Bible Strands
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Colossian church, placing this verse as the hinge between communal worship (3:16) and household duties (3:18+). It functions as the summary principle governing the entire passage.
The words — pan (πάν), "everything," with the conditional ean (ἐάν), "if/whatever," sets the scope as unqualified; en (ἐν), "in," is the preposition that grounds each action in the Lord's name.
The thread — 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 repeat the same universal scope ("whatever you do") under God's lordship; Proverbs 3:6 extends the principle to "all your ways."
Why it lands — It eliminates the category of neutral or private action: every word and deed is done in Jesus' name, which means it carries his reputation and is answerable to him. The reader is asked to stop partitioning life into sacred and secular.
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
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,
- Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
- Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
- 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
- Romans 14:6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.