Colossians 3:9-10

Greek Key Terms:

• ἀπεκδύομαι (apekdyomai) - to put off, strip off (aorist middle participle)
• παλαιός (palaios) - old
• ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) - man, self
• πρᾶξις (praxis) - practice, deed
• ἐνδύω (endyō) - to put on, clothe oneself with (aorist middle participle)
• νέος (neos) - new
• ἀνακαινόω (anakainoō) - to renew (present passive participle: "being renewed")
• ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis) - knowledge, full knowledge
• εἰκών (eikōn) - image
• κτίζω (ktizō) - to create (aorist participle: "who created")

Context: Colossians 3:1-17 exhorts believers to live in light of their union with Christ (raised with Christ, v. 1). Verses 9-10 use clothing imagery.

Connection Method(s): Typology (Providential, Backward-Looking), Analogy — The put-off/put-on pattern (old self removed, new self clothed) applies the Genesis 3:21 pattern analogically to sanctification: as God removed fig leaves and provided skins, believers put off sin and put on Christ-likeness, being renewed after the image of their Creator.

Christological Connection: Colossians 3:9-10 applies the coats of skins typology to Christian living. Believers have "put off the old self with its practices" (removed the filthy garments—our fig leaves, our sin nature) and "put on the new self, which is being renewed... after the image of its creator" (received the pure garments—Christ's righteousness, the new creation in Christ).

This is both positional (already accomplished through union with Christ, aorist tense) and progressive (being worked out in sanctification, present tense "being renewed"). Genesis 3:21's pattern: remove inadequate covering → receive God's provision. Applied to believers: put off sin → put on Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-24 parallels this: "Put off your old self... and... put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Application: Live as who you are in Christ. You have already "put off" the old self (positionally) and "put on" the new self (union with Christ). Now walk it out progressively: remove sin, clothe yourself with Christ-like virtues (Colossians 3:12-14: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, love).

Trajectory Table: 032 - Coats of Skins (Covering of Shame)