Colossians 3:17

(6 min)

"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."

Press play to listen to the context🎙️🎧

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Author, audience + historical context 🤓

• Author: Paul
• Audience: Christians in Colossae
• When: ~AD 60-62 during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment. Paul also wrote Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon during this time.

Historical context 🤓

• The city of Colossae was about 100 miles east of Ephesus in modern-day Turkey. 
• Epaphras was the person noted for the major growth of the church in Colossae (Colossians 1:6–7). He let Paul know the condition of the church. (Philemon 1:23).

Map sources: Halley's Bible Handbook, 25th ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000), 853.

The new self ✍️

Colossians chapter 3 talks about taking off the “old self” and putting on the “new self.”

• Paul lists 11 negative traits describing the old self (Col 3:5-10).
• He then gives 11 positive traits for believers to mimic - the new self (Col 3:12-16).

Paul then summarizes (Col 3:17) what it means to put on the new self:

Everything is spiritual 🌱

Contrary to popular belief, there is no actual divide between secular and spiritual.

As God’s image bearers, we are not just bodies. And we are not just souls.

We are embodied souls.

Therefore, everything we do with our bodies - think, talk, and act - is spiritual.

In the name of… 📷

The phrase “In the name of” is used throughout the Bible.

It most commonly means: someone who is acting under the authority of someone or acting as their disciple, follower or representative.

Part of our Genesis call as humans (before the fall) is to bear God’s image and represent God like an ambassador to all of creation.

To do everything in the name of Jesus is to represent Him - His grace, holiness and sacrificial love.

Read, remember and reflect 🤔

Read: Colossians is a short letter, easy to read in one sitting. Take time to do that this week.

Remember: Everything is spiritual.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom raising rambunctious toddlers, a teacher pouring into middle schoolers, an employee at a large corporation or an entrepreneur in the marketplace…

Whatever you do can be done as an act of worship at the feet of Jesus.

Reflect: What if everyone around you based their opinion of God on how you think, speak and act?

Have a great week 🙏

Isaac and Kieran