Colossians 3:17 (KJV)
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Other Bible Translations
Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17 (NLT)
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:17 (NRSV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (WEB)
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (NASB)
Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:17 (NCB)
Whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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Colossians 3:17 Meaning
At first glance, one might think this verse simply means that whatever we do, we should just say, “In the name of the Lord,” and that’s enough. But it goes deeper than that. Doing something in the name of the Lord isn’t just about speaking the words; it’s about doing things in the manner of the Lord. It’s about embodying His character. Before we act or speak, we should pause and ask, “What would Jesus do?” or “How would Jesus say this?”
This verse calls us to live in such a way that our words and deeds reflect Christ. Others should be able to see the Lord in us through how we behave and communicate. That means doing everything in love, just as Christ would.
So, “in the name of the Lord” is not merely a phrase we tack onto our prayers or actions. It means allowing the Spirit of Christ to work through us, so that the world can see we belong to Him, that He lives in us, and we live in Him.
There’s also a vital link to gratitude. When we act from a place of thankfulness, our words and actions are more likely to be sincere, diligent, and wholehearted. Gratitude inspires excellence and humility in our service.
Ultimately, This concise verse is Paul encouraging us to live every part of our lives as if Jesus were the one doing it, reflecting His character in all we do. And we are to do all this with thankfulness to God, through Him. Before Christ, we couldn’t come to God directly, but now, being in Christ, we approach God clothed in His righteousness. That alone is reason to live gratefully and purposefully in all we do.