12 Put on therefore , as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering.
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
COMMENTARY: 3:12 Put on literally means to "dress oneself" (with clothes); here, used metaphorically, it means to take on or assume certain virtues and qualities. Bowels of mercies means heart-felt compassion. 3:13 The fact of believers being urged to assume the virtues of verse 12 signifies that none has "yet" arrived spiritually. As the believer is developing these virtues, he must be forbearing and forgiving toward his fellow church member. For his Christian brother is also in the process of acquiring the virtues of verse 12 and therefore retains some flaws, deficiencies, and weaknesses. hence the need of forbearance and forgiveness. 3:14 Charity is love, here called the bond of perfectness. Love is the crowning grace completing the list of virtues required for perfectness or spiritual maturity. As a "bond" it binds all other virtues together in harmony and unity.
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