Colossians 3 14

Colossians 3:14 kjv

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Colossians 3:14 nkjv

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:14 niv

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:14 esv

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:14 nlt

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3 verses

Colossians 3 14 Meaning

Colossians 3:14 teaches that among all the virtues a believer is to embody, love holds the supreme place. It is not merely one virtue among many but the essential bond that unites all other righteous characteristics, perfecting them into a complete and harmonious whole. This love enables the various aspects of the Christian character to function together coherently and builds unity within the community of faith.

Colossians 3 14 Context

Colossians chapter 3 outlines the practical implications of a believer's new identity in Christ, having been raised with Him and having died to sin. Verses 1-4 establish the believer's heavenly focus and new life. Verses 5-11 describe "putting off" sinful practices, indicative of the old self. Verses 12-17 then detail the positive virtues, the "new clothes," believers are to "put on," reflecting their identity as God's chosen, holy, and beloved people. Colossians 3:14 serves as the culmination of this list of virtues (compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness in 3:12-13), positioning love as the supreme and indispensable quality that binds and perfects all the others, leading to communal harmony and maturity in the church body.

Colossians 3 14 Word analysis

• And above all these: In Greek, epi pasin de toutois (ἐπὶ πᾶσιν δὲ τούτοις).
  • "These" refers to the virtues previously listed in Col 3:12-13 (compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness).
  • "Above all" denotes preeminence or supremacy; love is not just another virtue but the crowning one. It also suggests that love should envelop or characterize all other virtues.
  • It implies love is the overarching quality that brings coherence to all others, without which they might lack their full expression or even become distorted.
• put on: Implicit in the text, continuing the clothing metaphor from Col 3:12 ("put on tender mercies...").
  • This phrase signifies an active, conscious, and deliberate choice to adopt and practice this quality in daily life.
  • It speaks of embracing a new way of being, reflective of one's transformed identity in Christ.
• love: In Greek, agapē (ἀγάπην).
  • Refers to a divine, self-sacrificial, benevolent love that wills the good of the other, often expressed through action rather than mere emotion.
  • It is the foundational characteristic of God himself (1 Jn 4:8) and the highest expression of Christian conduct.
  • It stands distinct from mere affection or human fondness; it's a principled, active regard for others.
• which binds everything together: In Greek, hētis estin syndesmos (ἥτις ἐστὶν σύνδεσμος).
  • Syndesmos literally means a band, bond, ligament, or fetter. It describes that which holds things together in unity or cohesion.
  • Figuratively, love acts as the "ligament" or "glue" that prevents the individual virtues from remaining isolated or fragmenting the Christian life and community.
  • It signifies that love provides the necessary connection and cohesion for the Christian's inner life and for the functioning of the body of believers.
• in perfect harmony / of completeness / of perfection: In Greek, tēs teleiotētos (τῆς τελειότητος).
  • Teleiotētos signifies completeness, maturity, moral excellence, or wholeness, rather than an absolute sinless perfection (which is a different concept).
  • Love is presented as the bond of completeness, meaning it either leads to spiritual maturity and completeness, or it constitutes the completeness, or it unifies the various perfect/mature virtues into a coherent whole.
  • The sense of "perfect harmony" comes from the understanding that when all virtues are held together by love, they function seamlessly, leading to a state of wholeness and maturity in Christian character and communal life.

• Words-group analysis:
• "And above all these put on love": This phrase elevates agapē love to the apex of Christian virtues. It's not just a nice addition, but the essential garment that makes all other virtues truly beautiful and effective. It's the unifying principle that gives life and meaning to acts of compassion, kindness, and humility.
• "which binds everything together in perfect harmony": This metaphorical language highlights love's critical role as an integrating force. Just as ligaments hold a physical body together for proper functioning, love ensures that individual virtues don't operate in isolation but combine synergistically for a holistic Christian life and a unified Christian community. It speaks of a completed or mature state where all elements coalesce seamlessly due to the presence of love.

Colossians 3 14 Bonus section

• This instruction against external observances or esoteric knowledge (implied context of Colossian heresy) grounds true spiritual perfection and unity in the simple yet profound act of active love for one another, reflective of God's own nature.
• The concept of "putting on" virtues implies an active spiritual discipline and transformation, not a passive acquisition. It is a daily commitment to clothe oneself with Christ's character, culminated by the overarching garment of love.
• The "perfection" (teleiotētos) aimed for is not human sinlessness, but rather maturity, wholeness, and the complete functioning of a Christian individual and community in accordance with God's will. Love is the ultimate enabler of this maturity.

Colossians 3 14 Commentary

Colossians 3:14 stands as the climax of Paul's exhortation for believers to live out their new identity in Christ. Having urged them to discard unholy practices and embrace Christ-like virtues, he identifies love (agapē) as the supreme quality that crowns and integrates all others. Love acts as the "ligament" that holds every other Christian virtue—compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness—in cohesive "perfect harmony." Without love, these virtues might exist in isolation, lacking full expression or genuine purpose. Love makes them complete and whole, allowing them to function together as a unified spiritual character. This applies not only to individual transformation but also to the church, where love ensures genuine unity, maturity, and proper functioning of the body of Christ. For example, forgiveness without love can be begrudging, and acts of kindness without love may lack sincerity; it is love that elevates and authenticates them all.