Colossians 3:6

KJV

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1223} which things' sake {G3739} the wrath {G3709} of God {G2316} cometh {G2064} on {G1909} the children {G5207} of disobedience {G543}:

Complete Jewish Bible

for it is because of these things that God’s anger is coming on those who disobey him.

Berean Standard Bible

Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

American Standard Version

for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Colossians 3:6 delivers a profound warning regarding the divine consequences of a life characterized by the vices previously enumerated by Paul. It asserts that God's righteous wrath is actively directed towards those whose nature and behavior are defined by disobedience, serving as a stark reminder of the gravity of sin and the necessity for believers to fully embrace their new identity in Christ by putting off the old, sinful self.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal point in Paul's letter, transitioning from theological exposition to practical exhortation. It directly follows the list of specific sins—"fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry"—in [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Putting Off Earthly Members"). Paul's command to "mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth" in [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Mortify Your Members") is immediately reinforced by the solemn warning of [Colossians 3:6](/colossians/3-6 "Colossians 3:6 - God's Wrath on Disobedience"). This juxtaposition highlights the urgent need for believers, who have been [risen with Christ](/colossians/3-1 "Colossians 3:1 - Risen with Christ"), to actively shed these behaviors, which are characteristic of their former, unregenerate lives. The warning serves as a powerful motivation to truly [put off the old man with his deeds](/colossians/3-9 "Colossians 3:9 - Putting Off the Old Man") and [put on the new man](/colossians/3-10 "Colossians 3:10 - Putting On the New Man"), which is renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The city of Colossae, located in Phrygia, was a melting pot of various philosophical and religious influences. The church there faced challenges from syncretistic teachings, including elements of Jewish legalism, Gnosticism, and local pagan cults, which often promoted asceticism or, conversely, moral laxity under the guise of spiritual enlightenment. Paul's letter combats these false teachings by emphasizing the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. The vices listed in [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Vices to Mortify") were prevalent in the Greco-Roman world, reflecting common pagan practices. The concept of divine wrath was familiar in both Jewish and Hellenistic thought, but Paul recontextualizes it within the framework of God's righteous judgment against sin, particularly against those who persist in rebellion against Him, rather than a capricious act of a deity. This warning was crucial for a community tempted to compromise their Christian walk with worldly practices.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of [Colossians 3](/colossians/3 "Colossians 3 - New Life in Christ") is the believer's new identity in Christ and the practical implications of this spiritual reality. Colossians 3:6 contributes to several key themes:
* **Divine Justice and Wrath:** The phrase "the wrath of God" underscores God's holy and settled indignation against sin and unrighteousness. It is not an arbitrary outburst but a just and consistent response to rebellion against His holy character and moral law. This theme is foundational to understanding God's nature, as revealed throughout Scripture, particularly in passages like [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness").
* **Consequences of Disobedience:** The verse highlights that persistent, habitual sin leads to divine judgment. While believers are ultimately saved from God's eschatological wrath through Christ, Paul emphasizes that a life characterized by the specified vices aligns with those who are subject to God's active displeasure and temporal consequences. It serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and compromise.
* **Children of Disobedience:** This idiomatic expression, a Hebraism, describes those whose very nature or characteristic behavior is defined by rebellion against God. It signifies not merely occasional sin, but a pattern of life lived in willful opposition to God's will and truth. This concept is paralleled in [Ephesians 5:6](/ephesians/5-6 "Ephesians 5:6 - God's Wrath on Children of Disobedience"), reinforcing the consistent New Testament teaching on this matter.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **wrath (Greek, _orgḗ'_):** From ὀρέγομαι, properly denoting a strong desire or excitement of the mind. In this context, it signifies violent passion, ire, or a justifiable abhorrence. It implies God's settled, righteous indignation against sin, rather than a sudden, uncontrolled outburst of anger. It speaks to God's inherent opposition to evil and His holy character.
* **cometh (Greek, _érchomai'_):** A primary verb meaning "to come or go" in a wide variety of applications, both literally and figuratively. Here, it denotes an active, present reality or an impending certainty. The wrath of God is not merely a future event but is already in motion, actively manifesting against unrighteousness.
* **disobedience (Greek, _apeítheia'_):** From ἀπειθής, meaning "disbelief (obstinate and rebellious)." This term describes not just a lack of obedience, but an active, willful refusal to believe or comply, indicative of a hardened heart and a rebellious disposition against God's truth and authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For which things' sake":** This phrase directly links the consequence (God's wrath) to the preceding list of vices in [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - The Vices Listed"). It emphasizes that these specific sinful behaviors are the direct cause or occasion for the divine judgment. The "things" are not abstract concepts but concrete actions and attitudes that are antithetical to God's holiness.
* **"the wrath of God":** This refers to God's righteous and holy indignation against sin. It is a settled, consistent aspect of His character, expressing His absolute opposition to all that is unholy and rebellious. This wrath is not arbitrary but is a just response to human sin and rebellion, demonstrating God's moral perfection and commitment to justice.
* **"cometh":** The present tense of the verb (ἔρχεται) indicates that God's wrath is not merely a future eschatological event, but an ongoing reality. It is actively manifesting in various forms against sin, and it is certain to culminate in final judgment. This conveys a sense of immediacy and inevitability regarding the consequences of persistent sin.
* **"on the children of disobedience":** This is a Hebraic idiom, meaning "those who are characterized by disobedience" or "those whose nature is disobedience." It refers to individuals whose lives are defined by a pattern of willful rebellion against God's commands and truth. It's not about isolated acts of sin but a pervasive disposition of unbelief and defiance, marking them as belonging to a category of people who are inherently rebellious.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several significant literary devices in [Colossians 3:6](/colossians/3-6 "Colossians 3:6 - The Wrath of God"). The most prominent is **Metonymy**, where "the wrath of God" stands for the consequences or judgment that God brings upon sin. This is not merely an emotion but an active, judicial response. Furthermore, the phrase "children of disobedience" is a powerful **Hebraism** or **Idiom**, common in Semitic languages, where "children of X" denotes those characterized by X or belonging to a class defined by X. This idiom vividly portrays those whose very nature or habitual conduct is marked by rebellion against God. The passage also utilizes **Contrast** by implicitly setting the "children of disobedience" against the "children of light" or those who have been "risen with Christ," emphasizing the stark difference in their ultimate destiny and the divine response to their way of life. This serves to underscore the urgency of the call to holiness for believers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Colossians 3:6 powerfully articulates a fundamental biblical truth: God's holiness demands a response to sin. The "wrath of God" is not an arbitrary outburst but a settled, righteous indignation against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. This verse serves as a crucial reminder that while God is love, He is also perfectly just, and His character cannot tolerate sin. For those who persist in a life characterized by the "earthly members" listed in [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - List of Vices"), their path leads directly to divine judgment. This truth motivates believers not out of fear of losing salvation, but out of reverence for God's holiness and a desire to live consistently with their new identity in Christ, understanding that even for believers, a life of unrepentant sin invites God's disciplinary hand and hinders spiritual growth.

* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed")
* [Ephesians 5:6](/ephesians/5-6 "Ephesians 5:6 - No Inheritance for the Disobedient")
* [John 3:36](/john/3-36 "John 3:36 - Abiding Wrath")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Colossians 3:6 is a sobering reminder that our actions have eternal weight and that God is not indifferent to sin. For those who have placed their faith in Christ, this verse should not evoke fear of eternal condemnation, for Christ has borne the wrath for us. Instead, it should cultivate a profound reverence for God's holiness and a deep gratitude for the salvation we have received. It challenges us to honestly examine our lives: are there "earthly members" (vices like covetousness, impurity, or malice) that we are still tolerating or even embracing? This verse calls us to an active, daily process of "mortification"—putting to death the old sinful habits and desires that are incompatible with our new life in Christ. It motivates us to pursue holiness not as a means to earn salvation, but as a loving response to the One who saved us from wrath, and as a demonstration of our transformed nature. Our pursuit of holiness is a testament to our union with Christ and a vital aspect of living out our identity as God's beloved children, reflecting His character in a world that desperately needs to see it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "earthly members" (as listed in [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Vices to Mortify")) do I find most challenging to "mortify" in my own life?**
* **How does understanding God's righteous wrath against sin deepen my appreciation for Christ's sacrifice on the cross?**
* **In what ways can I more actively "put off the old man" and "put on the new man" in my daily thoughts, words, and actions?**
* **How does this verse motivate me to pursue holiness, not out of fear, but out of love and reverence for God?**

### FAQ
**Does "the wrath of God cometh" mean believers can still experience God's wrath?**

Answer: For those who are genuinely in Christ, the ultimate, eternal wrath of God for sin has been fully satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. [Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Saved from Wrath Through Him") clearly states that we "shall be saved from wrath through him." However, Colossians 3:6 speaks to the active, ongoing displeasure of God against sin, which can manifest in various ways in this life, even for believers. It can involve the natural consequences of sin, God's disciplinary hand (as a loving Father, [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves")), or a removal of His blessing and presence in certain areas of life. The warning in Colossians is not about losing salvation, but about the serious implications and lack of spiritual fruit that come from living a life characterized by disobedience, which aligns one with "the children of disobedience" who are truly under God's condemnation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Colossians 3:6, with its solemn declaration of God's wrath coming upon the children of disobedience, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The very wrath that is justly poured out upon those characterized by rebellion was fully absorbed and appeased by Christ on the cross. He, the sinless Son of God, became the object of divine wrath, taking upon Himself the judgment due to humanity's disobedience. [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - Wounded for Our Transgressions") prophesied that "he was wounded for our transgressions," and [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us") reveals that God "made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Therefore, for those who are "in Christ," the wrath described in [Colossians 3:6](/colossians/3-6 "Colossians 3:6 - God's Wrath") has been perfectly satisfied, and they are now "children of obedience" (cf. [1 Peter 1:14](/1_peter/1-14 "1 Peter 1:14 - As Obedient Children")). Our freedom from this condemning wrath is entirely a gift purchased by His blood, transforming us from those upon whom wrath comes to those who are recipients of God's boundless grace and mercy, empowering us to live lives that reflect His holiness rather than the disobedience of the world.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ephesians 5:6

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

1 Peter 1:14

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Ezekiel 16:45

Thou [art] thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou [art] the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother [was] an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.

Ezekiel 16:46

And thine elder sister [is] Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, [is] Sodom and her daughters.

Revelation 22:15

For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Ephesians 2:2

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: