Colossians 3:17
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And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Literally, "And everything whatsoever ye do . . . do all," &c.; this includes words as well as deeds. in the name of the Lord Jesus--as disciples called by His name as His, seeking His guidance and help, and desiring to act so as to gain His approval (Rom 14:8; Co1 10:31; Co2 5:15; Pe1 4:11). Compare "in the Lord," Col 3:18, and "Christ is all," Col 3:11. God and the Father--The oldest manuscripts omit "and," which seems to have crept in from Eph 5:20. by him--Greek, "through Him" as the channel of His grace to us, and of our thanksgiving to Him (Joh 14:6, end).
Open source ↗I. The apostle exhorts us to set our hearts upon heaven and take them off from this world (Col 3:1-4). II. He exhorts to the mortification of sin, in the various instances of it (Col 3:5-11). III. He earnestly presses to mutual love and compassion (Col 3:12-17). And concludes with exhortations to relative duties, of wives and husbands, parents and children, masters and servants (Col 3:18-25).
Open source ↗3:17 as a representative of the Lord Jesus (literally in the name of the Lord Jesus): In the Bible, a person’s name represents that person. To do something in the name of the Lord Jesus is therefore to act in a way that is in harmony with his identity and under his authority.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
Though each of the peoples may walk in the name of his god, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.