Paragraph 3:17

Theme: Paul reminded the Colossians that they belonged to the Lord Jesus. Therefore, they should do everything that people who belong to him should do.

This verse is a summary of all that Paul had commanded/urged the Colossians to do since 2:6.

3:17b

in the name of the Lord Jesus: To do something in the name of someone else is to do it as that person’s representative, or as one who acts under his authority. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment about 3:17a–b

You could reorder 3:17a–b as follows:

Since we are all representatives of the Lord Jesus, we should speak as he wants us to speak, and we should do things in the way he wants us to do them.

3:17c

God the Father: In some languages, it is more natural to say “God our(incl.) Father,” than God the Father.

through Him: That is, “through Jesus.” This means that Christians should thank God the Father “by means of the Lord Jesus.” Jesus is our mediator—he is the “go-between.” Christ takes our thanks and presents them to God the Father.

It could also mean that it is by means of Jesus and what he did that Christians can approach God to pray and give thanks. One way to express this is to say:

Always say thank you to our Father God. You can approach him to say thank you because Jesus has made it possible for you.

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