Colossians 3:6
in Colossians 3Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:
KJV
For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
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This verse in Colossians 3
Commentary
9 notes on this verseFor 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.
This site's exposition
Mortify therefore your members
on Colossians 3:5-6
Mortify is put to death, a decisive act rather than a gradual fading, aimed at members which are upon the earth, the old life's practices treated as if they belonged to a body already dead in verse 3. The list runs from act to root, fornication and uncleanness naming the deed, covetousness naming the idolatry underneath it, an appetite that makes a god of what it wants. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh states the judgment these practices earn without softening, the ground the mercy of chapter 1 answers rather than excuses.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"For which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience." By many things he had been withdrawing them; by the benefits which are already given, by the evils to come from which we had been delivered, being who, and wherefore; and all those considerations, as, for instance, who we were, and in what circumstances, and that we were delivered therefrom, how, and in what manner, and on what terms. These were enough to turn one away, but this one is of greater force than all; unpleasant indeed to speak of, not however to disservice, but even serviceable. "For which things' sake cometh," he saith, "the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience." He said not, "upon you," but, "upon the sons of disobedience."
"For which things' sake cometh," he saith, "the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience." Sons of disobedience, he calls them, to deprive them of excuse, and to show that it was because they would not be obedient, that they were in that condition.
The Medieval Church2 voices
The wrath to come often punishes such people even in the present age. He calls them "sons of disobedience," depriving them of all leniency and showing that they remain in their passions not out of ignorance but out of obstinacy (εξ απείθειας), to which they …
Then when Paul says, on account of these the wrath of God is coming, he gives the reason why these sins should be avoided. There are two reasons: the first applies to all; the second applies especially to them. The first is God's punishment, because …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The wrath of God comes upon all the children of disobedience. Those who do not obey the precepts of the law incur the penalties of it. The sins he mentions were their sins in their heathen and idolatrous state, and they were then especially the children of disobedience; and yet these sins brought judgments upon them, and exposed them to the wrath of God.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The wrath of God cometh - God is angry with such persons, and he inflicts on them the punishment which they deserve.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For which things’ sake ... - See the notes at Eph 5:6, where the same expression occurs.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ἃ | ha | which things | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔρχεται | erchetai | is coming | G2064 → | |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀργὴ | orge | wrath | G3709 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | on | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱοὺς | huious | sons | G5207 → | |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀπειθείας· | apeitheias | of disobedience; | G543 → |
δι᾽because of
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ἃwhich things
haG3739 →1405 times
ἔρχεταιis coming
erchetaiG2064 →
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ὀργὴwrath
orgeG3709 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἐπὶon
epiG1909 →883 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
υἱοὺςsons
huiousG5207 →
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἀπειθείας·of disobedience;
apeitheiasG543 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 1:18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- 1 Timothy 4:1–2
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- Romans 1:32
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
- Ephesians 5:6
Through
1 Peter 1:14As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
it leads to
- Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
- Titus 3:3–5
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Romans 12:2
Through
Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
it leads to
- Romans 1:18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
- Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
- Romans 1:18
Through
Revelation 22:15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
it leads to
- Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This…
- Revelation 21:8
Where this verse is studied
About Colossians
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.