“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth — 'Set minds' (phroneō) is habitual orientation. The binary contrast (anō/katō, above/below) divides heaven from earth. Earthly concerns are not intrinsically evil but are misplaced priority. The mental discipline required reflects the threat of worldly enticement. Renewed mind is warfare.
Church Fathers on Colossians 3:2
“Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For you died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life shall be manifested, then shall you also with Him be manifested in glory.” This is not your life, he says, it is some other one. He is now urgent to remove them, and insists upon showing that they are seated above, and are dead; from both considerations establishing the position, that they are not to seek…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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