Colossians 3 · Verse 4

Colossians 3:4

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:4, King James Version

Colossians 3:4 in other translations

BSBWhen Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
WEBWhen Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
ASVWhen Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.
YLTwhen the Christ--our life--may be manifested, then also we with him shall be manifested in glory.
DARBYWhen the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory.
BBEAt the coming of Christ who is our life, you will be seen with him in glory.
WebsterWhen Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then will ye also appear with him in glory.

What does Colossians 3:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. Translate, "When Christ shall be manifested who is our life (Joh 11:25; 14:6, 19), then shall ye also with Him be manifested in glory" (1Pe 4:13). The spiritual life our souls have now in Him shall be extended to our bodies (Ro 8:11). then--and not till then. Those err who think to find a perfect Church before then. The true Church is now militant. Rome errs in trying to set up a Church now regnant and triumphant. The true Church shall be visible as a perfect and reigning Church, when Christ shall be visibly manifested as her reigning Head. Rome having ceased to look for Him in patient faith, has set up a visible mockhead, a false anticipation of the millennial kingdom. The Papacy took to itself by robbery that glory which is an object of hope, and can only be reached by bearing the cross now. When the Church became a harlot, she ceased to be a bride who goes to meet her Bridegroom. Hence the millennial kingdom ceased to be looked for [Auberlen].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. When Christ, who is our life. Jn 1:4; Jn 11:25.

Shall appear. In the day when he shall come to judge the world.

Then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 1Thes 4:16,17. Christians shall then be raised from the dead, and ascend with the Redeemer to heaven.

(b) "who is our life" Jn 11:25, 14:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 When Christ, who is our life - When Christ comes to judge the world, ye shall appear with him in his glory, and in an eternal state of blessedness.

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 3:4 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.

ὅτανhotanWhenG3752
ὁho<the>G3588
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547
φανερωθῇ,phanerōthēamay be revealed,G5319
ἡhētheG3588
ζωὴzōēlifeG2222
ὑμῶν,humōnof you,G4771
τότεtotethenG5119
καὶkaialsoG2532
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
σὺνsunwithG4862
αὐτῷautōHimG846
φανερωθήσεσθεphanerōthēsesthewill appearG5319
ἐνeninG1722
δόξῃ.¶doxēglory.G1391

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

Cross references for Colossians 3:4

  • John 11:25

    Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

  • 1 John 3:2

    Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

  • 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.

  • 1 Peter 1:13

    Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

  • Philippians 3:21

    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

  • John 17:24

    Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

  • 1 Peter 5:4

    And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

  • Revelation 22:14

    Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

  • Hebrews 9:28

    So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

  • 1 John 2:28

    And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12

    When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Jude 1:24

    Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Context

  • 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.

  • Colossians 3:5

    Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Read all of Colossians 3

Colossians 3:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Cuando Cristo, vuestra vida, se manifestare, entonces vosotros también seréis manifestados con él en gloria.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Quand le Christ qui est notre vie, sera manifesté, alors vous aussi, vous serez manifestés avec lui en gloire.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wenn der Christus, unser Leben, geoffenbart werden wird, dann werdet auch ihr mit ihm geoffenbart werden in Herrlichkeit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cum Christus apparuerit, vita vestra: tunc et vos apparebitis cum ipso in gloria.