Colossians 3:1–11: Heaven on Earth

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Colossians 3:1–11: Heaven on Earth

Warren W. Wiersbe’s commentary on Colossians 3, found in his book Be Complete (Colossians): Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be, part of his "Be" series, provides a practical and accessible exposition of the chapter, emphasizing the supremacy of Christ and its implications for Christian living. Wiersbe, known for his clear, concise, and application-oriented approach, divides his commentary on Colossians 3 into two main sections: "Heaven on Earth" (Colossians 3:1–11) and "All Dressed Up and Someplace to Go" (Colossians 3:12–17), with additional comments on Christian households (Colossians 3:18–4:1). Below is a summary of his key insights on Colossians 3, based on available information from his works.amazon.comamazon.comeverand.com

Colossians 3:1–11: Heaven on Earth

Wiersbe emphasizes that Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 3:1–4 to "seek the things that are above" and "set your minds on things above" is rooted in the believer’s union with Christ. Since Christians have been "raised with Christ" (v. 1), they are called to live with a heavenly perspective, focusing on Christ’s lordship rather than earthly desires. Wiersbe highlights the spiritual reality of believers’ identification with Christ’s death and resurrection, which frees them from the power of sin and calls them to a life of sanctification. He connects this to Paul’s earlier teachings in Colossians 2:12, where baptism symbolizes this union.enduringword.com

In verses 5–11, Paul urges believers to "put to death" sinful desires such as fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (v. 5). Wiersbe underscores that these sins are incompatible with the new life in Christ. He likens sanctification to removing "graveclothes" (the old sinful habits) to reflect the believer’s new identity. Wiersbe stresses personal purity as a key aspect of demonstrating Christ’s preeminence, noting that the Colossians faced temptations from their Gentile background, including idolatry and immorality, which Paul addresses directly.everand.comyoutube.com

Wiersbe’s practical application here is convicting: believers must actively reject sinful behaviors and cultivate a mindset focused on Christ. He warns against the influence of worldly philosophies, such as those prevalent in Colossae (e.g., Jewish legalism, Eastern mysticism, and Gnosticism), which can distract from the sufficiency of Christ.amazon.com

Colossians 3:12–17: All Dressed Up and Someplace to Go

In this section, Wiersbe uses the metaphor of changing clothes to describe the Christian’s call to "put on" virtues that reflect the new self (v. 12). These virtues include compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and, above all, love, which binds them together (vv. 12–14). Wiersbe emphasizes that love is the defining characteristic of Christian fellowship, enabling diverse believers to live in unity despite imperfections.bibleref.com

He highlights verse 16, where Paul instructs believers to let the "word of Christ dwell in you richly." Wiersbe connects this to spiritual maturity, noting that a believer filled with God’s Word exhibits joy, thankfulness, and submission in relationships (Colossians 3:16–4:1). He draws a parallel to Ephesians 5:19–21, where similar traits indicate being filled with the Spirit. For Wiersbe, the indwelling Word transforms how believers interact in their homes and workplaces.goodreads.comgoodreads.com

Wiersbe also comments on the power of words in Christian living, citing verse 17: "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus." He illustrates this with a striking example, noting that for every word in Hitler’s Mein Kampf, 125 people died in World War II, underscoring the tongue’s power to direct, destroy, or delight. This serves as a call to use words to glorify God and build up others.goodreads.com

Colossians 3:18–4:1: A Family Affair

Wiersbe addresses Paul’s instructions for Christian households, covering wives (v. 18), husbands (v. 19), children (v. 20), fathers (v. 21), and bondservants (vv. 22–25). He views these relationships as practical arenas for living out the new life in Christ. Wiersbe emphasizes that submission, love, obedience, and diligence in these roles demonstrate Christ’s preeminence in daily life. For bondservants, he notes Paul’s call to work "as for the Lord" (v. 23), which elevates even mundane tasks to acts of worship.bibleref.comeverand.com

Wiersbe connects these household instructions to the broader theme of spiritual maturity, arguing that Christ’s sufficiency enables believers to fulfill their roles with grace, countering the false teachings that threatened the Colossian church.mybfbc.org

Key Themes and Applications

Wiersbe’s commentary on Colossians 3 centers on the following themes:

  1. Supremacy of Christ: Christ is the source of spiritual completeness (Colossians 2:10), and believers need no other philosophies or practices for fulfillment.mybfbc.org

  2. Sanctification as a Process: Wiersbe stresses that sanctification involves daily choices to "put off" the old self and "put on" the new, aligning with Christ’s character.preceptaustin.org

  3. Practical Christian Living: He applies Paul’s teachings to modern challenges, warning against contemporary equivalents of Colossian heresies, such as reliance on horoscopes or secular self-help ideologies.everand.com

  4. Community and Relationships: Christian virtues and godly speech foster unity and reflect Christ’s presence in the church and home.goodreads.com

Wiersbe’s style is noted for its clarity, use of outlines, memorable illustrations, and convicting applications. He avoids overly technical exegesis, making the commentary accessible to both pastors and laypeople. Reviewers praise his ability to simplify complex passages and highlight Christ’s centrality, though some note occasional evangelical biases or unconventional verse divisions.amazon.comamazon.comgoodreads.com

Additional Notes

  • Wiersbe’s commentary includes study questions for reflection or group discussion, making it valuable for small group Bible studies.amazon.com

  • He frequently references historical and cultural context, such as the Colossians’ struggles with legalism and mysticism, to clarify Paul’s intent.everand.com

  • His work is part of the broader Be series, which covers every book of the Bible and has sold over four million copies, reflecting its widespread impact.goodreads.com

For further details, you can explore Wiersbe’s Be Complete (Colossians), available in print or digital formats, or his related Bible study series. If you have specific verses or aspects of Colossians 3 you’d like me to dive deeper into, let me know!

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