Wednesday 13 May 2026

Psalm 46

Background
In our passage today, the author of this letter to the Early Church in Colossae (in modern-day Turkey) turns from theological reflection to practical instruction. Having set out an incredible vision of Christ’s cosmic significance in the earlier chapters, he now explores what this means for the first Christian Colossians in everyday living.

The opening verses encourage believers to “seek the things that are above” (v. 1). This is not an invitation to ignore earthly realities but to lead lives that truly reflect the incredible reality of Christ’s resurrection. This would have been especially important to those preparing to undergo baptism, or those who had recently been baptised, and there are several allusions to the practice of baptism here.

First, the imagery of dying and rising with Christ (vs 3-4) reflects early Christian baptismal language. At this time, the majority of baptisms would have been of adults, and they would have been conducted by full immersion. As the new believer plunged under the waters, they metaphorically died to their old life and were raised to their new one in Christ, echoing the death and resurrection of Jesus (see Romans 6:3-5). As one early bishop of Jerusalem observed, the waters of baptism were, “both tomb and womb” (Cyril of Jerusalem, c. 313-86 AD).

Second, dying to the old life in baptism involved renouncing values and practices that were incompatible with belief in Christ. They should shed vices that led only to death, such as anger, deceit and greed (vs 5-9), and instead put on the virtues that Jesus exemplified such as compassion, kindness and humility (vs 12-14).

This ‘taking off’ and ‘putting on’ mirrored the action of those being baptised, who would often wear new clothes after baptism, symbolising their changed life. This robing and disrobing is alluded to in today’s passages: “You have stripped off the old self … and have clothed yourselves with the new self” (vs 9-10; see also v. 12). More important than clothes, though, the true Christian is clothed with love (v. 14).

Third, we have the incredibly powerful statement of what it means to be renewed through Christ (v. 11), which most commentators believe to be part of a very early baptismal liturgy (see also 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Galatians 3:28). By sharing in Jesus’ death and resurrection, all the most fundamental distinctions of the ancient world were erased. We cannot overstate how revolutionary this statement is, and how shocking it would have been to so many of its author’s contemporaries.

To Ponder:

• What might it mean to “seek the things that are above” in daily life?
• How might we helpfully apply the language of ‘taking off’ and ‘putting on’ to our own journey with Christ?
• If we were re-writing the words of Colossians 3:11 for our own time, how might we express the force and power of what God has done in Christ?

Prayer
Revolutionary God, overturning our cosy assumptions and misplaced prejudices, inspire us to strip off all that denies our risen life with you, and to clothe ourselves with your radical love for all, through the example of Jesus Christ, our one Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Geoffrey Farrar
The Revd Geoffrey Farrar is the Superintendent Minister of the Richmond & Hounslow Circuit in south-west London. He has pastoral charge of Barnes, Putney and Roehampton churches. He is currently studying for a (very) part-time PhD at the nearby University of Roehampton, looking at the impact of the Maccabean Revolt on responses to Jesus. He lives in Putney with his partner and their adopted son.