Colossians 3:12-14
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The call to "put on" these virtues isn't just about performing good deeds, but about embodying a deeply internal transformation. It highlights that these qualities—compassion, kindness, humility—aren't mere external actions but are meant to be the very fabric of one's being, like clothing that becomes an inseparable part of you. This reflects the truth that true godliness flows from the heart outward, not the other way around.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just described how believers have "put on the new self" which is continually renewed in God's image, Paul now urges them to live out this transformation. He calls them to embody the virtues of this new identity, likening them to clothing that should be worn daily. This exhortation flows directly from their new reality in Christ, where divisions like Jew and Greek no longer matter.
Before Paul lists the virtues we should display, he reminds believers of who they are in God's eyes. This identity is the fuel for godly living.
The Apostle Paul grounds the call to live out Christ-like virtues in the very identity of believers. He states, 'Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved...'
Chosen
This isn't about earning favor, but about God's sovereign choice. You were chosen in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4). This election is the bedrock of your salvation and your calling to live a certain way.
Holy
Being 'holy' means being set apart for God's purposes. It's not about perfection, but about belonging to Him and being progressively made more like Him through the Spirit.
Beloved
This speaks to God's deep, affectionate love for you. Because you are chosen and holy, you are the object of His immense love. This love is the ultimate motivation for obedience.
Paul lists specific character traits we are to 'put on.' These aren't just good behaviors, but deep-seated affections and attitudes that flow from our new identity.
The list that follows – 'compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience' – describes the outward expression of the inner transformation that comes from Christ.
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Understand the original words
eklektos · Greek Adjective/Noun
Those whom God has sovereignly selected, set apart, and destined for salvation and participation in His kingdom.
hagios · Greek Adjective
Set apart for God’s exclusive use; possessing a moral and spiritual state of purity and dedication to His service.
agapaō · Greek Verb (participle)
The object of God's divine, self-giving, and sacrificial love (agapē); those whom He cherishes.
splagchnon · Greek Noun
The inward expression of mercy, pity, and deep feeling for the suffering of others; the root of biblical compassion.
chrēstotēs · Greek Noun
The divine quality of being useful or gentle; reflecting God's benevolence toward humanity.
tapeinophrosynē · Greek Noun
The virtue of recognizing one's true standing before God and others; the opposite of pride.
prautēs · Greek Noun
A mildness of temper and gentle strength; the ability to endure injury with patience and without retaliation.
makrothumia · Greek Noun
Self-restraint in the face of provocation; the ability to bear with difficult people or circumstances for an extended time.
charizomai · Greek Verb
The active, voluntary remission of an offense; modeled directly upon God's gracious action in Christ toward sinners.
agapē · Greek Noun
The sacrificial, selfless love of God; the supreme virtue that binds the community of believers together.
This passage lists the 'fruit of the Spirit,' which closely parallels the virtues Paul calls believers to 'put on' in Colossians, highlighting their spiritual origin.
Ephesians 4:25-32This passage, also by Paul, directly contrasts 'putting off' the old self with 'putting on' the new self, listing many of the same virtues as Colossians 3:12-13, like kindness and patience.
1 Peter 2:9-10This verse echoes the identity of believers as 'chosen,' 'holy,' and 'beloved' (or 'people'), setting the stage for the behavior expected of such a community.
Romans 12:10This verse is a direct call to 'love one another with brotherly affection' and to 'outdo one another in showing honor,' which naturally flows from the compassionate heart Paul describes.
Philippians 2:3-4This passage urges believers to act with humility, valuing others above themselves, which directly relates to the 'humility' and 'meekness' called for in Colossians 3:12.
barnesColossians 3:12: "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"
Put on, therefore, as the elect of God - The fact that you thus belong to one and the same church; that you have been redeemed by the sameblood, and chosen by the same grace, and that you are all brethren, should lead you to manifest a spirit of kindness, gentleness, and love. Bowels of mercies - Notes, Philippians 2:1. Kindness ... - See the note…
meyerColossians 3:12: "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"
Colossians 3:12 . οὖν ] for these virtues are in keeping with the νέος ἄνθρωπος , according to what has been said in Colossians 3:11 ; it would be a contradiction to have put on the new man, and not to have put on these virtues. The new moral condition , into which ye have entered by your conversion, passing thereby into the fellowship of equality…
The call to "put on" these virtues isn't just about performing good deeds, but about embodying a deeply internal transformation. It highlights that these qualities—compassion, kindness, humility—aren't mere external actions but are meant to be the very fabric of one's being, like clothing that becomes an inseparable part of you. This reflects the truth that true godliness flows from the heart outward, not the other way around.
Having just described how believers have "put on the new self" which is continually renewed in God's image, Paul now urges them to live out this transformation. He calls them to embody the virtues of this new identity, likening them to clothing that should be worn daily. This exhortation flows directly from their new reality in Christ, where divisions like Jew and Greek no longer matter.
Having just described how believers have "put on the new self" which is continually renewed in God's image, Paul now urges them to live out this transformation. He calls them to embody the virtues of this new identity, likening them to clothing that should be worn daily. This exhortation flows directly from their new reality in Christ, where divisions like Jew and Greek no longer matter.
"Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you…" — The call to "put on" these virtues isn't just about performing good deeds, but about embodying a deeply internal transformation. It highlights that these qualities—compassion, kindness, humility—aren…
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Last reviewed October 2026
