Colossians 3:14 (YLT)

Passage

and above all these things, <FI>have<Fi> love, which is a bond of the perfection,

Nearby Context

Colossians 3:12 Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,

Colossians 3:13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any one with any one may have a quarrel, as also the Christ did forgive you--so also ye;

Colossians 3:14 and above all these things, <FI>have<Fi> love, which is a bond of the perfection,

Colossians 3:15 and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body, and become thankful.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "above", "things", "love", "bond", and "perfection". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "above" and "things", 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 forgiving each other..." into verse 15's "and let the peace of God rule...", so "above" and "things" 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 "above" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.