Colossians 3:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Because we have been raised with Christ, we are called to let the old, destructive desires die in us.
The Context of Colossians 3:5
Paul has just said that those raised with Christ have a new life "hid with Christ in God" (verse 3). The word "therefore" makes this a consequence of that new identity: live now from who you already are.
What Does Colossians 3:5 Mean?
Paul uses a strong, honest word: "mortify," put to death. He is not asking us to merely manage the old appetites but to let them die. He lists them plainly, the sins of body and heart that pull a person apart: sexual sin, impurity, runaway desire, and greed. Then he says something piercing, that covetousness "is idolatry." Wanting more and more can quietly take the place God should hold in us, becoming the thing we truly worship. Paul names these things without flinching, because pretending they are harmless never helps.
The "therefore" reaches back to the cross and the empty tomb. We are told to put these things to death precisely because we have already died and risen with Christ; the dying is simply living out what is already true of us. And we are not left to do it alone. The risen Jesus shares His own life with us, and His Spirit gives us the power to loosen the grip of what once owned us. This is the slow, hopeful work of becoming, in practice, the new people we already are in Him.
Colossians 3:5 in the Original Language
nekroo (νεκρόω), 'mortify' -- to put to death, to treat as dead.
How to Apply Colossians 3:5 Today
Paul is honest that some desires must be allowed to die rather than be managed, and that even our wanting can become a kind of worship. We do not face this alone: because we have already risen with Christ, His Spirit gives us the strength to loosen what once held us, growing slowly into the new life that is already ours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colossians 3:5
What does Colossians 3:5 mean?
Because we have been raised with Christ, we are called to let the old, destructive desires die in us.
What is the context of Colossians 3:5?
Paul has just said that those raised with Christ have a new life "hid with Christ in God" (verse 3). The word "therefore" makes this a consequence of that new identity: live now from who you already are.
How can I apply Colossians 3:5 today?
Paul is honest that some desires must be allowed to die rather than be managed, and that even our wanting can become a kind of worship. We do not face this alone: because we have already risen with Christ, His Spirit gives us the strength to loosen what once held us, growing slowly into the new life that is already ours.