Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Colossians 3:12-17

## Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Reading of Colossians 3:12-17

### Tradition-Specific Interpretation

We read Colossians 3:12-17 as Paul exhorting the elect of God, chosen in eternity past, to embody the virtues that reflect our union with Christ. These verses are set within the broader context of our sanctification, a process initiated and sustained by sovereign grace. As God's covenant people, we are to 'put on' the characteristics of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, which are fruits of the Spirit, demonstrating the transformative power of the new covenant established through Christ's atoning work. This passage calls us to live as those who have been brought from darkness into the marvelous light of God's redemptive history, revealing the new humanity in Christ.

### Key Language Decisions