Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Colossians 3:6
For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
6. For which things’ sake, &c.] See Eph 5:6 for an almost verbal parallel, only observing that the words “ on the children of disobedience ” should perhaps be omitted from the reading here; they are possibly an early insertion from Ephesians.
“ The wrath of God ” : the eternal personal antagonism of the Holy One, as such, to sin. It is no impulsive “passion,” but it is also no figure of speech, however it may be ignored or explained away. Cp. Joh 3:36; Rom 1:18; Rom 2:5; Rom 2:8; Rom 5:9; Rom 9:22; 1Th 1:10; Rev 6:16; Rev 19:15, &c.; and see Eph 2:3, with our note.
“ Cometh ” : is coming; is on its way, till in “the day of wrath” (Rom 2:5) it falls.
on the children of disobedience ] So Eph 5:6. Documentary evidence is in favour of the retention of these words, but some important documents omit them. Lightfoot pronounces them an interpolation from Eph., but R. V. text retains them.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For which things sake … – See the notes at Eph 5:6, where the same expression occurs.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. The wrath of God cometh] God is angry with such persons, and he inflicts on them the punishment which they deserve.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Especially remembering how the indulging or sparing any of them will be of dreadful consequence; see Eph 5:6; for however they may by carnal men be looked upon as little faults, which God will overlook of course, yet they do certainly incur Divine displeasure, and will bring most inevitable judgments upon those unpersuadable, rebellious, and contumacious ones, who would be thought Gods children and yet remain incorrigible, Mat 24:38,39; 1Co 6:9; Gal 5:21.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. (See on Eph5:6.)
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For which things’ sake,…. Those sins above mentioned, Col 3:5:
the wrath of God; the effects of it in temporal judgments, and eternal ruin and destruction, the wrath to come, which all are deserving of, and there is only deliverance from by Christ:
cometh upon the children of disobedience: who are disobedient both to the law of God, and Gospel of Christ: who are unbelievers in him, are rebellious and gainsaying, reject his calls, the persuasions of his ministers, set at nought his counsel, and will have none of his reproof. There have been already instances of God’s displeasure at sin, his indignation against it, and his judgments on account of it: his wrath is revealed from heaven, and it will come down from thence on disobedient and rebellious sinners, and that suddenly, and with great power, like a mighty torrent, that there will be no standing before it. This is a reason why such who have life in Christ should mortify, repress, and abstain from the above sins; for though this regards sinners, and ungodly persons, yet the effects of God’s wrath on such show how much such sins are displeasing to him, and detested by him, and therefore to be avoided by the saints.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Cometh the wrath of God ( ). Paul does not regard these sins of the flesh as matters of indifference, far otherwise. Many old MSS. do not have “upon the sons of disobedience,” genuine words in Eph 5:6.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Wrath – cometh. Compare Rom 1:18. The present tense denotes the certainty of the future event, as Mt 17:11; Joh 4:21. The best texts omit upon the children of disobedience.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For which things’ sake” (di’ ha) “because of which things,” fleshly, earthly lusts, matters that antagonize the Holy One, Rom 1:18; Rom 1:24-28; Rom 1:32.
2) “The wrath of God cometh” (erchetai he orge tou theou) is coming the wrath of God” is progressively coming, is on its way, to or toward the certain day of revelation wrath, Rom 2:5.
3) “On the children of disobedience” (not in better ancient manuscripts) On the impenitent, those who have not turned to God as His call, and warning, Psa 7:11-12; Pro 1:24-31.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. On account of which things the wrath of God cometh. I do not find fault with the rendering of Erasmus — solet venire — ( is wont to come,) but as the present tense is often taken in Scripture instead of the future, according to the idiom of the Hebrew language, I have preferred to leave the rendering undecided, so that it might be accommodated to either meaning. He warns the Colossians, then, either of the ordinary judgments of God, which are seen daily, or of the vengeance which he has once denounced upon the wicked, and which impends over them, but will not be manifested until the last day. I willingly, however, admit the former meaning — that God, who is the perpetual Judge of the world, is accustomed to punish the crimes in question.
He says, however, expressly, that the wrath of God will come, or is wont to come, upon the unbelieving or disobedient, instead of threatening them with anything of this nature. (437) For God would rather that we should see his wrath upon the reprobate, than feel it in ourselves. It is true, that when the promises of grace are set before us, every one of the pious ought to embrace them equally as though they were designed for himself particularly; but, on the other hand, let us dread the threatenings of wrath and destruction in such a manner, that those things which are suitable for the reprobate, may serve as a lesson to us. God, it is true, is often said to be angry even with his children, and sometimes chastens their sins with severity. Paul speaks here, however, of eternal destruction, of which a mirror is to be seen only in the reprobate. In short, whenever God threatens, he shews, as it were, indirectly the punishment, that, beholding it in the reprobate, we may be deterred from sinning.
(437) “ Plustot que de menacer les Colossiens de telles choses;” — “Instead of threatening the Colossians with such things.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
6. Wrath of God Both in this world and the world to come. See on Eph 5:6, where the same expression occurs.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Col 3:6 . This relative affirmation stands in a confirmatory reference to the . . . above, the omission of which would draw down upon the readers, instead of the of Col 3:4 , a fate such as is here described.
(see the critical remarks) has the significant stress of the relative clause: on account of this immorality mentioned in Col 3:5 . The Recepta is to be taken just in the same way, and not to be referred to the (Bhr), since it is not the latter themselves, but their life activities specified by . . ., which call forth the wrath of God.
] namely, at the judgment. Comp. Eph 5:6 ; 1Th 1:10 : ; Mat 3:7 : . Hence: in Rom 2:5 ; Rev 6:17 . Chrysostom well says: Paul warns . See also on Eph 5:6 . The frequent reference to the manifestation of the divine wrath (comp. Rom 1:18 ff.) in the course of this temporal life (Huther and many others) overlooks the correlation with Col 3:4 , and the apostle’s conception of the nearness of the Parousia. Hence, also, the combination of the two references (Theophylact and others, also Flatt) is to be rejected.
Respecting the . (the Jews and Gentiles, who reject the gospel and thereby disobey God), comp. on Eph 5:6 , and as to this mode of expression generally, Steiger on 1Pe 1:14 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Ver. 6. On the children of disobedience ] Unpersuadable, uncounsellable persons, that regard not good courses or discourses.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Col 3:6 . Parallel to Eph 5:6 , from which has been added in most MSS. The sentence is abrupt without them, and Col 3:7 is more easily explained if they are retained (as by Mey., Kl [17] , Ol.), yet their omission in [18] , combined with their presence in the parallel Eph 5:6 , is too strong to admit of their retention. The verse may refer to a general principle which acts in human life, or the reference may be eschatological. The latter seems to be more in accordance with Paul’s usage. is here the outward manifestation of the anger which God even now feels at sin.
[17] Klpper.
[18] Codex Vaticanus (sc. iv.), published in photographic facsimile in 1889 under the care of the Abbate Cozza-Luzi.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
For . . . sake. App-104. Col 3:2.
wrath. See Rom 1:19.
on. App-104.
children. App-108. See Eph 2:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Col 3:6. , for which things) Eph 5:6.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Col 3:6
Col 3:6
for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:-Man left without restraint which the worship of God lays on him, controlled by his fleshly lusts alone, falls into these degrading sins; the wrath of God rests upon them to destroy them. It was for sins of this kind that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, and the inhabitants of Canaan. Faith in God is the only power on earth that can hold in restraint the evil passions and lusts of man to live the life God desires he should live. All the appetites, desires, and lusts of the body, restrained and guided by the law of God, promote mans happiness and his well-being. Unrestrained, they work degradation, sink him below the brute, and bring him to ruin.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
which: Rom 1:18, Eph 5:6, Rev 22:15
children: Isa 57:4, Eze 16:45, Eze 16:46, Eph 2:2, Eph 2:3, 1Pe 1:14, 2Pe 2:14,*Gr.
Reciprocal: Gen 12:13 – Say Rom 4:15 – Because Rom 8:13 – ye live Gal 5:21 – that they Heb 4:11 – unbelief Heb 13:4 – and the bed Rev 10:9 – Take
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
(Col 3:6.) -On account of which sins cometh the wrath of God. The reading has also several authorities in its favour. On the meaning of the clause see our exposition of Eph 5:5. This special wrath is often suffered on earth, and it is not wholly reserved for the other world. Meyer, as in the correspondent place in the Epistle to the Ephesians, denies that the is manifested here, and justifies his opinion by pointing to Paul’s certain conviction of the near approach of the day of judgment. The sins mentioned in the previous verse are, as we have shown on Eph 5:6, often visited by penalty on earth. The next clause of the Textus Receptus- -is excluded by Tischendorf, but without sufficient authority. It is wanting in B, certainly, but this is a solitary MS. witness. The clause occurs in Eph 5:6, and is there explained, as also under Eph 2:2-3. They who indulge in such vices, not only disobey the Divine statute, but also violate the laws of their own constitution. This is more than chastisement, or , it is direct and punitive indignation frequently inflicted here in the form of physical debility and disease, remorse and stupefaction.
Fuente: Commentary on the Greek Text of Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Phillipians
Col 3:6. The theory of predestination that many human creeds/ teach, is disproved by this verse. It shows that the wrath of God comes on people only who are guilty of the evils described in the preceding verse. Such conduct puts them in a class called children of disobedience. The first word is described in Thayer’s lexicon as, “those who are connected with a thing by any kind of close relationship.”
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Col 3:6. For which things sake; on account of which sins; the wrath of God cometh, etc. Comp. Eph 5:6. The clause: on the sons (not, children) of disobedience is not found in the Vatican manuscript, and some versions omit it. The suspicion of an insertion from Eph 5:6 is against accepting it, but the weight of authority is too strong to be overcome by this consideration. If omitted, the verse should read in English: cometh the wrath of God. In any case cometh is emphatic, expressing a general principle. The full manifestation will be at the day of judgment, but present punishment is not necessarily excluded. On the wrath of God, see on Rom 1:18.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Here our apostle backs his exhortation to mortify sin, with strong arguments and motives; the first is taken from the wrath of God, which, in its dismal effects, falls upon those who continue in, and under the power of those sins: For which things sake, that is, for the committing of which things, and for continuing impenitent after the commission of them, the wrath of God cometh upon them.
Here note, 1. God’s wrath is the due desert of man’s sin; yet it is not so much sin, as obduration and impenitency in sin, that draws down wrath.
Note, 2. That believers themselves do stand in need of arguments drawn from the wrath of God, to make them afraid of sin, and to excite them to mortify and subdue it; for here the apostle propounded the terrors of divine wrath to these believing Colossians.
The second argument is taken from their former continuance, yea, long continuance in these sins; in which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them; that is, in the forementioned sins ye yourselves also walked before your conversion, when ye lived in them, and took delight in the practice of them.
Learn hence, That no argument will prevail more with a Christian to follow on the work of mortification closely for time to come, than the remembrance of his long continuance in sin in time past; in which sins ye walked some time, when ye lived in them; Now mortify therefore &c.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
“For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:”
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God {d} cometh on the children of disobedience:
(d) Used to come.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Such behavior will bring God’s wrath eventually. That is, God will discipline Christians as well as non-believers who practice these things. These activities normally characterize the unsaved, so Christians are to lay them aside (Col 3:8; cf. Mat 5:29-30; Rom 8:13; Eph 5:3-14).
"The Christian must kill self-centeredness; he must regard as dead all private desires and ambitions. There must be in his life a radical transformation of the will, and a radical shift of the centre. Everything which would keep him from fully obeying God and fully surrendering to Christ must be surgically excised." [Note: Barclay, pp. 180-81.]
The phrase "the wrath of God" (Col 3:6) is usually eschatological in the New Testament and refers to the Tribulation period (cf. 1Th 1:10; 1Th 5:9; Rom 5:9). That is probably its reference here too.
Paul’s second list deals with sins of speech.
Anger (Gr. orge) is a settled attitude of hostility.
Wrath (thymos) means a verbal outburst of evil passion.
Malice (kakia) is ill will, a vicious disposition that results in hurt to one’s neighbor.
Slander (blasphemia) refers to insulting, injurious, malicious speech in general.
Abusive speech (aischrologia) means filthy, disgraceful, dishonorable speech.
Lying (pseudesthe) refers to deceptive, distorting, untruthful speech.
The imperative command against lying is very strong. Paul said, Never lie. The reason given (Col 3:9) applies to all the preceding activities. The "old self" is the person the Christian was before God united him or her with Christ.