Colossians 3:5-8
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)
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Paul doesn't just list sinful actions; he calls them "members which are upon the earth." This highlights that these desires aren't external forces but are deeply ingrained parts of our physical selves, needing to be "put to death" so they don't control our earthly existence. Furthermore, covetousness isn't just another bad habit; it's explicitly called idolatry, revealing that our deepest desires, when misdirected from God, essentially become the gods we worship.
Paul just told the Colossians that they have died with Christ and their true life is now hidden with him in God. Because of this heavenly reality, he urges them to decisively "put to death" their earthly desires and actions. He then lists specific sins like sexual immorality and covetousness, emphasizing that the latter is a form of idolatry because it prioritizes earthly possessions over God.
Paul doesn't mince words. He calls for the 'mortification' of our earthly desires. What does this intense language really mean for our daily lives?
The word 'mortify' here is a strong command to 'put to death' or 'make dead.' It’s not about suppressing desires or just resisting them occasionally. Paul uses this powerful imagery to convey the absolute necessity of eradicating sinful tendencies from our lives.
Think of it like this:
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Paul lists specific desires: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. Are these just about outward actions, or something deeper?
This list goes beyond simple actions; it addresses the root desires and inclinations within us.
A Spectrum of Sin:
The Core Issue:
Paul highlights that these are 'earthly' because they are rooted in our connection to this world and its fleeting pleasures, rather than our heavenly connection with Christ. They bind us to the material and temporal, pulling us away from the eternal.
Paul makes a stunning connection: covetousness is idolatry. How can wanting something turn into worshipping something other than God?
This is perhaps the most striking part of the verse. Paul equates covetousness directly with idolatry. Why?
The Heart's True Object:
This warning is profound: the desire for earthly 'things' can usurp God's rightful place in our hearts.
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.
Paul is writing from prison, likely to a church he hasn't visited, and is confronting real-world challenges. His strong exhortation to 'put to death' earthly desires highlights the intense spiritual battle faced by early Christians navigating both their past pagan lifestyles and the new demands of following Christ in a surrounding culture that embraced many of these very sins.
c. AD 44-60
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels extensively throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches and spreading the Christian faith. His journeys often involved facing opposition and teaching new converts how to live a life transformed by Christ.
c. AD 55-60
Paul's Imprisonment
Paul is imprisoned, likely in Rome, though possibly in Caesarea or Ephesus. During this time, he writes several letters, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, to encourage and guide the churches he cannot visit.
c. AD 57-60— this verse
Writing to the Colossians
From prison, Paul writes to the church in Colossae, a city in Asia Minor. The letter addresses specific false teachings that were emerging, emphasizing the supremacy of Christ and urging believers to live in accordance with their new identity in Him.
c. AD 60-64
The Spread of Roman Culture
The Roman Empire, with its pervasive cultural influences, promotes a lifestyle that often clashes with Christian ethics. Practices like sexual immorality and greed are common, creating a constant challenge for believers seeking to live differently.
This passage directly echoes the 'mortify' command, linking the Spirit's work to putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, reinforcing the idea of actively combating earthly desires.
Galatians 5:19-21This passage lists similar 'works of the flesh' and warns that those who practice them will not inherit God's kingdom, highlighting the serious consequences of unrepented sinful activity.
Ephesians 5:3-5This passage closely parallels Colossians 3:5, also condemning sexual immorality and impurity, and specifically identifies covetousness as idolatry, reinforcing the severity and nature of these sins.
1 John 2:15-17This passage speaks against loving the world's desires (lust of the eyes, flesh, and pride of life), which aligns with Paul's call to 'put to death what is earthly' by focusing on what is eternal.
Matthew 6:24This verse directly addresses the conflict between serving God and serving wealth ('money'), which strongly supports Paul's assertion that covetousness is a form of idolatry where something else is elevated to God's rightful place.
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…
Paul doesn't just list sinful actions; he calls them "members which are upon the earth." This highlights that these desires aren't external forces but are deeply ingrained parts of our physical selves, needing to be "put to death" so they don't control our earthly existence. Furthermore, covetousness isn't just another bad habit; it's explicitly called idolatry, revealing that our deepest desires, when misdirected from God, essentially become the gods we worship.
Paul just told the Colossians that they have died with Christ and their true life is now hidden with him in God. Because of this heavenly reality, he urges them to decisively "put to death" their earthly desires and actions. He then lists specific sins like sexual immorality and covetousness, emphasizing that the latter is a form of idolatry because it prioritizes earthly possessions over God.
Paul just told the Colossians that they have died with Christ and their true life is now hidden with him in God. Because of this heavenly reality, he urges them to decisively "put to death" their earthly desires and actions. He then lists specific sins like sexual immorality and covetousness, emphasizing that the latter is a form of idolatry because it prioritizes earthly possessions over God.
"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…" — Paul doesn't just list sinful actions; he calls them "members which are upon the earth." This highlights that these desires aren't external forces but are deeply ingrained parts of our physical selve…
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