Colossians 3:13

Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul writing to the Colossian church, mid-list of virtues they are to "clothe" themselves with (v.12), just before love is named as the binding agent (v.14).

The words — χαριζόμενοι (charizomenoi), "forgiving," shares its root with χάρις (grace); the literal sense is "granting grace," not merely releasing a debt.

The thread — Ephesians 4:32 repeats the same formula ("forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you"); Mark 11:25 ties unforgiveness to blocked prayer; James 2:13 warns that judgment without mercy is the fate of the unmerciful.

Why it lands — The command is not "forgive if you can" but "forgive because it was already done to you"; the reader's obligation is anchored in a prior act they did not earn.

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

King James Version

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Cross-references

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Mark 11:25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Luke 17:3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Galatians 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.