[CatherineTorpey]

From Marty for this Sunday:

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17
Sermon: “Love is Enough” by Rev. Benjamin Perry

Colossians 3:12-17
New International Version
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In The Message version it reads like this:

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God, the Father, every step of the way.

Here are links to a couple of commentaries:

Commentary on Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:12-17, Putting On The New Self

Depending on the translation, verse 12 begins with therefore or so. Some of my favorite theological words. “Therefore” always indicates that what comes next is the result of something God has done before. In this case, the author is referring back to verse 1, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,” therefore, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” This is because God is acting first before something is expected of us. In Exodus 20 “And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Therefore (implied)
“You shall have no other gods before me.” And the rest of the Ten Commandments follow. God has acted; therefore, this is how you should live. In our text, ” you have been raised with Christ”, therefore, ” Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Verses 5-11 are all about the things you shouldn’t do then verse 12 begins with “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Perhaps, there is also a connection to 1 Corinthians 13:4-4 ” Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

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