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Colossians 3:14

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Beyond all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— And to all these [add] love, which is the bond of perfectness.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— And, over all these things, love, which is a uniting-bond of completeness;
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— and above all these things, [have] love, which is a bond of the perfection,
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— And aboue all these thinges put on loue, which is the bond of perfectnes.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— And aboue all these things [put on] charitie, which is the bond of perfectnesse.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— And with all these things have love, which is the bond of perfection.
John Etheridge Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1849)
— and with all these charity, which is the girdle of perfection.
James Murdock Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1852)
— And with all these, [join] love, which is the girdle of perfection.

Strong's Numbers & Red-LettersGreek New TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
And 1161
{1161} Prime
δέ
de
{deh}
A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.
above 1909
{1909} Prime
ἐπί
epi
{ep-ee'}
A primary preposition properly meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case], that is, over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
all 3956
{3956} Prime
πᾶς
pas
{pas}
Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.
these things 5125
{5125} Prime
τούτοις
toutois
{too'-toice}
Dative, plural, masculine or neuter of G3778; to (for, in, with or by) these (persons or things).
[put on] charity, 26
{0026} Prime
ἀγάπη
agape
{ag-ah'-pay}
From G0025; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast.
which 3748
{3748} Prime
ὅστις
hostis
{hos'-tis}
From G3739 and G5100; which some, that is, any that; also (definitely) which same.
is 2076
{2076} Prime
ἐστί
esti
{es-tee'}
Third person singular present indicative of G1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are.
z5748
<5748> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - No Voice Stated (See G5799)
Mood - Indicative (See G5791)
Count - 1612
the bond 4886
{4886} Prime
σύνδεσμος
sundesmos
{soon'-des-mos}
From G4862 and G1199; a joint tie, that is, ligament, (figuratively) uniting principle, control.
of perfectness. 5047
{5047} Prime
τελειότης
teleiotes
{tel-i-ot'-ace}
From G5046; (the state) completeness (mentally or morally).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Colossians 3:14

_ _ above — rather “over,” as in Ephesians 6:16. Charity, which is the crowning grace, covering the multitude of others’ sins (1 Peter 4:8), must overlie all the other graces enumerated.

_ _ which is — that is, “for it is”; literally, “which thing is.

_ _ bond of perfectness — an upper garment which completes and keeps together the rest, which, without it, would be loose and disconnected. Seeming graces, where love is wanting, are mere hypocrisy. Justification by faith is assumed as already having taken place in those whom Paul addresses, Colossians 3:12, “elect of God, holy ... beloved,” and Colossians 2:12; so that there is no plea here for Rome’s view of justification by works. Love and its works “perfect,” that is, manifest the full maturity of faith developed (Matthew 5:44, Matthew 5:48). Love ... be ye perfect, etc. (James 2:21, James 2:22; 1 John 2:5). “If we love one another, God’s love is perfected in us” (Romans 13:8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 John 4:12). As to “bond,” compare Colossians 2:2, “knit together in love” (Ephesians 4:3), “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Matthew Henry's Commentary

See commentary on Colossians 3:12-17.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Colossians 3:14

The love of God contains the whole of Christian perfection, and connects all the parts of it together.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

Colossians 3:14

And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the (h) bond of perfectness.

(h) Which bonds and knits together all the duties that take place between men.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
charity:

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ... And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
2 Peter 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

the:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
1 John 4:7-12 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ... No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Jn 13:34; 15:12. Ro 13:8. 1Co 13:1. Ep 1:4; 4:3; 5:2. Col 2:2. 1Th 4:9. 1Ti 1:5. 1P 4:8. 2P 1:7. 1Jn 3:23; 4:7, 21.

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