Colossians 3:9

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Lie {G5574} not {G3361} one to another {G1519}{G240}, seeing that ye have put off {G554} the old {G3820} man {G444} with {G4862} his {G846} deeds {G4234};

Never lie to one another; because you have stripped away the old self, with its ways,

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,

Commentary

Context

Colossians 3 opens with a powerful call to believers to live a new life, having been "risen with Christ." Paul instructs them to "seek those things which are above," where Christ sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). The chapter then pivots from theological identity to practical ethics, urging believers to shed the behaviors and attitudes characteristic of their former, unregenerate lives. Verse 9 is part of a list of specific vices, following the command to "put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8). This verse emphasizes the incompatibility of deceit with the new identity in Christ.

Key Themes

  • Truthfulness and Integrity: The direct command "Lie not one to another" underscores the fundamental importance of honesty within the Christian community and beyond. Lying, whether outright falsehood or subtle deceit, erodes trust and damages relationships, running contrary to the very nature of God, who is truth.
  • Transformation in Christ: The core theological basis for avoiding lying is the radical transformation experienced by believers. Having "put off the old man with his deeds" signifies a decisive break from the sinful nature and its practices. This transformation is not merely behavioral modification but a change in identity, leading to a new way of living centered on Christ.
  • New Identity, New Behavior: Paul highlights that believers are no longer defined by their former sinful patterns. Their new identity in Christ necessitates new behaviors. Lying belongs to the "old man" and is inconsistent with the character of the "new man," who is "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:10).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Lie not" translates the Greek verb pseudesthe (ψεύδεσθε), which means to speak falsely or to deceive. It's a direct and strong prohibition against falsehood. The crucial phrase "ye have put off the old man" comes from the Greek apekdyomenoi ton palaion anthrōpon (ἀπεκδυόμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον). Apekdyomenoi is a participle meaning "having stripped off" or "having divested yourselves of," similar to taking off old, dirty clothes. The "old man" (palaion anthrōpon) refers to the unregenerate, fallen nature, the sinful self that characterized one's life before salvation. "With his deeds" emphasizes that it's not just the nature but also the actions stemming from that nature that are to be discarded.

Practical Application

Colossians 3:9 challenges believers to align their daily conduct with their spiritual reality. Since we have been made new in Christ, deceit has no place in our lives. This applies to all forms of dishonesty:

  • Verbal Honesty: Speaking truth in conversations, business dealings, and personal interactions.
  • Integrity in Action: Ensuring our actions match our words and intentions, avoiding hypocrisy.
  • Digital Truthfulness: Being honest in online interactions, social media, and digital communication.

Living truthfully is a vital aspect of reflecting God's character to the world and fostering genuine, healthy relationships within the body of Christ. It is a continuous process of "putting off" the old habits and "putting on" the virtues that reflect our new life in Christ, as further elaborated in Colossians 3:12.

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Cross-References

  • Ephesians 4:25 (15 votes)

    Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

  • Ephesians 4:22 (15 votes)

    That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

  • Leviticus 19:11 (8 votes)

    ¶ Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

  • John 8:44 (7 votes)

    Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • Romans 6:6 (5 votes)

    Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

  • Zephaniah 3:13 (5 votes)

    The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.

  • Revelation 21:27 (4 votes)

    And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.