Now: Translator’s New Testament takes it not as simply temporal, but as a consequence of the preceding argument, and translates “now as Christians” (see Note). But it would appear that now is best interpreted as suggesting a contrast with the temporal expression at one time in the previous verse.

You must get rid of all these things must undergo rather considerable change in some languages if the correct meaning is to be preserved. In the first place, these things refer to actions and emotions, not to objects, and you must get rid of must often be expressed as “you must no longer do” or “you must stop doing.” Such phrases can then be best linked directly with the wrong attitudes or actions by saying “you must no longer be angry.”

This verse lists five sins which the Colossians are to get rid of (see the same verb in Rom 13.12; Eph 4.22, 25; 1 Peter 2.1; James 1.21). The first two are practically synonymous: anger and passion. Some commentators see the first (orgē) as the settled condition and the second one (thumos) as occasional outbursts of passion. Anger and passion are frequently expressed in metaphorical language. For example, anger may be referred to as “being hot in the face” or “burning in your heart,” and passion is sometimes referred to as “exploding with anger” or “his heart is fighting.”

Hateful feelings translates a Greek word which means “evil” or “wickedness” in its most general aspect. The more specific “malice” (Revised Standard Version) is a possible interpretation (also Phillips New English Bible New American Bible New International Version). An ancient Greek lexicographer, Suidas, defined kakia thus: “the eagerness to harm one’s neighbor”f 9 fr 3.8 ft Quoted by Abbott, op. cit., p. 144. (so Lightfoot, Peake). Kakia may thus be translated as “desire to do bad to others,” or “desire to harm others,” or “… cause them to suffer.”

Insults (Good News Translation) or “slander” (Revised Standard Version and others) is abusive speech against someone by telling lies or otherwise insulting him. (The word may mean “blasphemy,” that is, irreverent speech about God, but this meaning is hardly possible here.) Since insulting is an element of universal behavior, there is generally no difficulty involved in finding an adequate term to express such actions. In some cases, however, a more descriptive expression may be used, for example, “saying bad things about people.”

“Foul talk” (Revised Standard Version) represents a Greek word which occurs only here in the NT (see a close parallel in Eph 5.4). New English Bible has “filthy talk,” New American Bible New International Version “filthy language.”

Obscene talk may simply be expressed as “using words that should never be spoken” or as in some instances, “speaking taboo words.”

Why “from your mouth” (Revised Standard Version) is added is hard to tell, since the last sin mentioned is by definition a matter of speaking. It is not necessary to represent this phrase formally in translation as Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version have done; see Jerusalem Bible Phillips New English Bible New American Bible. Rather than from your lips many languages use “from you mouth,” or “from your tongue,” or “from your throat.” It is, however, usually more natural to say “you must not insult people or use bad words,” rather than to speak of insults and obscene talk “coming from one’s lips.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .