The Pulpit Commentary on Colossians 3:7

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

In which also ye walked once, when you were living in these (things) (Ephesians 2:3; Ephesians 5:8; Romans 6:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 12:2; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 4:3). Even retaining "sons of disobedience" in Colossians 3:6, it seems better, with Alford, Lightfoot, and the English Version, to read οἷς as neuter, "in which," referring to the same antecedent (Colossians 3:5)as "because of which" in Colossians 3:6; not "amongst whom" (Ellicott, Meyer).

The latter interpretation is against the general usage of "walk in" with St. Paul (Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:17; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 4:2), and seems to condemn the mere fact of living "amongst the sons of disobedience" (see, on the other hand, 1 Corinthians 5:9,1 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 2:15; John 17:15; 1 Peter 2:12).

The parallel "because of which" (Colossians 3:6) gives also its force: these sins are visited with the Divine anger, and moreover are the very sins in which the Colossians aforetime had lived; observe the same connection in Ephesians 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 6:10, 1 Corinthians 6:11.

"Were living" stands opposed to "make dead" of 1 Corinthians 6:5, and to "ye died" (1 Corinthians 6:3 : comp. Colossians 2:20; Galatians 2:20); it marks the time when "the old man" (1 Corinthians 6:9), with his "earthly members'' (1 Corinthians 6:5) was alive and active (comp.

Romans 7:5, Romans 7:9, "sin came to life"). "In these things" ( τούτοις, not αὐτοῖς: Revised Text) points to the things enumerated in 1 Corinthians 6:6, with a mental gesture of contempt.

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