Christmas Season · First Sunday after Christmas Day · Year C
Colossians 3:12-17
By Faith
December 26, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
The Nature and Importance of Faith The mention of the importance of faith in the last two verses of the preceding chapter leads naturally to this famous chapter on faith. It is impossible to know whether the author is making use of a source, which he now takes over in part or totally, or whether he is composing a fresh catalogue of heroes on the model of existing examples. Extensive reviews of the history of Israel had been composed to substantiate a warning or to provide encouragement, and some of these would have been known to our author. As examples, we may mention Psalm 78; Wisdom of Solomon 10; Sirach 44–50; 1 Maccabees 2:51–64; and Acts 7.
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Commentary
Working Preacher: Commentary on Colossians 3:12-17 Working Preacher
Lutheran lectionary exegesis on the household virtues Paul commends for Year C.
CEP: Colossians 3:12-17 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the repeated call to gratitude in this passage.
Enduring Word: Colossians 3 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.
StudyLight: Colossians 3 Commentaries StudyLight
Many complete commentaries on Colossians 3 gathered on one passage page.
BibleHub: Commentaries on Colossians 3:12 BibleHub
Parallel classic commentaries keyed to putting on the new self's virtues.
Background & Word Study
BibleHub Interlinear: Colossians 3:12 BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for the clothing imagery and the peace of Christ.
BibleProject: Colossians Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of Paul's letter and its vision of life in Christ.
Enter the Bible: Colossians Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the letter's setting and themes.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is the roll call of faith?
Hebrews 11 tells of those who trusted God's promise before they saw it, Abraham and Sarah among them, welcoming from afar the fulfillment that comes in Christ.
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