Colossians Chapter 3, Verse 1
From BibleWiki
1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
1: Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.
If ye then be risen with Christ...
Barnes writes, "The apostle in this place evidently founds the argument on what he had said in Col 2:12. The argument is, that there was such an union between Christ and his people, that in virtue of his death they become dead to sin; that in virtue of his resurrection they rise to spiritual life; and that therefore, as Christ now lives in heaven, they should live for heaven, and fix their affections there."
This sentence is qualified with �if.� The ει + indicative in the Greek language signals that this sentence is a first class conditional, meaning that the author assumes his readers were raised in Christ for the sake of argument and that the reader would agree with him. Thus, the reader would read this as, "If it is true that I are risen with Christ then if naturally follows that I would..."
Gill writes, "The apostle having observed in the former chapter, that the believing Colossians were dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, were buried with him in baptism, and were risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, argues from hence how much it became them to regard a new and spiritual life, and to seek after superior and heavenly things, and treat with neglect and contempt carnal and earthly ones. For he does not here call in question their being risen with Christ, but takes it for granted that they were [the sense of the first class conditional], and makes use of it as an argument for his present purpose. They were risen with Christ as their head, and as members in union with him representatively, when he rose from the dead; and emblematically in their baptism, when having gone down into the water, and being baptized, they emersed from it; and spiritually in conversion, when they were raised from a death of sin, to a life of grace, by Christ, as the resurrection and the life, the efficient cause of it, and in virtue of his resurrection from the dead:"
...Seek those things which are above...
Barnes writes, "That is, seek them as the objects of pursuit and affection; strive to secure them."
Extending the logic of the first class conditional noted above, the understanding of the reader would then be, "If a person is risen with Christ, then it naturally follows that he would seek those things which are above." If the person were to disagree with this conclusion, then it follows that he also disagrees that he is risen with Christ.
Gill writes, "all spiritual blessings, such as pardon, peace, righteousness, life, and glory, which are in heavenly places in him; doctrines and ordinances, which come from heaven, and are the means of supporting a spiritual and heavenly life; especially that bread of life which came down from heaven, and gives life unto the world, and of which if a man eats, he shall never die, but live for ever; and particularly glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life, the crown of righteousness laid up above, the kingdom of God, and the righteousness of it; which are to be sought for in the first place with all affection, earnest desire, care, and diligence, not by or for works of righteousness, but in Christ, and as the gifts of God's grace through him."
...Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Barnes writes, "See Mk 16:19. The argument here is, that since Christ is there, and since he is the object of our supreme attachment, we should fix our affections on heavenly things, and seek to be prepared to dwell with him."
Again extending the first class conditional, Barnes' point follows when applied to those who are risen with Christ. If the initial condition - the person is risen with Christ - is not true then the argument fails.
Gill writes, "which contains other reasons and arguments to engage believers to look upwards, and seek after heavenly things; that as Christ, when he died and rose again from the dead, did not stay long on earth, nor minded the things of the world, but ascended up to heaven, where he now is, and will remain until his second coming; so they, being dead and risen with him, should, in their thoughts, desires, and affections, in the exercise of the graces of faith, hope, and love, ascend heavenwards,...and the more should their hearts be where he is, and intent on things above there,..." "
