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Selected Verse: Colossians 3:11 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Col 3:11	Strong Concordance	Where [3699] there is [1762] neither [3756] Greek [1672] nor [2532] Jew [2453], circumcision [4061] nor [2532] uncircumcision [203], Barbarian [915], Scythian [4658], bond [1401] nor free [1658]: but [235] Christ [5547] is all [3956], and [2532] in [1722] all [3956].
	King James	Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Where--Translate, "Wherein," namely, in the sphere of the renewed man. neither . . . nor . . . nor . . . nor--Translate as Greek, "There is no such thing as Greek and Jew (the difference of privilege between those born of the natural seed of Abraham and those not, is abolished), circumcision and uncircumcision (the difference of legal standing between the circumcised and uncircumcised is done away, Gal 6:15) --bondman, freeman." The present Church is one called out of the flesh, and the present world-course (Eph 2:2), wherein such distinctions exist, to life in the Spirit, and to the future first resurrection: and this because Satan has such power now over the flesh and the world. At Christ's coming when Satan shall no longer rule the flesh and the world, the nations in the flesh, and the word in millennial felicity, shall be the willing subjects of Christ and His glorified saints (Dan 7:14, Dan 7:22, Dan 7:27; Luk 19:17, Luk 19:19; Rev 20:1-6; Rev 3:21). Israel in Canaan was a type of that future state when the Jews, so miraculously preserved distinct now in their dispersion, shall be the central Church of the Christianized world. As expressly as Scripture abolishes the distinction of Jew and Greek now as to religious privileges, so does it expressly foretell that in the coming new order of things, Israel shall be first of the Christian nations, not for her own selfish aggrandizement, but for their good, as the medium of blessing to them. Finally, after the millennium, the life that is in Christ becomes the power which transfigures nature, in the time of the new heaven and the new earth; as, before, it first transfigured the spiritual, then the political and social world. Scythian--heretofore regarded as more barbarian than the barbarians. Though the relation of bond and free actually existed, yet in relation to Christ, all alike were free in one aspect, and servants of Christ in another (Co1 7:22; Gal 3:28). Christ is all--Christ absorbs in Himself all distinctions, being to all alike, everything that they need for justification, sanctification, and glorification (Co1 1:30; Co1 3:21-23; Gal 2:20). in all--who believe and are renewed, without distinction of person; the sole distinction now is, how much each draws from Christ. The unity of the divine life shared in by all believers, counterbalances all differences, even as great as that between the polished "Greek" and the rude "Scythian." Christianity imparts to the most uncivilized the only spring of sound, social and moral culture.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Where--Translate, "Wherein," namely, in the sphere of the renewed man.

neither . . . nor . . . nor . . . nor--Translate as Greek, "There is no such thing as Greek and Jew (the difference of privilege between those born of the natural seed of Abraham and those not, is abolished), circumcision and uncircumcision (the difference of legal standing between the circumcised and uncircumcised is done away, Gal 6:15) --bondman, freeman." The present Church is one called out of the flesh, and the present world-course (Eph 2:2), wherein such distinctions exist, to life in the Spirit, and to the future first resurrection: and this because Satan has such power now over the flesh and the world. At Christ's coming when Satan shall no longer rule the flesh and the world, the nations in the flesh, and the word in millennial felicity, shall be the willing subjects of Christ and His glorified saints (Dan 7:14, Dan 7:22, Dan 7:27; Luk 19:17, Luk 19:19; Rev 20:1-6; Rev 3:21). Israel in Canaan was a type of that future state when the Jews, so miraculously preserved distinct now in their dispersion, shall be the central Church of the Christianized world. As expressly as Scripture abolishes the distinction of Jew and Greek now as to religious privileges, so does it expressly foretell that in the coming new order of things, Israel shall be first of the Christian nations, not for her own selfish aggrandizement, but for their good, as the medium of blessing to them. Finally, after the millennium, the life that is in Christ becomes the power which transfigures nature, in the time of the new heaven and the new earth; as, before, it first transfigured the spiritual, then the political and social world.

Scythian--heretofore regarded as more barbarian than the barbarians. Though the relation of bond and free actually existed, yet in relation to Christ, all alike were free in one aspect, and servants of Christ in another (Co1 7:22; Gal 3:28).

Christ is all--Christ absorbs in Himself all distinctions, being to all alike, everything that they need for justification, sanctification, and glorification (Co1 1:30; Co1 3:21-23; Gal 2:20).

in all--who believe and are renewed, without distinction of person; the sole distinction now is, how much each draws from Christ. The unity of the divine life shared in by all believers, counterbalances all differences, even as great as that between the polished "Greek" and the rude "Scythian." Christianity imparts to the most uncivilized the only spring of sound, social and moral culture.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew - See this fully explained in the notes at Gal 3:28. The meaning here is, that all are on a level; that there is no distinction of nation in the church; that all are to be regarded and treated as brethren, and that therefore no one should be false to another, or lie to another. Circumcision nor uncircumcision - No one is admitted into that blessed society because he is circumcised; no one is excluded because he is uncircumcised. That distinction is unknown, and all are on a level. Barbarian - No one is excluded because he is a barbarian, or because he lives among those who are uncivilized, and is unpolished in his manners; see the word "barbarian" explained in the notes at Rom 1:14. Scythian - This word does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. The name Scythian is applied in ancient geography to the people who lived on the north and northeast of the Black and Caspian seas, a region stretchings indefinitely into the unknown countries of Asia. They occupied the lands now peopled by the Monguls and Tartars. The name was almost synonymous with barbarian, for they were regarded as a wild and savage race. The meaning here is, that even such a ferocious and uncivilized people were not excluded from the gospel, but they were as welcome as any other, and were entitled to the same privileges as others. No one was excluded because he belonged to the most rude and uncivilized portion of mankind. Bond nor free - See the notes at Gal 3:28. But Christ is all, and in all - The great thing that constitutes the uniqueness of the church is, that Christ is its Saviour, and that all are his friends and followers. Its members lay aside all other distinctions, and are known only as his friends. They are not known as Jews and Gentiles; as of this nation or that; as slaves or freemen, but they are known as Christians; distinguished from all the rest of mankind as the united friends of the Redeemer; compare the notes at Gal 3:28.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Where there is (ὅπου ἔνι) Where, in the renewed condition; there is, better, as Rev., can be: ἔνι strengthened from ἐν in signifies not merely the fact but the impossibility: there is no room for. Greek, Jew, etc. Compare Gal 3:28. National, ritual, intellectual, and social diversities are specified. The reference is probably shaped by the conditions of the Colossian church, where the form of error was partly Judaistic and ceremonial, insisting on circumcision; where the pretense of superior knowledge affected contempt for the rude barbarian, and where the distinction of master and slave had place as elsewhere. Circumcision For the circumcised. So Rom 4:12; Eph 2:11; Phi 3:3. Barbarian, Scythian See on Co1 14:11. The distinction is from the Greek and Roman point of view, where the line is drawn by culture, as between the Jew and the Greek it was drawn by religious privilege. From the former stand-point the Jew ranked as a barbarian. Scythian. "More barbarous than the barbarians" (Bengel). Hippocrates describes them as widely different from the rest of mankind, and like to nothing but themselves, and gives an absurd description of their physical peculiarities. Herodotus describes them as living in wagons, offering human sacrifices, scalping and sometimes flaying slain enemies, drinking their blood, and using their skulls for drinking-cups. When a king dies, one of his concubines is strangled and buried with him, and, at the close of a year, fifty of his attendants are strangled, disemboweled, mounted on dead horses, and left in a circle round his tomb. The Scythians passed through Palestine on their road to Egypt, b.c. 600, and a trace of their invasion is supposed to have existed in the name Scythopolis, by which Beth Shean was known in Christ's time. Ezekiel apparently refers to them (38, 39) under the name Gog, which reappears in Revelation. See on Rev 20:8.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Where - In which case, it matters not what a man is externally, whether Jew or gentile, circumcised, or uncircumcised, barbarian, void of all the advantages of education, yea, Scythian, of all barbarians most barbarous. But Christ is in all that are thus renewed, and is all things in them and to them.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew - In which new creation no inquiry is made what nation the persons belonged to, or from what ancestry they had sprung, whether in Judea or Greece. Circumcision nor uncircumcision - Nor is their peculiar form of religion of any consideration, whether circumcised like the Jews, or uncircumcised like the heathens. Barbarian, Scythian - Nor whether of the more or less tractable of the nations of the world; for although knowledge, and the most refined and sublime knowledge, is the object to be attained, yet, under the teaching and influence of the blessed Spirit, the most dull and least informed are perfectly capable of comprehending this Divine science, and becoming wise unto salvation. Bond nor free - Nor does the particular state or circumstances in which a man may be found, either help him to or exclude him from the benefit of this religion; the slave having as good a title to salvation by grace as the freeman. But Christ is all, and in all - All mankind are his creatures, all conditions are disposed and regulated by his providence, and all human beings are equally purchased by his blood. He alone is the source whence all have proceeded, and to him alone all must return. He is the Maker, Preserver, Savior, and Judge of all men.

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²⁰ I am crucified [4957] with Christ [5547]: nevertheless [1161] I live [2198]; yet not [3765] I [1473], but [1161] Christ [5547] liveth [2198] in [1722] me [1698]: and [1161] the life which [3739] I [2198] now [3568] live [2198] in [1722] the flesh [4561] I live [2198] by [1722] the faith [4102] of the Son [5207] of God [2316], who [3588] loved [25] me [3165], and [2532] gave [3860] himself [1438] for [5228] me [1700].

²¹ Therefore [5620] let [2744] no man [3367] glory [2744] in [1722] men [444]. For [1063] all things [3956] are [2076] yours [5216];
²² Whether [1535] Paul [3972], or [1535] Apollos [625], or [1535] Cephas [2786], or [1535] the world [2889], or [1535] life [2222], or [1535] death [2288], or [1535] things present [1764], or [1535] things to come [3195]; all [3956] are [2076] yours [5216];
²³ And [1161] ye [5210] are Christ's [5547]; and [1161] Christ [5547] is God's [2316].

³⁰ But [1161] of [1537] him [846] are [2075] ye [5210] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who [3739] of [575] God [2316] is made [1096] unto us [2254] [5037] wisdom [4678], and righteousness [1343], and [2532] sanctification [38], and [2532] redemption [629]:

²⁸ There is [1762] neither [3756] Jew [2453] nor [3761] Greek [1672], there is [1762] neither [3756] bond [1401] nor [3761] free [1658], there is [1762] neither [3756] male [730] nor [2532] female [2338]: for [1063] ye [5210] are [2075] all [3956] one [1520] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].

²² For [1063] he that is called [2564] in [1722] the Lord [2962], being a servant [1401], is [2076] the Lord's [2962] freeman [558]: likewise [3668] also [2532] he that is called [2564], being free [1658], is [2076] Christ's [5547] servant [1401].

²¹ To him [846] that overcometh [3528] will I grant [1325] to sit [2523] with [3326] me [1700] in [1722] my [3450] throne [2362], even [2504] as [5613] I also [2504] overcame [3528], and [2532] am set down [2523] with [3326] my [3450] Father [3962] in [1722] his [846] throne [2362].

¹ And [2532] I saw [1492] an angel [32] come down [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772], having [2192] the key [2807] of the bottomless pit [12] and [2532] a great [3173] chain [254] in [1909] his [846] hand [5495].
² And [2532] he laid hold on [2902] the dragon [1404], that old [744] serpent [3789], which [3739] is [2076] the Devil [1228], and [2532] Satan [4567], and [2532] bound [1210] him [846] a thousand [5507] years [2094],
³ And [2532] cast [906] him [846] into [1519] the bottomless pit [12], and [2532] shut [2808] him [846] up [2808], and [2532] set a seal [4972] upon [1883] him [846], that [3363] he should deceive [4105] the nations [1484] no [3363] more [2089], till [891] the thousand [5507] years [2094] should be fulfilled [5055]: and [2532] after [3326] that [5023] he [846] must [1163] be loosed [3089] a little [3398] season [5550].
⁴ And [2532] I saw [1492] thrones [2362], and [2532] they sat [2523] upon [1909] them [846], and [2532] judgment [2917] was given [1325] unto them [846]: and [2532] I saw the souls [5590] of them that were beheaded [3990] for [1223] the witness [3141] of Jesus [2424], and [2532] for [1223] the word [3056] of God [2316], and [2532] which [3748] had [4352] not [3756] worshipped [4352] the beast [2342], neither [3777] his [846] image [1504], [2532] neither [3756] had received [2983] his mark [5480] upon [1909] their [846] foreheads [3359], or [2532] in [1909] their [846] hands [5495]; and [2532] they lived [2198] and [2532] reigned [936] with [3326] Christ [5547] a thousand [5507] years [2094].
⁵ But [1161] the rest [3062] of the dead [3498] lived [326] not [3756] again [326] until [2193] the thousand [5507] years [2094] were finished [5055]. This [3778] is the first [4413] resurrection [386].
⁶ Blessed [3107] and [2532] holy [40] is he that hath [2192] part [3313] in [1722] the first [4413] resurrection [386]: on [1909] such [5130] the second [1208] death [2288] hath [2192] no [3756] power [1849], but [235] they shall be [2071] priests [2409] of God [2316] and [2532] of Christ [5547], and [2532] shall reign [936] with [3326] him [846] a thousand [5507] years [2094].

¹⁹ And [1161] he said [2036] likewise [2532] to him [5129], Be [1096] thou [4771] also [2532] over [1883] five [4002] cities [4172].

¹⁷ And [2532] he said [2036] unto him [846], Well [2095], thou good [18] servant [1401]: because [3754] thou hast been [1096] faithful [4103] in [1722] a very little [1646], have [2192] thou authority [2468] [1849] over [1883] ten [1176] cities [4172].

²⁷ And the kingdom [04437] and dominion [07985], and the greatness [07238] of the kingdom [04437] under [08460] the whole [03606] heaven [08065], shall be given [03052] to the people [05972] of the saints [06922] of the most High [05946], whose kingdom [04437] is an everlasting [05957] kingdom [04437], and all [03606] dominions [07985] shall serve [06399] and obey [08086] him.

²² Until [05705] the Ancient [06268] of days [03118] came [0858] [01768], and judgment [01780] was given [03052] to the saints [06922] of the most High [05946]; and the time [02166] came [04291] that the saints [06922] possessed [02631] the kingdom [04437].

¹⁴ And there was given [03052] him dominion [07985], and glory [03367], and a kingdom [04437], that all [03606] people [05972], nations [0524], and languages [03961], should serve [06399] him: his dominion [07985] is an everlasting [05957] dominion [07985], which shall not [03809] pass away [05709], and his kingdom [04437] that which shall not [03809] be destroyed [02255].

² Wherein [1722] [3739] in time past [4218] ye walked [4043] according to [2596] the course [165] of this [5127] world [2889], according to [2596] the prince [758] of the power [1849] of the air [109], the spirit [4151] that now [3568] worketh [1754] in [1722] the children [5207] of disobedience [543]:

¹⁵ For [1063] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] neither [3777] circumcision [4061] availeth [2480] any thing [5100], nor [3777] uncircumcision [203], but [235] a new [2537] creature [2937].

¹⁴ I am [1510] debtor [3781] both [5037] to the Greeks [1672], and [2532] to the Barbarians [915]; both [5037] to the wise [4680], and [2532] to the unwise [453].

⁸ And [2532] shall go out [1831] to deceive [4105] the nations [1484] which [3588] are in [1722] the four [5064] quarters [1137] of the earth [1093], Gog [1136] and [2532] Magog [3098], to gather [4863] them [846] together [4863] to [1519] battle [4171]: the number [706] of whom [3739] is as [5613] the sand [285] of the sea [2281].

¹¹ Therefore [3767] if [3362] I know [1492] not [3362] the meaning [1411] of the voice [5456], I shall be [2071] unto him that speaketh [2980] a barbarian [915], and [2532] he that speaketh [2980] shall be a barbarian [915] unto [1722] me [1698].

³ For [1063] we [2249] are [2070] the circumcision [4061], which [3588] worship [3000] God [2316] in the spirit [4151], and [2532] rejoice [2744] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], and [2532] have [3982] no [3756] confidence [3982] in [1722] the flesh [4561].

¹¹ Wherefore [1352] remember [3421], that [3754] ye [5210] being in time past [4218] Gentiles [1484] in [1722] the flesh [4561], who [3588] are called [3004] Uncircumcision [203] by [5259] that which [3588] is called [3004] the Circumcision [4061] in [1722] the flesh [4561] made by hands [5499];

¹² And [2532] the father [3962] of circumcision [4061] to them who are not [3756] of [1537] the circumcision [4061] only [3440], but [235] who also [2532] walk [4748] in the steps [2487] of that faith [4102] of our [2257] father [3962] Abraham [11], which he had being [1722] yet uncircumcised [203].