What does "put to death" mean in Colossians 3:5 from a theological perspective? Immediate Context Verses 1–4 declare that believers have been “raised with Christ” and their life is “hidden with Christ in God.” Because this positional reality is true, verse 5 commands the practical outworking—eliminating behaviors tied to the “earthly nature.” The list that follows (porneía, akatharsía, páthos, epithumía kaké, pleonexía) represents both external acts and internal dispositions. Theological Framework: Union with Christ Paul anchors ethics in union with Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17). Believers have already died with Christ (Colossians 2:20); therefore, they are to “make dead” any remaining expressions of the old self. The command does not suggest self-atonement—Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) is sufficient—rather, it instructs the application of that accomplished death to daily conduct. Mortification in Pauline Theology Romans 8:13 parallels the thought: “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Galatians 5:24 states that those who belong to Christ “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The believer’s agency functions in tandem with the Spirit’s power (Philippians 2:12-13). John Owen summarized: “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you” (The Mortification of Sin, chap. 1). Objects of Mortification Paul targets both overt sins (porneía) and subtle heart-idols (greed, i.e., pleonexía). Greed equals idolatry because it elevates created things above the Creator (cf. Exodus 20:3; Matthew 6:24). Thus, mortification is worship; it reorders affections toward God’s supremacy (1 Corinthians 10:31). Means of Mortification 1. Mind Renewal—“Set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2). Cognitive transformation (Romans 12:2) weakens sin’s allure. 2. Dependence on the Spirit—“By the Spirit” (Romans 8:13) rules out mere moralism. Prayer, Scripture meditation, and fellowship are Spirit-appointed conduits. 3. Faith Union—Reckoning oneself dead to sin (Romans 6:11) aligns subjective experience with objective reality. 4. Accountability—Colossians 3 moves quickly to community instructions (vv. 9-16), indicating corporate support. Historical Witness Ignatius (Letter to the Romans 6) urged believers to “put to death the old practices,” echoing Pauline language. Augustine’s Confessions relate his own decisive break from sexual immorality after Romans 13:13-14 pierced his conscience—illustrating the command’s timeless power. Pastoral Application “Put to death” is both negative (cease sin) and positive (live to righteousness, 1 Peter 2:24). Progress is measurable: decreasing frequency of sin, increasing speed of repentance, growing love for God and neighbor. Failure is not final; confession (1 John 1:9) re-engages the battle. Synthesis “Put to death” in Colossians 3:5 is a Spirit-enabled, believer-engaged, definitive yet ongoing eradication of sin’s expressions, grounded in union with Christ’s finished work and aimed at the glory of God. It summons every disciple to active, persistent warfare against the flesh, trusting the resurrection power that guarantees ultimate victory. |
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