Bible Strands
Colossians 3:8
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Colossian believers to mark a decisive break from their former pagan conduct. He issues this command immediately after describing their past walk and directly before ordering them to reject falsehood.
The words — The imperative ἀπόθεσθε (apothesthe) literally commands believers to "do put off" or discard a specific list of vices. The adverbial phrase Νυνὶ δὲ (Nuni de) establishes the present-tense urgency of this action.
The thread — The text's prohibition against corrupt speech and anger runs parallel to Ephesians 4:29 and Ephesians 4:22, while James 1:20 reinforces the same ethical boundary. All three passages treat these behaviors as incompatible with the believer's new posture.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to actively discard anger, slander, and filthy language rather than merely suppress them. It demands a concrete cessation of these specific actions as a direct obligation of the present moment.
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
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Cross-references
- Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Ephesians 4:22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- James 1:20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
- Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
- Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
- Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
- Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
- Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,