Devine Scripture

Colossians 3:14

What does Colossians 3:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 3:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 3:14 means

Love is the “bond of perfectness,” the ligature that ties all other virtues together and brings them to maturity. Without love, isolated qualities can become harsh or self-serving; with love, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness cohere into Christlike wholeness. Love is not mere sentiment but a deliberate commitment to seek another’s good, patterned after Christ’s self-giving. It both motivates and regulates the other graces, ensuring they aim at edification. Thus, Paul places love “above all,” not as a replacement for other virtues but as the ruling principle that completes them. A community clothed in love displays the perfection toward which renewal in Christ moves.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and above all these things, <FI>have<Fi> love, which is a bond of the perfection,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And to all these [add] love, which is the bond of perfectness.

Context

After commending forbearance and forgiveness (verse 13), Paul elevates love as the overarching bond (verse 14). This completion theme leads naturally to the next three verses, which describe the internal governance and resources of the community: the peace of Christ ruling (verse 15), the word of Christ dwelling richly with mutual teaching and worship (verse 16), and a comprehensive Christ-centeredness in every action with thanksgiving (verse 17). The flow moves from virtues worn to the peace and word that rule and fill the church.

v.13forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

v.14This passage

v.15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 1:4

    even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

  • 2 Peter 1:7

    and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.

  • John 13:34

    A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

  • John 15:12

    This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.

  • Hebrews 6:1

    Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

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