Colossians 3 · Verse 10

Colossians 3:10

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Colossians 3:10, King James Version

Colossians 3:10 in other translations

BSB	and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
WEB	and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
ASV	and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:
YLT	and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him;
DARBY	and having put on the new, renewed into full knowledge according to the image of him that has created him;
BBE	And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his maker;
Webster	And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

What does Colossians 3:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

10. the new man--(See on Ep 4:23). Here (neon) the Greek, means "the recently-put-on nature"; that lately received at regeneration (see on Ep 4:23, 24). which is renewed--Greek, "which is being renewed" (anakainottmenou); namely, its development into a perfectly renewed nature is continually progressing to completion. in knowledge--rather as the Greek, "unto perfect knowledge" (see on Col 1:6; Col 1:9, 10). Perfect knowledge of God excludes all sin (Joh 17:3). after the image of him that created him--namely, of God that created the new man (Ep 2:10; 4:24). The new creation is analogous to the first creation (2Co 4:6). As man was then made in the image of God naturally, so now spiritually. But the image of God formed in us by the Spirit of God, is as much more glorious than that borne by Adam, as the Second Man, the Lord from heaven, is more glorious than the first man. Ge 1:26, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." The "image" is claimed for man, 1Co 11:7; the "likeness," Jas 3:9. Origen [On First Principles, 3:6] taught, the image was something in which all were created, and which continued to man after the fall (Ge 9:6). The likeness was something towards which man was created, that he might strive after it and attain it. Trench thinks God in the double statement (Ge 1:26), contemplates both man's first creation and his being "renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 10. Which is renewed in knowledge. In Eph 4:24, it is said that the new man is "created after God in righteousness and true holiness." In this place it is added that to the renewed soul knowledge is imparted, and it is made in that respect as man was when he was first created. This passage, in connexion with Eph 4:24, proves that before man fell he was endowed with "righteousness, true holiness, and knowledge." The knowledge here referred to is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of God. Man was acquainted with his Creator. He resembled him in his capacity for knowledge. He was an intelligent being, and he had an acquaintance with the Divine existence and perfections. Comp. Rom 5:12. But especially had he that knowledge which is the fear of the Lord; that knowledge of God which is the result of love. Piety, in the Scriptures, is often represented as the "knowledge" of God. Jn 17:3. Comp. Eph 3:19.

After the image of him that created him. So as to resemble God. In knowledge he was made in the likeness of his Maker.

(e) "in knowledge" Eph 4:23,24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 10 And have put on the new man - See on Rom 12:1-2 (note). Is renewed in knowledge - Ignorance was the grand characteristic of the heathen state; Knowledge, of the Christian. The utmost to which heathenism could pretend was a certain knowledge of nature. How far this went, and how much it fell short of the truth, may be seen in the writings of Aristotle and Pliny. Christianity reveals God himself, the author of nature; or, rather, God has revealed himself, in the Christian system with which he has blessed mankind. Christianity teaches a man the true knowledge both of himself and of God; but it is impossible to know one's self but in the light of God; the famous γνωθι σεαυτον, know thyself, was practicable only under the Christian religion. After the image of him that created him - We have already seen that God made man in his own image; and we have seen in what that image consisted. See the notes on Gen 1:26, and on Eph 4:23 (note), Eph 4:24 (note). Does not the apostle refer here to the case of an artist, who wishes to make a perfect resemblance of some exquisite form or person? God in this case is the artist, man is the copy, and God himself the original from which this copy is to be taken. Thus, then, man is made by his Creator, not according to the image or likeness of any other being, but according to his own; the image του Κτισαντος, of the Creator. And as the Divine nature cannot exist in forms or fashions, moral qualities alone are those which must be produced. Hence the apostle, interpreting the words of Moses, says that the image in which man was made, and in which he must be remade, ανακαινουμενον, made anew, consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 3:5-11

It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Occasions of sin must be avoided: the lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world; and covetousness, which is idolatry; love of…

Read the full comment on Colossians 3:5-11 →

Colossians 3:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐνδυσάμενοιendusamenoihaving put onG1746

τὸνtontheG3588

νέον,neonnew,G3501

τὸνtonwhichG3588

ἀνακαινούμενονanakainoumenonis being renewedG341

εἰςeisinG1519

ἐπίγνωσινepignōsinknowledgeG1922

κατ᾽kat᾽according toG2596

εἰκόναeikona[the] imageG1504

τοῦtouof the [one who]G3588

κτίσαντοςktisantoshaving createdG2936

αὐτόν·autonhim;G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Colossians 3:10

Ephesians 4:23-24
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Romans 13:14
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1 John 2:5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 2:3
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

put.
12,14; Job 29:14; Isa 52:1; 59:17; Ro 13:12,14; 1Co 15:53,54
Ga 3:27; Eph 4:24
the new.
Eze 11:19; 18:31; 36:26; 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10,15; 4:24
Re 21:5
renewed.
Ps 51:10; Ro 12:2; Eph 4:23; Heb 6:6
knowledge.
Joh 17:3; 2Co 3:18; 4:6; 1Jo 2:3,5
after.
Ge 1:26,27; Eph 2:10; 4:23,24; 1Pe 1:14,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Colossians 3:9
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Read all of Colossians 3

Colossians 3:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y revestídoos del nuevo, el cual por el conocimiento es renovado conforme á la imagen del que lo crió;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	et ayant revêtu le nouvel homme qui est renouvelé en connaissance, selon l’image de celui qui l’a créé,
German Elberfelder 1871	und den neuen angezogen habt, der erneuert wird zur Erkenntnis nach dem Bilde dessen, der ihn erschaffen hat;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	et induentes novum eum, qui renovatur in agnitionem secundum imaginem ejus qui creavit illum: