Kehillah in Colossae 3:1-17

1 If therefore you were made to stand up alive in hitkhadshut with Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, seek the things above, where Moshiach is, LI’MINI ("at my right hand" TEHILLIM 110:1), sitting at the right hand of Hashem.

2 Place your machshavot (thoughts) above (in Shomayim), not on the things of the Olam Hazeh.

3 For you died and the Chayyim of you has become nistar (hidden, 2:3) with Moshiach in Hashem.

4 When Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach who is Chayyeinu (our Life) is made manifest in hisgalus (revelation), then also you with Him will be made manifest in hisgalus in kavod.

5 Therefore, put to death your evarim (members) in the Olam Hazeh: zenut (fornication), debauchery, sensuality, zimmah (licentiousness), and chamdanut (covetousness), which is avodah zarah (idolatry).

6 Because of such things as these the charon af Hashem habah (the coming burning wrath of Hashem) is on the way.

7 Such was your derech to fier zich (comport oneself), the derech resha’im formerly [TEHILLIM 1:6], when you were living in these things.

8 But now you also put away all these things: ka’as (anger), rage, kavvanah ra’ah (malice) chillul Hashem (blasphemy). Put away loshon hora from your mouth.

9 Do not speak sheker to one another, having disrobed from the Adam hakadmoni (old [unregenerated] humanity) with his ma’asim (works),

10 And instead enrobe with the Adam HaChadash, the one being renewed in da’as in accordance with the demut (1:15; BERESHIS 1:26-27; Pp 2:6) of the One having created him.

11 Here there is neither Yevani nor Yehudi, there is neither those who are or are not of the Bris Milah, there is no uncultured non-Greek speaker, there is no Scythian, eved, or Ben Chorin, but rather Moshiach is all in all.

12 Therefore, as Bechirim (Chosen ones) of Hashem, Kadoshim and ahuvim, enrobe yourselves in tender feelings of rachmei Shomayim (heavenly compassion, mercy), chesed (lovingkindness), anavah (humility), shiflut (lowliness), and savlanut (longsuffering),

13 Being soivel (bearing with) one another and extending selicha (forgiveness) to each other, if it should be that one is murmuring his complaint against another; just as Adoneinu extended selicha to you, so also you should extend selicha.

14 And to all these things add ahavah, which is the agudah of tamimim.

15 And let the shalom of Moshiach arbitrate in your levavot. You were called to this shalom in one NEVELAH [DEVARIM 21:23; cf geviyah, BERESHIS 47:18; cf basar, TEHILLIM 16:9-10; IYOV 19:25-27; YESHAYAH 53:11, guf (body)]. Let there be todah in your levavot.

16 Let the dvar of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach make its mishkan in you richly, in all chochmah and in all Moshiach’s pnimiyus haTorah (innermost Torah teaching) and words of chizzuk, ministering to one another with Tehillim, shirim, and neshamah niggunim miRuach Hakodesh (soul melodies from the Ruach Hakodesh) with gratitude, singing in your levavot to Hashem. [TEHILLIM 47:7]

17 And whatever thing you do, whether in dvar or in ma’aseh, do all things b’Shem Adoneinu Yehoshua, giving todot to Elohim HaAv through him [Moshiach].

Kehillah in Colossae 3:1-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO COLOSSIANS 3

This chapter contains exhortations to several duties, some more general, which relate to all Christians, and others more particular, which belong to saints in such and such a state of life. The apostle begins with an exhortation to seek things heavenly, and not earthly, and to set the affections on the one, and not on the other: the arguments used to enforce it are taken from the saints being risen with Christ; from Christ being in heaven at the Father's right hand; from their being dead to sin, the law, and the world; from their having life in Christ safe and secure; yea, from Christ being their life, and their appearance with him in glory, Col 3:1-4. And next he proceeds to an exhortation to the mortification of sin, and the deeds of it, which he urges from the wrath of God coming upon men for these things, and from the consideration of their former state and condition, expressed by walking and living in them, Col 3:5-7, and by a metaphor taken from the putting off and on of garments, he exhorts to the putting off of the old man, with his deeds, several of which are mentioned, Col 3:8,9, and to the putting on of the new man, and to the exercise of various graces, as mercy, meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, charity, and peace, Col 3:10-15. And then he proceeds to exhort to such duties as relate to the word and worship of God; as that the word of Christ should have an abiding place in them, and that they should teach and instruct one another by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and do all they did in a religious way, in the name of Christ, with thankfulness to God by him, Col 3:16,17. And closes the chapter with the duties of wives to their husbands, and of husbands to their wives, and of children to their parents, and of parents to their children, and of servants to their masters, Col 3:18-25.