Col 3:9-11 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 9. Lie not one to another . . Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds . Your former corrupt and evil nature. . The reason for putting away lying, stated in , is, that we "are members one of another"- or are brethren. The reason assigned here is, that we have put off the old man with his deeds. The sense is, that lying is one of the fruits of sin. It is that which the corrupt nature of man naturally produces; and when that is put off, then all that that nature produces should be also put off with it. The vice of lying is a universal fruit of sin, and seems to exist everywhere where the gospel does not prevail. Comp. . There is, perhaps, no single form of sin that reigns so universally in the heathen world.

Colossians 3:9-11

Verse 9. Lie not one to another. Eph 4:25.

Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Your former corrupt and evil nature. Eph 4:22. The reason for putting away lying, stated in Eph 4:25, is, that we "are members one of another"- or are brethren. The reason assigned here is, that we have put off the old man with his deeds. The sense is, that lying is one of the fruits of sin. It is that which the corrupt nature of man naturally produces; and when that is put off, then all that that nature produces should be also put off with it. The vice of lying is a universal fruit of sin, and seems to exist everywhere where the gospel does not prevail. Comp. Tit 1:12. There is, perhaps, no single form of sin that reigns so universally in the heathen world. Verse 10. Which is renewed in knowledge. In Eph 4:24, it is said that the new man is "created after God in righteousness and true holiness." In this place it is added that to the renewed soul knowledge is imparted, and it is made in that respect as man was when he was first created. This passage, in connexion with Eph 4:24, proves that before man fell he was endowed with "righteousness, true holiness, and knowledge." The knowledge here referred to is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of God. Man was acquainted with his Creator. He resembled him in his capacity for knowledge. He was an intelligent being, and he had an acquaintance with the Divine existence and perfections. Comp. Rom 5:12. But especially had he that knowledge which is the fear of the Lord; that knowledge of God which is the result of love. Piety, in the Scriptures, is often represented as the "knowledge" of God. Jn 17:3. Comp. Eph 3:19.

After the image of him that created him. So as to resemble God. In knowledge he was made in the likeness of his Maker.

(e) "in knowledge" Eph 4:23,24 Verse 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew. See this fully explained Gall 3:28. The meaning here is, that all are on a level; that there is no distinction of nation in the church; that all are to be regarded and treated as brethren, and that therefore no one should be false to another, or lie to another.

Circumcision nor uncircumcision. No one is admitted into that blessed society because he is circumcised; no one is excluded because he is uncircumcised. That distinction is unknown, and all are on a level.

Barbarians. No one is excluded because he is a barbarian, or because he lives among those who are uncivilized, and is unpolished in his manners. See the word barbarian explained in Rom 1:14.

Scythian. This word does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. The name Scythian is applied in ancient geography to the people who lived on the north and north-east of the Black and Caspian Seas, a region stretching indefinitely into the unknown countries of Asia. They occupied the lands now peopled by the Monguls and Tartars. The name was almost synonymous with barbarian, for they were regarded as a wild and savage race. The meaning here is, that even such a ferocious and uncivilized people were not excluded from the gospel, but they were as welcome as any other, and were entitled to the same privileges as others. No one was excluded because he belonged to the most rude and uncivilized portion of mankind.

Bond nor free. Gall 3:28.

But Christ is all, and in all. The great thing that constitutes the peculiarity of the church is, that Christ is its Saviour, and that all are his friends and followers. Its members lay aside all other distinctions, and are known only as his friends. They are not known as Jews and Gentiles; as of this nation or that; as slaves or freemen; but they are known as Christians--distinguished from all the rest of mankind as the united friends of the Redeemer. Gall 3:28.

(f) "Where" Rom 10:12