You're sitting there, maybe scrolling through your phone or nursing a coffee, and you stumble onto a verse that feels like a cold bucket of water to the face. That's Colossians 3:8 KJV. It doesn't sugarcoat things. It doesn't offer a "vibe" or a vague platitude about being a good person. It’s a direct order to "put off" a specific set of behaviors that most of us struggle with every single day, whether we want to admit it or not.
The verse reads: "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." It's blunt. It's actually kinda uncomfortable if you really sit with it. Paul, writing to the people in Colossae, isn't just giving suggestions for a better life. He's using the language of changing clothes. You know that feeling when you come home from a long, sweaty day and you can’t wait to peel off those gross clothes? That’s the "put off" part. But here’s the thing—most people treat these "sins" like comfortable old hoodies they don't want to throw away.
The Anatomy of the List in Colossians 3 8 KJV
Let’s break down what’s actually happening in this text. We often lump these words together as just "bad stuff," but they actually map out a progression of how human relationships fall apart.
First, you’ve got anger. In the Greek (orgē), this is often seen as a settled, long-standing resentment. It’s the slow burn. Then it spikes into wrath (thymos), which is that sudden explosion of temper. Think of it like a pot of water. Anger is the heat that’s been on for an hour; wrath is the moment it boils over and burns everyone nearby.
Then comes malice. This is deeper. It’s the desire to see someone else suffer. It’s not just being mad; it’s being mean-spirited. If you've ever felt a tiny spark of joy when someone you dislike failed, that’s the malice Paul is talking about. It’s nasty business.
Why Filthy Communication Is More Than Just Swearing
A lot of people think "filthy communication" just means you shouldn't drop an f-bomb. But scholars like N.T. Wright and Bruce Metzger have pointed out that the context here is much broader. The word aischrologia refers to foul language, sure, but it also points toward abusive speech, slander, and talk that tears down the dignity of another person.
It’s about the "rot" in our conversations.
✨ Don't miss: BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse Superstition Springs Menu: What to Order Right Now
If your humor is always at someone else's expense, or if you use your words to manipulate or belittle, that’s exactly what Colossians 3 8 KJV is calling out. It’s basically saying that your mouth shouldn't be a dumpster. Honestly, in the age of social media comments and "roasting" culture, this verse feels more relevant than it did two thousand years ago. We’ve legalized "filthy communication" by calling it "being real" or "telling it like it is." Paul isn't having any of that.
The "Dirty Laundry" Metaphor You’re Probably Missing
The phrase "put off" is the Greek word apothesthe. This is the exact same word used for taking off a garment.
Imagine you’ve been working in a coal mine. You’re covered in soot. You’re stained. If you try to go lay down in a bed with white sheets without changing, you’re going to ruin everything you touch. Paul’s argument is that the "new man" in Christ—the version of you that is trying to live a spiritual life—cannot wear the "sooty" clothes of the old self.
It’s an identity issue.
You don't put off these things to become holy; you put them off because you are a new creation. It’s like a prince realizing he doesn't need to wear rags anymore. Why would you stay in the rags? It doesn't make sense. Yet, we do it. We hold onto our wrath because it makes us feel powerful. We hold onto our "filthy communication" because it makes us feel edgy or part of the crowd.
Why This Verse Is So Hard to Follow
Let's be real: stopping these behaviors is incredibly difficult. Most modern psychology acknowledges that anger and "wrath" are often secondary emotions. They are masks for fear or pain.
🔗 Read more: Bird Feeders on a Pole: What Most People Get Wrong About Backyard Setups
When Paul tells the Colossians to "put off" anger, he isn't saying "ignore your feelings." He’s saying stop letting those feelings dictate your character. Charles Spurgeon once noted that some people have a "pepper-corn" temperament—they fly into a heat in a second. He argued that grace should make us "slow to speak" and "slow to wrath."
The struggle is that these behaviors—anger, malice, slander—are effective. They work in the short term. You can intimidate people with wrath. You can feel superior with malice. You can gain social points with "filthy communication."
But Colossians 3 8 KJV argues that these are "earthly" things. They are tethered to a version of humanity that is dying out. If you're aiming for something higher, these behaviors are literally dead weight.
The Connection to the Rest of the Chapter
You can't really understand verse 8 without looking at verse 5, which tells us to "mortify" (or put to death) our members which are upon the earth. This isn't a suggestion for a Sunday morning; it's a war manual.
Later in the chapter, Paul tells us what to "put on" instead:
- Kindess
- Humbleness of mind
- Meekness
- Longsuffering
It’s a total wardrobe change. You can't put the "humbleness of mind" over the "malice." It doesn't fit. The old clothes have to go first.
💡 You might also like: Barn Owl at Night: Why These Silent Hunters Are Creepier (and Cooler) Than You Think
Practical Reality: What Putting Off Actually Looks Like
How do you actually do this? It's not about willpower alone. If you just try to "not be angry," you’ll probably just end up being angry about how angry you are.
It starts with recognition. You have to call the behavior what it is. Don't call your malice "just being honest." Don't call your filthy communication "venting." Use the biblical labels. There is something powerful about saying, "I am acting out of malice right now." It strips the behavior of its excuses.
Secondly, look at the triggers. Paul wrote this to a community. Most of these sins—anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy—happen in the context of other people. If certain environments or certain people always bring out the "filthy communication," you might need to change your environment while you're working on your "wardrobe."
Misconceptions About the KJV Translation
Some people get hung up on the word "blasphemy" in this verse. In our modern context, we usually think of blasphemy as saying something bad about God. While that’s included, the Greek word blasphemian also means "slander" or "reviling" against other people.
Basically, when you trash someone's reputation, you are committing a form of blasphemy against the "image of God" in that person. That's a heavy thought. It changes how you look at the "send" button on a nasty email or a snarky tweet.
Actionable Steps for Today
If you want to take Colossians 3 8 KJV seriously, don't try to fix everything at once. Pick one "garment" you know you’re wearing that needs to go.
- Audit Your Speech: For the next 24 hours, pay attention to "filthy communication." This isn't just profanity; it's sarcasm that stings, gossip that feels "juicy," and words meant to make others look small. Every time you're about to say it, stop. Just be silent instead.
- Trace the Anger: When you feel that "wrath" (the sudden spike) coming on, ask yourself what "anger" (the slow burn) is feeding it. Is it a perceived injustice? A bruised ego? A fear of losing control? Identifying the source makes it easier to "put off."
- The Replacement Rule: You can't just be "empty." If you take off the malice, you have to put on the kindness mentioned in verse 12. If you find yourself wanting to say something "filthy," force yourself to find something genuinely encouraging to say instead. It’ll feel fake at first. Do it anyway.
- Read the Context: Go back and read all of Colossians 3. See how the "putting off" leads into the "putting on." It’s a process of becoming who you actually are in a spiritual sense.
Living out Colossians 3 8 KJV isn't about being a "prude" or a "legalist." It’s about emotional and spiritual hygiene. It’s about realizing that the trash we carry around in our hearts eventually starts to stink up our whole lives. Peel it off. Throw it away. You were made for better clothes than these.