Have taken off; have put on

[CyrilSebastian]

In The Letter to the Colossians, Chapter 3 Verse 9-10 states:
Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.

Do the terms have taken off; have put on reflect baptismal practice, taking off garments and putting on new ones after being united with Christ?

 

[pianistclare]

I believe it refers (figuratively) to conversion of heart. Leaving aside the cares of the world and focusing on the spiritual and Godly things.

 

[Mintaka]

Re: new heart and conversion, that’s true; but I think the original poster is right about it specifically referring to Baptismal garments. Likewise all the stuff about keeping your robe clean from sin, in Revelation.

The baptized soul is the point; the baptismal robe is the sign.

 

[bmonk]

I’d suggest that perhaps the baptismal robes are a latter sign, adopted in part because of Paul’s image. We don’t know exactly what baptism meant in those first decades–at least, not the details of the ritual–but if Philip could baptize the Ethiopian eunuch at the side of the road without other considerations (like making sure he had the baptismal candle and a white garment to change into), I suspect those elements were later additions.

Paul seems here, as in similar images, to refer to the person’s life and choices–Col 3:9-10 is continued in 12-14, where it explicitly refers to the virtues we should live by. We see a similar image–a bit more strained when Paul refers to a tent rather than a garment–in 2 Cor 2-5. Rom 8 even drops the image of clothing–rather it uses being in the Spirit and in the likeness of Christ and being adopted children, but it has that same idea of putting away/off the old ways of sin, and putting on the new ways of God.

 

[PJM]

=CyrilSebastian;12940228]In The Letter to the Colossians, Chapter 3 Verse 9-10 states:
Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.

Do the terms have taken off; have put on reflect baptismal practice, taking off garments and putting on new ones after being united with Christ?

He is speaking here of our sinful nature, and our new time under grace and commitment not to sin. Before KNOWING Christ and after knowing and committing ourselfs to Him.