Interpretation of the Bible / Colossians 3:9-10
In these verses, the Apostle Paul admonishes us not to lie to one another, reminding us that we must put away our old sinful nature and its actions. This instruction is an example of the Bible’s emphasis on honesty and truthfulness, and how Christians are to reflect a new nature that will not allow them to behave dishonestly.
Lying in the Bible
Lying is something that clearly contradicts the truth, which is essential to the nature of our Heavenly Father. The Bible repeatedly condemns lying and falsehood, which means that it is not something new in the New Testament, but something mentioned in both parts of the Holy Book. For example, let’s look at Proverbs 12:22, which says, “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Putting off the old man
The Apostle Paul speaks of the “old man,” meaning that the Christian had to put aside his or her old sinful nature, which is repugnant to God. This putting off was made possible by the work of Christ on the cross, where He took our sins upon Himself and gave us His righteousness.
This process, although only possible through faith in Jesus, requires effort and dedication on the part of the believer so that his or her life reflects the changes he or she has experienced.
A new man who is renewed in knowledge
The word “renewal” is very important because it reflects the process of transformation that the believer experiences in Christ. It is not a short-term transformation, but an ongoing process in which we increasingly shed the old self and put on the new man.
This process of renewal is not something we do alone or that happens automatically. The phrase “in knowledge” implies that renewal only occurs when we connect with the source of all knowledge: God.
Renewal involves a change in our way of thinking, and this transformation can only occur when we reconcile with our Creator and allow His Spirit to guide our steps.
In the image of Him who created him
This refers to how, as we put on the new man, we begin to look more and more like our Creator. The idea of “the image of our Creator” is that God created humans in His own image, meaning that we have the unique ability to reflect His qualities and characteristics.