"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
— Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
Colossians 3:2 is the "set your minds on things above" verse, from Paul's letter to the church in Colossae. This page gives the verse, the verse before it, where it sits in Colossians 3, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about heaven, Bible verses about meditation, and Bible verses about new creation.
Free PDF
Get the free 30 Days of Love Verses PDF
Sign up for the daily Bible verse email, and get the free 30 Days of Love Verses PDF. 30 Days of Love Verses · Open the PDF
The verse
The King James reads: "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
It finishes a thought that starts in verse 1: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."
"Set your minds" (KJV "set your affection") is phroneo (G5426), to think, care about, or be intent on. "Above" is ano (G507) and "earthly" (KJV "on the earth") is from ge (G1093). In verse 1, "set your hearts" (KJV "seek") is zeteo (G2212), to seek or strive for.
Where it sits in Colossians 3
Verses 3 and 4 give the reason: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Then Paul turns practical. Verse 5 begins, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature," and verse 12 begins, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." The list ends with love: "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:14).
What the verse is saying
Paul is not telling believers to ignore daily life. The rest of the chapter is about speech, work, marriage, and family. He is telling them where to keep their attention: on Christ, who is "seated at the right hand of God," because their life is now "hidden with Christ."
Setting the mind on things above changes how ordinary things are done. It is close to Jesus' words, "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33), and to Paul's call to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).
Questions people ask
What does Colossians 3:2 say?
In the NIV it says, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." The KJV reads, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
What does Colossians 3:2 mean?
It means keeping your thoughts and desires fixed on Christ and his kingdom rather than on earthly things. Paul grounds it in verse 1: believers have been raised with Christ, so their attention belongs where he is.
What are the "things above" in Colossians 3:2?
Verse 1 says they are where "Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." The things above are Christ himself and the life believers have with him, which verse 3 says is "hidden with Christ in God."
What is Colossians 3:1-2?
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
What other verses are like Colossians 3:2?
Matthew 6:33 (seek first his kingdom), Romans 12:2 (the renewing of your mind), and 2 Corinthians 4:18 (fix our eyes on what is unseen) are close companions.
