A Study of Colossians 3:1-17 with the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection
I received a complimentary copy of this in exchange for an honest review as a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid. All reviews are my honest opinions based on my experience with the product. #BibleGatewayPartner
About the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection
I want to start off by saying that I never in my life thought I would ever own a Premier Collection Bible, which I think most of you can relate to. I especially never thought I would own a Premier Collection Bible that was more than just the scripture text and nothing additional, like this one that includes end-of-verse references as well as some other helpful tools. I always figured that Premier Collection was reserved for a family heirloom or a special anniversary gift, and things like that – not something I would long to hold and use every day.
Receiving the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection was like opening an incredibly special gift. I opened the box and immediately wished I’d hit the record button on my camera for you to see the stunning beauty and my whole family’s raw reaction to seeing and holding it for the first time. It came in a Bible box, and inside the box, it was wrapped in thick black paper, with a shiny sticker seal reading “Premier Collection”. This in itself was enough to impress me, but when I carefully unwrapped my new NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection, I was blown away.
My favorite things about the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection
- The leather is real, genuine goat skin. For some, this will be a put-off, but I assure you this cover is the most supple, flexible, soft, smooth Bible cover I have ever felt. The NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection just begs to fall open and lay beautifully flat on a table or comfortably open in your hands.
- Not only is the cover absolutely incredible, but the page edging – oh my lanta – words wouldn’t do it justice but I will try! I have several Bibles that have gilded page edges but non compare to the gorgeous edges of the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection. It goes from a gentle gold-gilded page edge and when you start spreading the pages you uncover this hidden beauty of rose-gold coloring. It is so soft and beautiful, even my husband was blown away at how different these specially dyed page edges turned out.
- There are THREE ribbon bookmarks, which is a wonderful encouragement to actually USE this Bible rather than let it sit there and just look pretty somewhere but not get used regularly. Three bookmarks is more than the standard one or two more Bibles come with and I love lots of bookmarks in my Bibles!
- The text is a perfect size. The NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection comes in the NKJV Comfort Print, and let me tell you it is very comfortable on my eyeballs. I wear bifocals and most Bibles I still hold up close to my eyes. My husband and I both were fawning over how easy this text is to read without strain. Also, the verses all begin on new lines which makes appropriate space for the end-of-verse references. This breakup of verses helps my eyes to read more fluidly and not get visually overwhelmed by long and daunting paragraphs.
I absolutely love that there is a map and a concordance at the back! Again, I would have assumed that Premier Collection Bibles were just simple Bibles that look elegant and are reserved for special occasions. The fact this Bible includes not just verse references but also a concordance shocked and pleased me greatly. It also includes manuscript notes at the bottom of appropriate pages to let readers know where some manuscripts differ from what is included in the NKJV translation.
Colossians 3:1-17 with the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection
To really test out any Bible, I love to do a small Bible study using only that Bible and no other resources. I love to get out multiple study Bible, as well as some online resources like BibleGateway+ and Blue Letter Bible, but in order to get an authentic feel for a new Bible I use it alone, and from there I can better understand how I would benefit from using it in conjunction with my other resources.
In Colossians 3:1-17 we learn about the old and new self and are called to live as our new selves in Christ Jesus, casting away our old self that desires earthly things. This passage reinforces many lessons from the Lord that we see in quite a few other places in scripture, and using only the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection we can follow the references and expand on our reading and understanding of this passage. For the following study, we will be on pages 1702-1703 of the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection. All verses outside Colossians 3:1-17 are the references listed after the verses of our given passage in Colossians.
Not Carnality but Christ
Colossians 3:1-11 teaches us to seek things from above rather than things of the earth, and that when we are in Christ, our very life is found in Him. We are called to put to death the parts of us that are earthly, and that remaining in them brings God’s wrath.
Our old self consists of:
- Fornication
- Uncleanness
- Passion
- Evil desires
- Covetousness and idolatry
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
All of the references listed for Premier Collection Bible in the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection are as follows:
And do not present your members as [a]instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
For [a]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
All of these earthly, fleshly things will lead to the wrath of God because it is all disobedience to God. We should be setting our minds on godly things rather than the evil things we naturally gravitate to.
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who [a]suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
We should be “putting off” characteristics and instincts of our “old selves”, all of which dishonors God because it is disobedience to Him.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
In putting off the old self, we are able to put on the new self and be renewed by the Lord. We should honor God as being all as well as in all things.
and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Character of the New Man
Not only are we to put off the old self, but we are to be a new creation as the “elect of God”. We are to put on the attributes of God’s elect, which He teaches us, and to do all that we do in His name, and so for His glory, with gratitude.
God’s elect are to put on:
- Tender mercies
- Kindness
- Humility
- Meekness
- Longsuffering
- Bearing with others
- Forgiveness
- Love
- Peace
- Unity
- Thankfulness
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Forgiveness is incredibly important to living a godly life. Through Colossians as well as Mark we learn that we should forgive others as we have also been forgiven. None of us deserve it, but God forgives us even though we don’t deserve it and calls us to do likewise as He does.
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is [d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Love is also vital to the Christian. We are made new because of the love of God, and again He calls on us to imitate Him. We are to love as He loves, and because He loves us.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
By loving others, we can have peace and be united with fellow believers. Love is not conditional, and we always have something to be grateful for – to God, and for others. Our ability to love comes from God who indwells us, and we are called to let the peace of Him who indwells us rule our hearts as well.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
We should be filled up with the Word of the Lord, allowing His Word to teach us and encourage us, as well as to sing His Word and praises from our hearts. Worship through music is included here as part of the new self. When we are indwelled by His wisdom, we can’t help but sing His praises.
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.
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
No matter what we do, do it for the glory of God with gratitude. No matter if it is singing His praises, forgiving others, acting in humility, or choosing to love others, we are called to do it for the Lord and in His power.
Is the Premier Collection worth the cost?
As I said previously, I never thought I would ever own a Premier Collection Bible. I am extremely pleased to discover that this Premier Collection Bible also includes helpful Bible study tools and is clearly made to be used rather than just sit on display. My husband and I were in awe of this Bible as soon as we opened it up and decided this will be the Bible he and I read together in our morning Bible time. We want to use it regularly and feel confident that this Bible is made to withstand everyday use.
One thing my husband brought up is that as soon as we opened it up in our hands he thought of the well-used Bible you see Dr. Charles Stanley reading from the pulpit. It lays open so effortlessly and comfortably, and it is incredibly lightweight. Even with its Comfort Print, which is slightly larger than standard Bible text sizes, it is a small personal size that could easily go with you to church or work. The goatskin cover is made to be used and to last, so I don’t need to worry about being extra careful with it (although we have told our child that she can’t handle it without permission because let’s face it, kids always have sticky fingers cover in some kind of yuck and I don’t want that on this beauty).
So do I think it is worth it to get a Premier Collection Bible? If I had not gotten this as part of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid, would I have purchased one for myself? I can tell you that I absolutely would get the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection for myself and my family if I had not gotten it as part of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid. This Bible is well worth the price tag. I am confident it will hold up over the coming years, and we will be able to pass it along to our daughter when she is older as an heirloom, but my husband and I will use it lovingly together each morning until then. I wish I could let you touch it, see its elegant colors, and use your very own eyes to read this comfortable Bible font.
Where to get the NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection
You can find out more information about the Premier Collection Bible to help you understand how to care for it, as well as to see all of the different options available. I am in love with this NKJV End-of-Verse Reference Bible, Premier Collection with a brown goatskin cover, and you can get your own at the following places online:
