Why is lying considered a sin according to Colossians 3:9? Text of Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices.” Immediate Literary Context Paul’s command stands in a paragraph (Colossians 3:5-11) that contrasts two modes of existence. Verses 5-8 list characteristic “earthly” sins—sexual immorality, greed, anger, obscene talk—culminating in the prohibition of lying. Verses 10-11 immediately introduce the “new self,” created in the image of its Creator, renewed in knowledge, and free of the old divisions of ethnicity, status, or culture. Therefore, lying is condemned as a defining practice of the “old self” and utterly incompatible with the “new self.” The Nature of God as Truth Scripture reveals God as “a God of truth” (Isaiah 65:16); Christ declares, “I am the way and the truth” (John 14:6); the Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13). Lying contradicts the essence of the Triune God. Because humanity is made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:26-27), any distortion of truth is a deformation of that image. In Colossians, the believer is being “renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (3:10); lying opposes that renewal. Creation Order and Anthropology Before the Fall, communication between God and humans and between Adam and Eve was transparent and unbroken (Genesis 2:25). The first recorded lie in history came from the serpent, whose deception (Genesis 3:4-5) introduced death and alienation. Jesus later identifies Satan as the “father of lies” (John 8:44), making falsehood the antithesis of divine design. Colossians 3 re-establishes the original intent: truthful speech in fellowship with God and neighbor. Covenant Ethics and the Ninth Commandment Paul’s ethics flow from the Decalogue. Exodus 20:16 reads, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” This command concerns courtrooms, commerce, and community. By quoting it implicitly, Colossians aligns Christian behavior with Israel’s covenant ethic, now applied to the new covenant community. Lying fractures justice, distorts reality, and undermines social cohesion; therefore, it is sin. Christological Foundation for Truthfulness Colossians exalts Christ as “the image of the invisible God” (1:15) and the reconciler of “all things” (1:20). In union with Him, believers participate in His truth-bearing life. The believer’s speech must mirror the truthful character of the conquering, resurrected Lord who vindicated His own claims by rising bodily—a fact attested by multiple early, independent sources (1 Corinthians 15:3-7; the early creed dated by scholars within five years of the crucifixion). Because the resurrection validates everything Jesus taught, His claim to be “the truth” anchors the moral absolute against lying. The Old Self versus the New Self Col 3:9-10 employs clothing imagery: “taken off” (ἀπεκδυσάμενοι) and “put on” (ἐνδυσάμενοι). In Greco-Roman culture, clothing signified status; for Christians, the “new clothes” are righteousness and truth (cf. Ephesians 4:24-25). The participle “since” (ὅτι) in 3:9 grounds the prohibition: you do not lie precisely because you have undergone ontological change. Persisting in lying implies either ignorance of the gospel or hypocrisy, threatening assurance of salvation (Revelation 21:8). Communal Integrity and Witness The Colossian church was multiethnic (3:11). Trust held the fragile house-church network together. Lying would fracture unity, compromise evangelism, and invite God’s discipline (cf. Acts 5:1-11). Ethical credibility allowed early believers to flourish even under persecution; Pliny the Younger (c. A.D. 112) noted Christians’ refusal to swear falsely. Archaeological records show rapid spread of Christian communities, attributable in part to their reputation for integrity. Spiritual Warfare Dimension Colossians 2 highlights Christ’s victory over “powers and authorities” (2:15). Since deceit is a chief weapon of demonic forces, refusing to lie is active participation in that victory. Truth-telling is thus part of spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:14). Theological Teleology: Glorifying God The chief end of humankind is to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Truth-telling magnifies God’s glory by reflecting His character (Psalm 15:1-2). Conversely, lying profanes His name (Leviticus 19:12). Colossians 3 culminates in worship: “Whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (3:17). Honesty is therefore liturgical as well as ethical. Pastoral and Practical Applications • Confession and Repentance: A lie requires immediate acknowledgment before God (1 John 1:9) and restitution to the offended party (Luke 19:8). • Accountability: Small groups and eldership structures, modeled after Acts 20:28, guard against habitual deceit. • Speech Discipline: Replace lies with deliberate truth that edifies (Ephesians 4:29). • Evangelistic Impact: Transparent living adorns the gospel (Titus 2:10). Summary Lying is sin according to Colossians 3:9 because it contradicts God’s truthful nature, violates the created order, breaks covenant law, opposes Christ’s redemptive work, belongs to the discarded “old self,” undermines communal trust, aligns with satanic activity, and robs God of glory. Fidelity to truth reflects the reality of the resurrected Christ and serves as a tangible sign of salvation’s transforming power. |
    |