Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Colossian assembly, moving from the declaration that Christ is all and in all (v.11) to the practical demands of shared life (v.13).

The words — Ἐνδύσασθε (endusasthe) is the aorist imperative of "put on," the same verb used for garments; the BSB's "clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion" adds "hearts of" that the Greek does not contain.

The thread — Ephesians 4:2 lists humility, gentleness, and patience in nearly identical order; Ephesians 4:32 pairs kindness and forgiveness with the same Christ-centered standard.

Why it lands — The virtues are framed as something available to put on, not a quality to cultivate over time, and they are addressed to people already identified as God's elect, holy, and beloved.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἘνδύσασθεEndusasthedo put on οὖν,ountherefore,ὡςhōsas ἐκλεκτοὶeklektoi[the] elect τοῦtou<the>θεοῦtheouof God ἅγιοιhagioiholy καὶkaiand ἠγαπημένοι,ēgapēmenoibeloved,σπλάγχναsplagchnahearts οἰκτιρμοῦ,oiktirmouof compassion,χρηστότητα,chrēstotētakindness,ταπεινοφροσύνην,tapeinophrosunēnhumility,πραΰτητα,prautētagentleness,μακροθυμίαν·makrothumian[and] patience;

King James Version

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Cross-references

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.