Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The powerful truth here is that lying isn't just a bad habit; it's fundamentally incompatible with the radical transformation of becoming a new person in Christ. By "putting off the old self," believers have fundamentally shed the entire identity and all its associated practices, which would naturally include deceitful actions.
Paul is urging believers to abandon sinful behaviors like lying, anger, and malice. He's just told them to strip off deceitful habits and put on Christ-like virtues such as compassion and forgiveness. This verse serves as a direct command to speak truthfully, directly stemming from the radical transformation of leaving behind their former selves and embracing a new identity in Christ.
When you became a follower of Christ, something radical happened. You 'put off' an old way of being. What does that really mean for how you live?
The apostle Paul uses the powerful imagery of 'putting off' the 'old man' to describe conversion. Think of it like changing clothes after a long, dirty journey. You shed the old, soiled garments that represented your former life.
This 'old man' isn't just about outward actions; it's your entire pre-Christian identity, rooted in sin and separation from God. It's the way you used to think, the desires you used to have, and the practices that flowed from that old self. The commentators highlight that this isn't just a minor adjustment but a fundamental shift – a complete renunciation of that former state.
Because you've 'put off' this old self, its characteristic practices, including deceit and lying, no longer define you. Your new identity in Christ demands a new way of living.
Lying feels like a small thing sometimes, but Paul links it directly to your new identity. Why is truthfulness so non-negotiable for Christ-followers?
The command 'Do not lie to one another' isn't just a rule to follow; it's a reflection of who you now are in Christ. Because you have shed the 'old man' and are embracing the 'new man' (though Paul focuses on the 'putting off' here), your interactions should be marked by radical honesty.
Think about it: if you've truly embraced Christ, you've embraced 'the Truth.' Your new identity is woven into sincerity and truthfulness. Lies, even small ones, are a direct contradiction to this new life. They belong to the old self that has been discarded.
The commentators point out that this isn't just about avoiding outright falsehoods but about embracing a general sincerity. It's about the integrity of your word, reflecting the integrity of Christ Himself. This is especially important in how you relate to fellow believers, who are 'members one of another.'
Understand the original words
pseudomai · Greek Verb
To depart from the truth or to intentionally deceive. Biblically, it is the opposite of the truth inherent in God's nature and is considered a characteristic of the old life.
palaios anthrōpos · Greek Noun Phrase
The unregenerate human nature inherited from Adam; the totality of the fallen character, desires, and patterns of life that a person possessed before union with Christ.
This passage directly parallels Colossians 3:9, urging believers to 'put away falsehood' and 'speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,' linking it to the 'new self' created in righteousness.
Romans 6:6This verse introduces the concept of the 'old self being crucified with Christ,' providing the theological foundation for why believers are called to 'put off' their former sinful practices and identities.
Galatians 3:27This verse speaks about 'putting on Christ,' which is the positive action that corresponds to 'putting off the old self,' signifying a complete transformation in identity and behavior.
Colossians 3:5Immediately preceding this verse, Paul lists 'covetousness, which is idolatry,' and this verse's call to truthfulness is a specific application of rejecting the 'old self's' deceitful practices.
2 Corinthians 5:17This passage emphasizes that 'if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,' underscoring the radical change in identity that makes a return to lying incompatible with the new life in Christ.
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 3:9: "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;"
Seeing that ye have put off (ἀπεκδυσάμενοι)See on Colossians 2:15.The old manSee on Romans 6:6.
The powerful truth here is that lying isn't just a bad habit; it's fundamentally incompatible with the radical transformation of becoming a new person in Christ. By "putting off the old self," believers have fundamentally shed the entire identity and all its associated practices, which would naturally include deceitful actions.
Paul is urging believers to abandon sinful behaviors like lying, anger, and malice. He's just told them to strip off deceitful habits and put on Christ-like virtues such as compassion and forgiveness. This verse serves as a direct command to speak truthfully, directly stemming from the radical transformation of leaving behind their former selves and embracing a new identity in Christ.
Paul is urging believers to abandon sinful behaviors like lying, anger, and malice. He's just told them to strip off deceitful habits and put on Christ-like virtues such as compassion and forgiveness. This verse serves as a direct command to speak truthfully, directly stemming from the radical transformation of leaving behind their former selves and embracing a new identity in Christ.
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"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices" — The powerful truth here is that lying isn't just a bad habit; it's fundamentally incompatible with the radical transformation of becoming a new person in Christ. By "putting off the old self," believ…
