“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience — 'Put on' (endyō) continues the clothing-metaphor. The virtues (splancha, compassion; chrestotēs, kindness; tapeinophrosynē, humility; prautēs, gentleness; makrothymia, patience) are Christ-like character. 'God's chosen ones' (eklektoi tou Theou) establishes their identity as elect. Virtues are not self-generated but donned: Christ-wardrobe.
Church Fathers on Colossians 3:12
“Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved.” He shows the easiness of virtue, so that they might both possess it continually, and use it as the greatest ornament. The exhortation is accompanied also with praise, for then its force is greatest. For they had been before holy, but not elect; but now both “elect, and holy, and beloved.” Again, he speaks after the class, and he always does it; for from kindness comes humbleness of mind, and from this,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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