The Meaning of Colossians 3:17 Explained

Colossians 3:17

KJV: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

YLT: and all, whatever ye may do in word or in work, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus -- giving thanks to the God and Father, through him.

Darby: And everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.

ASV: And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  whatsoever  ye do  in  word  or  deed,  [do] all  in  the name  of the Lord  Jesus,  giving thanks  to God  and  the Father  by  him. 

What does Colossians 3:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse covers all other thoughts and actions.
"The NT does not contain a detailed code of rules for the Christian, like those which were elaborated with ever-increasing particularity in rabbinical casuistry. Codes of rules, as Paul explains elsewhere (e.g, in Galatians 3:23 to Galatians 4:7), are suited to the period of immaturity when he and his readers were still under guardians; the son who has come to years of responsibility knows his father"s will without having to be provided with a long list of "Do"s" and "Don"t"s [1]." What the NT does provide is those basic principles of Christian living which may be applied to all the situations of life as they arise (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:21)." [2]
The basic principle, as opposed to a set of specific rules, is this. We should say all words and practice all deeds in harmony with the revelation of Jesus Christ, namely, under His authority and as His followers. The "name" comprehends everything revealed and known about the person bearing the name. Moreover we are to do all with thanksgiving to God. The fourth imperative is implicit in the Greek text, but the translators have supplied it in the English text: "Do."
When faced with a question about what the Christian should do, Paul taught that we should simply ask ourselves what conduct would be appropriate for one identified with Christ. "What would Jesus do?" is quite similar. This approach is vastly different from the legal one that provides a specific command for every situation. In this contrast we see a basic difference between the New and Old Covenants.

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 3:17

Whatsoever ye do [παν οτι εαν ποιητε]
Indefinite relative (everything whatever) with εαν — ean and the present active subjunctive, a common idiom in such clauses. [source]
Do all [παντα]
The imperative ποιειτε — poieite has to be supplied from ποιητε — poiēte in the relative clause. Παντα — Panta is repeated from παν — pān (singular), but in the plural (all things). Παν — Pān is left as a nominative absolute as in Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:10. This is a sort of Golden Rule for Christians “in the name of the Lord Jesus” What follows (directions to the various groups) is in this same vein. Sociological problems have always existed. Paul puts his finger on the sore spot in each group with unerring skill like a true diagnostician. [source]
In the name []
See on Matthew 28:19. [source]
Giving thanks []
Notice the emphasis on the duty of thanksgiving placed at the close of the exhortations. See Colossians 1:12; Colossians 2:7; Colossians 3:15; Colossians 4:2. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 3:17

Romans 1:8 Through Jesus Christ []
As the medium of his thanksgiving: “As one who is present to his grateful thoughts; in so far, namely, as that for which he thanks God is vividly perceived and felt by him to have been brought about through Christ.” Compare Romans 7:25; Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 5:20. In penitence and in thanksgiving alike, Jesus Christ is the one mediator through whom we have access to God. [source]
Colossians 1:3 And the Father []
Some of the best texts omit and. So Rev. The form with and is the more common. Compare Colossians 3:17. [source]
Colossians 1:3 God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [τωι τεωι πατρι του κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου]
Correct text without και — kai (and) as in Colossians 3:17, though usually “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 11:31; Romans 15:6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6). In Colossians 1:2 we have the only instance in the opening benediction of an epistle when the name of “Jesus Christ” is not joined with “God our Father.” [source]
Colossians 3:23 Whatsoever ye do [ο εαν ποιητε]
See same idiom in Colossians 3:17 except ο — ho instead of παν οτι — pān hoti [source]

What do the individual words in Colossians 3:17 mean?

And everything which what if you might do in word or deed all [the] name of [the] Lord Jesus giving thanks - to God [the] Father through Him
καὶ πᾶν τι ἐὰν ποιῆτε ἐν λόγῳ ἔργῳ πάντα ὀνόματι Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ Θεῷ Πατρὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ

πᾶν  everything 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ποιῆτε  you  might  do 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
λόγῳ  word 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
ἔργῳ  deed 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
ὀνόματι  [the]  name 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
Κυρίου  of  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
εὐχαριστοῦντες  giving  thanks 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εὐχαριστέω  
Sense: to be grateful, feel thankful.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεῷ  to  God 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
Πατρὶ  [the]  Father 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
δι’  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.