Interpretation of the Bible / Colossians 3:2

The book of Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae, a city in Phrygia in Asia Minor. The Christians in this community were under pressure from legalistic Jews and philosophers who were challenging their faith. Paul wrote to strengthen their faith, their knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to encourage them to live practical lives consistent with their faith. In this verse, the Apostle calls them to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal.

Paul’s invitation to focus on things above rather than on things on the earth is fundamental to our Christian lives, helping us to walk the path of faith and helping us to avoid falling into everyday temptations. The Apostle reminds us that there are more important and eternal realities that we need to keep at the center of our lives.

“Earth” refers to all things temporary, material, and ephemeral, including our personal concerns, money, fame, luxury, and superficial relationships.

In contrast, “things above” refer to the spiritual, eternal, and transcendent truths that give meaning to our existence and are fundamental to our lives.

If we are constantly focused on earthly things, we risk losing sight of what is truly important and finding it difficult to distinguish the essential from the unimportant, leading us to temptation, anger, and bad decisions. But if our minds are focused on heavenly things, we will have a clearer vision of what is important and will be able to make wiser and more joyful decisions.

A. T. Robertson writes, “The Christian life means that the Christian seeks heavenly things and thinks about heavenly things. His feet tread the earth, but his head is among the stars. He lives on earth as a citizen of heaven”. (Robertson, Intellectuals, p. 149.)