Colossians 3:5-8
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The verse doesn't just list sins; it urges us to "put to death" these desires within our earthly members. This means our physical bodies, which are still connected to this world, are the very arena where this spiritual battle takes place, and these desires are treated as if they are active agents that need to be killed off.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging believers to actively put off sinful desires and behaviors because they have died with Christ and their true life is now hidden with Him. This instruction flows directly from the preceding verses that emphasize their new identity in Christ, urging them to focus their minds on heavenly things, not earthly ones. The list that follows details the specific earthly, sinful practices that must be eradicated to live out their new spiritual reality.
Paul doesn't just suggest we 'tone down' our sinful desires. He uses a word that means to 'put to death.' What does this radical command really mean for us today?
The core of this verse is the command to "mortify" (νεκρώσατε - nekrosate) your earthly members. This isn't a gentle suggestion to curb bad habits; it's a call to a complete execution.
A Death Sentence for Sin
Paul lists specific 'earthly things.' It's not just about obvious sins; it's a progression from inner desires to outward actions, all stemming from a heart turned away from God.
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Paul doesn't leave us guessing about what 'earthly' desires look like. He provides a list that moves from internal inclinations to more specific manifestations:
From Impulse to Possession
This progression shows us that sin isn't just about actions; it starts with the desires and passions that grip our hearts.
Paul climaxes his list with covetousness, immediately calling it 'idolatry.' Why is wanting 'more' considered the ultimate act of betraying God?
The final item on Paul's list, 'covetousness,' is given a startling definition: 'which is idolatry.' This isn't just a minor sin; it's presented as the pinnacle of earthly desires, fundamentally replacing God.
When Money Becomes God
Understand the original words
nekrōsate · Greek Verb
A decisive, active rejection and mortification of sinful impulses; it requires the ongoing empowerment of the Holy Spirit to kill the influence of the flesh and sinful nature.
porneian · Greek Noun
Any form of illicit sexual activity or unchastity that falls outside the boundaries of the marriage covenant as defined by God.
akatharsian · Greek Noun
Moral uncleanness, defilement, or corruption in a person's behavior, speech, or inner character, standing in direct contrast to divine holiness.
pathos · Greek Noun
An intense, uncontrolled, or sinful desire; often refers to strong, destructive cravings that overwhelm a person’s moral judgment and draw them away from obedience to God.
epithymian kakēn · Greek Noun and Adjective
The root movement of the heart toward what is sinful, forbidden, or against God’s will; it represents the corrupt inclination of the human nature before it is acted upon.
pleonexian · Greek Noun
The insatiable, sinful greed or intense desire for more, especially for what belongs to others; it is condemned as a form of worshiping created things rather than the Creator.
eidōlolatria · Greek Noun
The sin of elevating any created thing, person, or self-interest above God, making it an object of worship, devotion, or ultimate trust.
orgē · Greek Noun
The righteous indignation and settled judicial response of God against sin, rebellion, and ungodliness. It signifies God's holiness reacting against that which is contrary to His nature.
peripateō · Greek Verb
A habitual way of life or a manner of conduct; in a moral sense, it refers to the pattern of behavior and the ethical trajectory one follows.
orgē · Greek Noun
A state of intense agitation or deep-seated resentment; a volatile emotional response often associated with loss of self-control.
thymos · Greek Noun
A settled, enduring state of hostility or violent passion; an explosive outburst of temper. In this context, it often refers to a destructive temperament.
kakia · Greek Noun
A disposition to harm others; a deep-seated evil intention or wickedness of heart that seeks to inflict pain or misfortune on another.
blasphēmia · Greek Noun
Abusive, defamatory, or derogatory speech intended to injure someone’s reputation. It represents the verbal manifestation of a heart lacking love.
aischrologia · Greek Noun
Shameful, filthy, or vile communication. It refers to speech that is morally corrupting, coarse, or contrary to the holiness expected of a believer.
This verse comes from a letter written by Paul while he was imprisoned, likely in Rome. This context of confinement, combined with his knowledge of challenges faced by the church in Colossae, likely shaped his urgent call to 'put to death' earthly desires and 'put on' the new self in Christ.
c. 44-62 AD
Paul's Missionary Journeys and Epistles
The Apostle Paul travels extensively, establishing churches and writing letters of instruction and encouragement. His writings form a significant portion of the New Testament.
c. 60-62 AD— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul is imprisoned, likely in Rome, and from there writes letters to various churches, including Colossae. This period of confinement provides a unique context for his reflections and theological insights.
c. 62 AD
Writing of the Epistle to the Colossians
During his Roman imprisonment, Paul writes the Epistle to the Colossians, likely in response to specific teachings or challenges facing the church in Colossae. The letter addresses issues of Christ's supremacy and practical Christian living.
This passage directly parallels the command to 'not let sin reign in your mortal body' and aligns with the idea of 'putting to death' earthly desires by not allowing them to control you.
Galatians 5:19-21It lists many of the same vices (sexual immorality, impurity, passion) as 'works of the flesh' that disqualify one from inheriting the kingdom of God, reinforcing the severity of these sins.
Ephesians 5:3-5This passage also explicitly calls out sexual immorality and impurity, and importantly, equates covetousness with idolatry, just as Colossians does, highlighting it as a primary concern for Paul.
1 John 2:15-16This verse warns against loving the world, which includes 'the desires of the flesh,' 'the desires of the eyes,' and 'pride in possessions,' echoing the 'earthly' nature of the sins Paul lists in Colossians.
henryColossians 3:5-11: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
3:5-11 It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Occasions of sin must be…
vincentColossians 3:5: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
Mortify (νεκρώσατε)Only here, Romans 4:19; Hebrews 11:12. Mortify is used in its literal sense of put to death. So Erasmus: "Christ was mortified and killed." And Shakespeare:" - his wildness mortified in him,Seemed to die too.""1 Henry V., 1, 26"Members (μέλη)See on Romans 6:13. The physical members, so far as they…
The verse doesn't just list sins; it urges us to "put to death" these desires within our earthly members. This means our physical bodies, which are still connected to this world, are the very arena where this spiritual battle takes place, and these desires are treated as if they are active agents that need to be killed off.
Paul is urging believers to actively put off sinful desires and behaviors because they have died with Christ and their true life is now hidden with Him. This instruction flows directly from the preceding verses that emphasize their new identity in Christ, urging them to focus their minds on heavenly things, not earthly ones. The list that follows details the specific earthly, sinful practices that must be eradicated to live out their new spiritual reality.
Paul is urging believers to actively put off sinful desires and behaviors because they have died with Christ and their true life is now hidden with Him. This instruction flows directly from the preceding verses that emphasize their new identity in Christ, urging them to focus their minds on heavenly things, not earthly ones. The list that follows details the specific earthly, sinful practices that must be eradicated to live out their new spiritual reality.
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in th…" — The verse doesn't just list sins; it urges us to "put to death" these desires within our earthly members. This means our physical bodies, which are still connected to this world, are the very arena…
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Last reviewed October 2026
