seems that here in 3:14b also he was emphasizing that people with these differences can only be perfectly united if they truly love one another.

is the bond of: This may also be expressed: “you will become one group,” or “you will live in harmony with each other.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 3:13

3:13a

Bear with one another: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Bear with means almost the same as the Greek word translated as “patience” in 3:12b. The difference is that the word used in this verse means tolerating the things other people do regularly that are annoying, rather than being patient when someone does something wrong.

Among the Colossian believers, there was a mixture of nationalities. These different groups would have had trouble tolerating the different views of others—in particular the Jews would have found it difficult to Bear with the Gentiles, and the Greeks would have had difficulty “bearing with” the barbarians.

3:13b

complaint: A “complaint” is an accusation or criticism that one person has against another person because of something this other person has done.

3:13c

Forgive as the Lord forgave you: The word as means Paul was comparing two things. There are two possible interpretations:

(1) Paul was comparing the manner the Lord had forgiven the Colossians with the manner they should forgive others. He had forgiven them freely and completely. So they should forgive others freely and completely.

(2) Paul was comparing the fact that the Lord had forgiven the Colossians with the fact that they should forgive others.

Both these interpretations are possible. Most English versions are ambiguous, but the majority of commentators favor the first option (1), so the Display follows that.

Lord: It is not clear whether the word Lord here refers to the Lord God, or the Lord Jesus. If your translation cannot be ambiguous, you should probably translate it “Lord Jesus.”

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 2001