Colossians 3:14 (GNV)

Passage

And aboue all these thinges put on loue, which is the bond of perfectnes.

Nearby Context

Colossians 3:12 Now therfore as the elect of God holy and beloued, put on the bowels of mercies, kindnesse, humblenesse of minde, meekenesse, long suffering:

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiuing one another, if any man haue a quarel to another: euen as Christ forgaue, euen so doe ye.

Colossians 3:14 And aboue all these thinges put on loue, which is the bond of perfectnes.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body, and be ye thankfull.

Colossians 3:16 Let the worde of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome, teaching and admonishing your owne selues, in Psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing with a grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "aboue", "thinges", "loue", "bond", and "perfectnes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "aboue" and "thinges", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "Forbearing one another and forgiuing one another..." into verse 15's "And let the peace of God rule...", so "aboue" and "thinges" belong inside that flow. In Colossians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "aboue" and "thinges" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.