Colossians 3:13 (LSB)

Passage

bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you.

Nearby Context

Colossians 3:11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and freeman, but Christ is all and in all.

Colossians 3:12 So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience;

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you.

Colossians 3:14 Above all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "bearing", "another", "graciously", "forgiving", "each", "whoever", and "complaint". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "bearing" and "another", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "So as the elect of God holy..." into verse 14's "Above all these things put on love...", so "bearing" and "another" 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 "bearing" and "another" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.