Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
All Commentaries on Colossians 3:12 Go To Colossians 3
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved.
He shows the easiness of virtue, so that they might both possess it continually, and use it as the greatest ornament. The exhortation is accompanied also with praise, for then its force is greatest. For they had been before holy, but not elect; but now both elect, and holy, and beloved.
A heart of compassion. He said not mercy, but with greater emphasis used the two words. And he said not, that it should be as towards brethren, but, as fathers towards children. For tell me not that he sinned, therefore he said a heart. And he said not compassion, lest he should place them in light estimation, but a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Again, he speaks after the class, and he always does it; for from kindness comes humbleness of mind, and from this, longsuffering. Forbearing, he says, one another, that is, passing things over. And see, how he has shown it to be nothing, by calling it a complaint, and saying, even as Christ forgave you. Great is the example! And thus he always does; he exhorts them after Christ. Complaint, he calls it. In these words indeed he showed it to be a petty matter; but when he has set before us the example, he has persuaded us that even if we had serious charges to bring, we ought to forgive. For the expression, Even as Christ, signifies this, and not this only, but also with all the heart; and not this alone, but that they ought even to love. For Christ being brought into the midst, brings in all these things, both that even if the matters be great, and even if we have not been the first to injure, even if we be of great, they of small account, even if they are sure to insult us afterwards, we ought to lay down our lives for them, (for the words, even as, demand this;) and that not even at death only ought one to stop, but if possible, to go on even after death.
