List , Definitions and Lexical Notes for Colossians 3:5-14

Below are expanded theological and lexical notes on each Greek term from Colossians 3:5–14. These notes draw from major lexicons (BDAG, LSJ, TDNT), Greco-Roman usage, Jewish background, and Paul’s theology.

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COLOSSIANS 3:5 — “PUT TO DEATH” THE EARTHLY VICES

1. πορνεία — porneía (“sexual immorality”)

Lexical Notes

• Root πορνή means “prostitute”; verb πορνεύω means “to engage in illicit sexual intercourse.”

• In Greco-Roman culture, often used for prostitution, extramarital sex, or promiscuity in general.

• In the Septuagint (LXX), closely tied to covenant unfaithfulness, both literal and metaphorical.

Theological Notes

• Paul uses porneía as a broad category for all sexual sin outside God’s covenant design.

• For Paul, sexual sin uniquely unites the body (which belongs to Christ) with another in a disordered way (1 Cor 6:15–20).

• Connected with idolatry and pagan religious practices.

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2. ἀκαθαρσία — akatharsía (“impurity”)

Lexical Notes

• Literally “uncleanness,” opposite of καθαρσία (“cleanliness”).

• Covers both external actions and internal moral filth.

• Used for ritual impurity in Greek and Jewish contexts.

Theological Notes

• Expands beyond sexual acts to impure thought, speech, or intention.

• Points to the inner corruption caused by sin—echoing Jesus’ teaching that uncleanness comes from the heart (Mk 7:20–23).

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3. πάθος — páthos (“passion”)

Lexical Notes

• Neutral term in Greek philosophy (means “emotion,” “experience”), but in Paul's letters typically negative.

• Indicates an overpowering emotion or desire that masters a person.

Theological Notes

• Paul sees sinful passions as part of the old humanity ruled by disordered desires (Rom 1:26; 7:5).

• Contrasts with the Spirit’s fruit of self-control.

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4. ἐπιθυμία κακή — epithymía kakē (“evil desire”)

Lexical Notes

• Epithymía can mean a positive desire, but contextually here is moral craving for the forbidden.

• Modified by κακή (“evil,” “bad,” “harmful”), intensifying it.

Theological Notes

• Describes a deep, internal longing bent away from God.

• Paul taught that the Law exposed and even stirred up epithymía (Rom 7:7–8).

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5. πλεονεξία — pleonexía (“greed, covetousness”)

Lexical Notes

• Literally “the desire to have more” (pleon = more, echō = to have).

• In secular Greek: grasping for advantage, ruthless desire for gain.

Theological Notes

• Paul equates greed with idolatry, because it places ultimate trust in possessions rather than God.

• Root of many sins because it reflects lack of contentment and disordered love.

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COLOSSIANS 3:8 — “PUT AWAY” SOCIAL SINS

6. ὀργή — orgē (“anger”)

Lexical Notes

• Long-term, settled indignation.

• The root idea is a slow-building wrath that simmers internally.

Theological Notes

• Distinguished from God’s righteous orgē; human anger tends toward sinful domination of others.

• Reflects internal hostility that damages community.

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7. θυμός — thymós (“wrath, rage”)

Lexical Notes

• Hot, explosive anger; the opposite of orgē’s slow burn.

• Often used for sudden outbursts.

Theological Notes

• Disrupts unity and contradicts the peace of Christ (Col 3:15).

• Paul sees anger’s escalation (wrath → malice → slander) as a chain of destructive speech and behavior.

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8. κακία — kakía (“malice, wickedness”)

Lexical Notes

• General term for moral evil; here specifically harmful attitudes toward others.

• Includes spite, ill-will, and a disposition to hurt.

Theological Notes

• Represents a heart posture incompatible with the new humanity created in Christ (3:10).

• Root of destructive speech.

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9. βλασφημία — blasphēmía (“slander, abusive speech”)

Lexical Notes

• Can refer to speaking against God or against people.

• General meaning: “speech that insults or injures.”

Theological Notes

• Violates the image of God in others.

• Paul sees speech as morally charged; words build or destroy community.

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10. αἰσχρολογία — aischrología (“obscene/abusive speech”)

Lexical Notes

• Aischros = “shameful,” “base.”

• Root sense: disgraceful, filthy talk—coarse or demeaning language.

Theological Notes

• “New humanity” requires transformed speech habits.

• Reflects the moral reorientation of the tongue (cf. Eph 4:29; Jas 3).

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COLOSSIANS 3:9 — DECEIT

11. ψεύδεσθε — pseúdesthe (“lie, deceive”)

Lexical Notes

• Present imperative: stop lying / do not continually deceive.

• Encompasses falsehood, deception, misrepresentation.

Theological Notes

• Lying is incompatible with the new self which is renewed in knowledge of the image of the Creator (3:10).

• Truth is essential in the redeemed community.

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COLOSSIANS 3:12 — “PUT ON” CHRISTLIKE VIRTUES

12. σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ — splágchna oiktirmoû (“compassionate hearts”)

Lexical Notes

• Splágchna literally means “internal organs” (heart, bowels), viewed as the seat of deep emotions.

• Oiktirmós = “pity,” “mercy.”

Theological Notes

• Reflects God's compassionate character (Exod 34:6).

• Opposite of malice; roots behavior in empathy and solidarity.

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13. χρηστότης — chrēstótēs (“kindness”)

Lexical Notes

• Denotes moral goodness expressed in generosity and helpfulness.

• Used of God’s gracious disposition (Rom 2:4).

Theological Notes

• Believers imitate God’s benevolent kindness.

• Builds unity and protects relationships.

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14. ταπεινοφροσύνη — tapeinophrosýnē (“humility”)

Lexical Notes

• Compound of tapeinos (lowly) + phrēn (mind).

• In Greco-Roman culture typically negative—slaves were “lowly.”

• Christianity radically redefines it as virtue.

Theological Notes

• Mimics Christ’s self-emptying humility (Phil 2:5–11).

• Counter-cultural virtue that reshapes community dynamics.

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15. πραΰτης — praýtēs (“gentleness/meekness”)

Lexical Notes

• Not weakness but controlled strength; mildness under provocation.

• Used of a tamed animal—power under control.

Theological Notes

• Character of Jesus (Matt 11:29).

• Harmonizes relationships and allows correction without harshness.

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16. μακροθυμία — makrothymía (“patience/long-suffering”)

Lexical Notes

• Makros = long + thymós = anger/passion.

• Literally “long to anger”—slow to retaliate.

Theological Notes

• Reflects God’s patience with humanity.

• Essential for maintaining unity among imperfect people.

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COLOSSIANS 3:13 — RELATIONAL VIRTUES

17. ἀνεχόμενοι — anechómenoi (“bearing with one another”)

Lexical Notes

• Means to endure, tolerate, sustain, put up with.

• Often used of enduring difficult circumstances or people.

Theological Notes

• A realistic, loving acknowledgment that fellow believers are imperfect.

• Part of the daily practice of Christian love.

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18. χαριζόμενοι — charizómenoi (“forgiving, showing grace”)

Lexical Notes

• From charis (“grace”).

• To freely give, to bestow favor, to forgive.

Theological Notes

• Forgiveness is grounded in the Christ-event (“as the Lord forgave you”).

• Emphasizes gracious generosity, not mere obligation.

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COLOSSIANS 3:14 — THE SUPREME VIRTUE

19. ἀγάπη — agápē (“love”)

Lexical Notes

• Self-giving, covenantal love.

• In Greek outside Christian writings, sometimes means preference or affection; NT gives richer depth.

Theological Notes

• For Paul, agápē is the fulfillment of the law, the essence of the new humanity.

• Called the σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος (“bond of perfection”):

  • σύνδεσμος = ligament, binding force.

  • τελειότης = maturity, completeness.

• Love binds all virtues into a unified, Christlike character.

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