Colossians 3 · Verse 3

Colossians 3:3

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3, King James Version

Colossians 3:3 in other translations

BSBFor you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
WEBFor you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
ASVFor ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
YLTfor ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God;
DARBYfor ye have died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God.
BBEFor your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God.
WebsterFor ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

What does Colossians 3:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. The Greek aorist tense implies, "For ye have died once for all" (Col 2:12; Ro 6:4-7). It is not said, Ye must die practically to the world in order to become dead with Christ; but the latter is assumed as once for all having taken place in the regeneration; what believers are told is, Develop this spiritual life in practice. "No one longs for eternal, incorruptible, and immortal life, unless he be wearied of this temporal, corruptible, and mortal life" [Augustine]. and your life ... hid--(Psa 83:3); like a seed buried in the earth; compare "planted," Ro 6:5. Compare Mt 13:31, 33, "like ... leaven ... hid." As the glory of Christ now is hid from the world, so also the glory of believers' inner life, proceeding from communion with Him, is still hidden with Christ in God; but (Col 3:4) when Christ, the Source of this life, shall manifest Himself in glory, then shall their hidden glory be manifest, and correspond in appearance to its original [Neander]. The Christian's secret communion with God will now at times make itself seen without his intending it (Mt 5:14, 16); but his full manifestation is at Christ's manifestation (Mt 13:43; Ro 8:19-23). "It doth not yet appear (Greek, 'is not yet manifested') what we shall be" (1Jo 3:2; 1Pe 1:7). As yet Christians do not always recognize the "life" of one another, so hidden is it, and even at times doubt as to their own life, so weak is it, and so harassed with temptations (Psa 51:1-19; Ro 7:1-25). in God--to whom Christ has ascended. Our "life" is "laid up for" us in God (Col 1:5), and is secured by the decree of Him who is invisible to the world (2Ti 4:8).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. For ye are dead. Dead to the world; dead to sin; dead to earthly pleasures. On the meaning of the word dead, Rom 6:2; Eph 2:1. The idea of the apostle is, that as Christ became literally dead in the tomb, so we, in virtue of our connexion with him, have become dead to sin, to worldly influences, pleasures, and ambition. Or, in other words, we are to be to them as if we were dead, and they had no more influence over us than the things of earth had over him in the grave. Rom 6:2.

And your life. There is still life. Though dead to one class of objects, you are alive to others. See the sentiment here expressed explained at large Gall 2:20.

Is hid with Christ in God. The language here is taken probably from treasure which is "hid" or concealed in a place of security; and the idea is, that eternal life is an invaluable jewel or treasure, which is laid up with Christ in heaven where God is. There it is safely deposited. It has this security, that it is with the Redeemer, and that he is in the presence of God; and thus nothing can reach it or take it away. It is not left with us, or entrusted to our keeping--for then it might be lost, as we might lose an invaluable jewel; or it might be wrested from us; or we might be defrauded of it; but it is now laid up far out of our sight, and far from the reach of all our enemies, and with One who can "keep that which we have committed to him against that day," 2Ti 1:12. Our eternal life, therefore, is as secure as it could possibly be made. The true condition of the Christian is, that he is "dead" to this world, but that he has immortal life in prospect, and that is secure, being in the holy keeping of his Redeemer, now in the presence of God. From this it follows that he should regard himself as living for heaven.

(d) "ye are dead" Rom 6:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 For ye are dead - To all hopes of happiness from the present world; and, according to your profession, should feel no more appetite for the things of this life, than he does whose soul is departed into the invisible state. Your life is hid with Christ in God - Christ is your treasure; and where your treasure is, there is your heart. Christ lives in the bosom of the Father; as your heart is in him, ye also sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Christ is the life of your souls; and as he is hidden in the bosom of the Father, so are ye, who live through and in him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 3:1-4

Chapter Outline The Colossians exhorted to be heavenly-minded; (1-4) to mortify all corrupt affections; (5-11) to live in mutual love, forbearance, and forgiveness; (12-17) and to practise the duties of wives and husbands, children, parents, and servants. (18-25) Verses 1-4 As Christians are freed from the ceremonial law, they must walk the more closely with God in gospel obedience. As heaven and earth are contrary…

Read the full comment on Colossians 3:1-4 →

Colossians 3:3 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.

ἀπεθάνετεapethaneteYou have diedG599
γὰρgarforG1063
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡhētheG3588
ζωὴzōēlifeG2222
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
κέκρυπταιkekruptaihas been hiddenG2928
σὺνsunwithG4862
τῷtō<the>G3588
ΧριστῷChristōChristG5547
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷ·theōGod;G2316

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

Cross references for Colossians 3:3

  • Galatians 2:20

    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  • Romans 6:2

    God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

  • Colossians 2:20

    Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

  • John 5:24

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

  • Romans 8:2

    For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

  • Romans 5:10

    For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

  • 1 Peter 1:3-5

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:14

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

  • John 5:21

    For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

  • John 3:16

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

  • John 14:19

    Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

  • 1 Peter 3:4

    But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
are.
2:20; Ro 6:2; Ga 2:20
your.
4; 1:5; Joh 3:16; 4:14; 5:21,24,40; 6:39,40; 10:28-30; 14:19
Ro 5:10,21; 8:2,34-39; 1Co 15:45; 2Co 5:7; Heb 7:25; 1Pe 1:3-5
hid.
2:3; Mt 11:25; 1Co 2:14; Php 4:7; 1Pe 3:4; 1Jo 3:2; Re 2:17

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

Context

  • Colossians 3:2

    Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

  • Colossians 3:3

    For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

  • Colossians 3:4

    When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Read all of Colossians 3

Colossians 3:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque muertos sois, y vuestra vida está escondida con Cristo en Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car vous êtes morts, et votre vie est cachée avec le Christ en Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn ihr seid gestorben, und euer Leben ist verborgen mit dem Christus in Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Mortui enim estis, et vita vestra est abscondita cum Christo in Deo.