The Meaning of Colossians 3:14 Explained

Colossians 3:14

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

YLT: and above all these things, have love, which is a bond of the perfection,

Darby: And to all these add love, which is the bond of perfectness.

ASV: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Colossians 3:14 Mean?

Study Notes

perfectness
.
perfect
The word implies full development, growth into maturity of godliness, not sinless perfection. Ephesians 4:12 ; Ephesians 4:13 . In this passage the Father's kindness, not His sinlessness, is the point in question. Luke 6:35 ; Luke 6:36

Context Summary

Colossians 3:12-17 - Love, Peace, And Praise
The articles of the Christian's dress are enumerated here, and we need to refer to this list continually in order to be sure that none of them is missing from our spiritual wardrobe. We must not always live in the negative of avoiding wrong, the positive has a clear claim on us; and in each circumstance of trial or temptation we must advance to meet it, arrayed in Christ. As the Lord acted, so must we. We must partake of the family likeness. When a Christian friend manifests over the breakfast-table some ugly feature of the old life, we may fairly urge him to return to his room and complete his dressing. Love is the girdle of the Christian attire.
Let the peace of Christ rule within. Let the word of Christ dwell in the innermost chambers of the soul. Let there be mutual love and wholesome glee, the song in the life, and the grace in the heart. Whatever is wrong will shiver to pieces like a glass when the name of Jesus is spoken over it. The thought of Him is the touchstone of trial as well as the talisman of victory. A thankful heart makes a victorious and attractive character. [source]

Chapter Summary: Colossians 3

1  He shows where we should seek Christ
5  He exhorts to holiness;
10  to put off the old self, and put on Christ;
12  exhorting to charity, humility,
18  and other duties

Greek Commentary for Colossians 3:14

And above all these things [επι πασιν δε τουτοις]
“And upon all these things.” [source]
Put on love [την αγαπην]
See Luke 3:20. The verb has to be supplied Neuter singular of the relative and not feminine like αγαπη — agapē (the antecedent) nor masculine like συνδεσμος — sundesmos in the predicate. However, there are similar examples of ο εστιν — ho estin in the sense of quod est (id est), “that is,” in Mark 14:42; Mark 15:42, without agreement in gender and number. So also Ephesians 5:5 where ο εστιν — ho estin = “which thing.” The bond of perfectness See note on Colossians 2:19 for συνδεσμος — sundesmos Here it is apparently the girdle that holds the various garments together. The genitive (τελειοτητος — teleiotētos) is probably that of apposition with the girdle of love. In a succinct way Paul has here put the idea about love set forth so wonderfully in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. [source]
Which is [ο εστιν]
Neuter singular of the relative and not feminine like αγαπη — agapē (the antecedent) nor masculine like συνδεσμος — sundesmos in the predicate. However, there are similar examples of ο εστιν — ho estin in the sense of quod est (id est), “that is,” in Mark 14:42; Mark 15:42, without agreement in gender and number. So also Ephesians 5:5 where ο εστιν — ho estin = “which thing.” [source]
The bond of perfectness [συνδεσμος της τελειοτητος]
See note on Colossians 2:19 for συνδεσμος — sundesmos Here it is apparently the girdle that holds the various garments together. The genitive (τελειοτητος — teleiotētos) is probably that of apposition with the girdle of love. In a succinct way Paul has here put the idea about love set forth so wonderfully in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. [source]
Above all [ἐπὶ πᾶσιν]
According to the metaphor of the garment. Over all, like an upper garment, put on, etc. [source]
Charity []
See on 1 Corinthians 13:1. [source]
Bond of perfectness [σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος]
Love embraces and knits together all the virtues. Τελειότης perfectnessis a collective idea, a result of combination, to which bond is appropriate. Compare Plato: “But two things cannot be held together without a third; they must have some bond of union. And the fairest bond is that which most completely fuses and is fused into the things which are bound” (“Timaeus,” 31). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 3:14

Acts 8:23 Bond of iniquity [σύνδεσμον ἀδικίας]
Thou hast fallen into iniquity as into fetters. The word σύνδεσμον denotes a close, firm bond ( σύν , together)It is used of the bond of Christian peace (Ephesians 4:3); of the close compacting of the church represented as a body (Colossians 2:19); and of love as the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:14:). See Isaiah 58:6. [source]
Ephesians 4:3 Bond of peace []
The bond which is peace. Compare Ephesians 2:14, our peace - made both one. Christ, our peace, is thus a bond of peace. Others, however, treat in the bond as parallel with in love of Ephesians 4:2, and cite Colossians 3:14, “love the bond of perfectness.” [source]
Ephesians 4:1 Wherewith ye were called [ης εκλητητε]
Attraction of the relative ης — hēs to the genitive of the antecedent κλησεως — klēseōs (calling) from the cognate accusative ην — hēn with εκλητητε — eklēthēte (first aorist passive indicative of καλεω — kaleō to call. For the list of virtues here see note on Colossians 3:12. To ανεχομενοι αλληλων — anechomenoi allēlōn (Colossians 3:13) Paul here adds “in love” (εν αγαπηι — en agapēi), singled out in Colossians 3:14. [source]
Ephesians 4:3 In the bond of peace [εν τωι συνδεσμωι της ειρηνης]
In Colossians 3:14 αγαπη — agapē (love) is the συνδεσμος — sundesmos (bond). But there is no peace without love (Ephesians 4:2). [source]
Ephesians 5:5 No [πασου]
Common idiom in the N.T. like the Hebrew= oudeis (Robertson, Grammar, p. 732). Covetous man (πλεονεκτησ πλεον εχω — pleonektēsclass="normal greek">ο εστιν — pleon echō). Old word, in N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 6:10. Which is So Aleph B. A D K L have ο — hos (who), but ο — ho is right. See note on Colossians 3:14 for this use of ειδωλολατρης — ho (which thing is). On εν τηι βασιλειαι του Χριστου και τεου — eidōlolatrēs (idolater) see note on 1 Corinthians 5:10. In the Kingdom of Christ and God (Χριστου και τεου — en tēi basileiāi tou Christou kai theou). Certainly the same kingdom and Paul may here mean to affirm the deity of Christ by the use of the one article with τεος — Christou kai theou But Sharp‘s rule cannot be insisted on here because theos is often definite without the article like a proper name. Paul did teach the deity of Christ and may do it here. [source]
Ephesians 5:5 Which is [ος]
So Aleph B. A D K L have ο — hos (who), but ο — ho is right. See note on Colossians 3:14 for this use of ειδωλολατρης — ho (which thing is). On εν τηι βασιλειαι του Χριστου και τεου — eidōlolatrēs (idolater) see note on 1 Corinthians 5:10. In the Kingdom of Christ and God (Χριστου και τεου — en tēi basileiāi tou Christou kai theou). Certainly the same kingdom and Paul may here mean to affirm the deity of Christ by the use of the one article with τεος — Christou kai theou But Sharp‘s rule cannot be insisted on here because theos is often definite without the article like a proper name. Paul did teach the deity of Christ and may do it here. [source]
Colossians 2:2 Being knit together [συνβιβαστεντες]
First aorist passive participle of συνβιβαζω — sunbibazō old verb, causal of βαινω — bainō to make go together, to coalesce in argument (Acts 16:10), in spiritual growth (Colossians 2:19), in love as here. Love is the συνδεσμος — sundesmos (Colossians 3:14) that binds all together. Unto all riches (εις παν πλουτος — eis pan ploutos). Probably some distinction intended between εν — en (in love as the sphere) and εις — eis (unto as the goal). Of the full assurance of understanding On πληροπορια — plērophoria see note on 1 Thessalonians 1:5. From πληροπορεω — plērophoreō (see note on Luke 1:1) and only in N.T. (1 Thessalonians 1:5; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 6:11; Hebrews 10:22), Clement of Rome (Cor. 42) and one papyrus example. Paul desires the full use of the intellect in grasping the great mystery of Christ and it calls for the full and balanced exercise of all one‘s mental powers. That they may know (εις επιγνωσιν — eis epignōsin). “Unto full knowledge.” This use of επιγνωσις — epignōsis (full, additional knowledge) is Paul‘s reply to the Gnostics with the limited and perverted γνωσις — gnōsis (knowledge). The mystery of God, even Christ The MSS. differ widely here, but this is Westcott and Hort‘s reading. Genitive (objective) with Χριστου — epignōsin and Christou in apposition. Christ is “the mystery of God,” but no longer hidden, but manifested (Colossians 1:26) and meant for us to know to the fulness of our capacity. [source]
Hebrews 6:1 Let us go on unto perfection [ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα φερώμεθα]
Lit. let us be born on to completeness. The participial clause, leaving, etc., is related to the verbal clause as expressing a necessary accompaniment or consequence of the latter. Let us be born on to completeness, and, because of this, leave, etc. This sense is not given by the Rev. Τελειότης only here and Colossians 3:14. Rend. completeness. The completeness is viewed as pertaining to both the writer and the readers. He proposes to fully develop his theme: they are exhorted to strive for that full Christian manhood which will fit them to receive the fully-developed discussion. [source]
Hebrews 6:1 Wherefore [διο]
Because of the argument already made about the difficulty of the subject and the dulness of the readers. Let us cease to speak Second aorist active participle of απιημι — aphiēmi to leave off or behind. Of the first principles of Christ Objective genitive Χριστου — Christou (about Christ). “Leaving behind the discussion of the beginning about Christ,” another way of saying again τα στοιχεια της αρχης των λογιων του τεου — ta stoicheia tēs archēs tōn logiōn tou theou of Hebrews 5:12. And press on Volitive present subjunctive passive, “Let us be borne on” (both the writer and the readers). The Pythagorean Schools use περωμετα — pherōmetha in precisely this sense of being borne on to a higher stage of instruction. Bleek quotes several instances of Greek writers using together as here of απεντες περωμετα — aphentes pherōmetha (Eurip., Androm. 393, for instance). Unto perfection Old word from τελειος — teleios mature, adults as in Hebrews 5:14. Only twice in N.T. (here and Colossians 3:14). Let us go on to the stage of adults, not babes, able to masticate solid spiritual food. The writer will assume that the readers are adults in his discussion of the topic. Not laying again the foundation The regular idiom for laying down the foundation of a building The metaphor is common (1 Corinthians 3:11) and the foundation is important, but one cannot be laying the foundation always if he is to build the house. There are six items mentioned here as part of the “foundation,” though the accusative διδαχην — didachēn in apposition with τεμελιον — themelion may mean that there are only four included in the τεμελιον — themelion Two are qualitative genitives after τεμελιον — themelion What is meant by “dead works” There are frequent allusions to the deadening power of sin (James 2:17, James 2:26; John 7:25; Romans 6:1, Romans 6:11; Romans 7:8; Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5). The use of repentance and faith together occurs also elsewhere (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9). [source]

What do the individual words in Colossians 3:14 mean?

Beyond all now these [put on] the love which is [the] bond - of perfect unity
ἐπὶ πᾶσιν δὲ τούτοις τὴν ἀγάπην ἐστιν σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος

ἐπὶ  Beyond 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τούτοις  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τὴν  [put  on]  the 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀγάπην  love 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
σύνδεσμος  [the]  bond 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: σύνδεσμος  
Sense: that which binds together, a band, bond.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τελειότητος  of  perfect  unity 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: τελειότης  
Sense: perfection.