This verse has been used to justify many vicious so-called Christian cults. They demand that everything you do in word or deed must be done in the name of their doctrine. Therefore, people buckle under the pressure to conform because the fear of consequences for disobedience is abominable. Was that what Paul meant? Was that his intent?
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17 KJV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 NRSV)
Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 GWT)
How does this verse fit in Paul’s message?
This is probably the last general church epistle written by the Apostle Paul around A.D. 60-61. Therefore, he wants to encourage this young church to continue in the truth of Christ, and warn them against outside religious influences.
Although Paul has never personally been to Colosse (2:1), he knows much about the believers there and considers them one of his churches—through his coworker Epaphras (1:7-8). His primary concern is that they stand firm in what they have been taught (1:23; 2:6-16; 3:1). After a glowing thanksgiving and encouraging prayer report (1:3-12), much of the first half of the letter reiterates the truth of the gospel they have received (1:13-22; 2:2-3, 6-7, 9-15). The rest of these two chapters exposes the follies of the errors to which some are being attracted (2:4, 8, 16-23). One may rightly guess, therefore, that the emphases in Paul’s recounting the gospel are also there in response to the errors.
At the heart of the errors is a desire to regulate Christian life with rules about externals—”Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” (2:21, which sounds very much like certain forms of present-day Christianity). Most of chapters 3-4, therefore, take up the nature of genuinely Christian behavior. “Rules” and “regulations” have an appearance of wisdom, but no real value (2:23). Christian behavior results from having died and been raised with Christ (2:20; 3:1) and now being “hidden with Christ in God” (3:3), thus expressing itself “in the image of [the] Creator” (3:10). Note especially that the imperatives that flow out of these realities (3:12-4:6) are primarily directed toward community life, not toward individual one-on-one life with God.–How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour
by Gordon D. Fee, Douglas Stuart
What did Paul write to other churches?
Since God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), and the writings of the Apostle Paul are to be considered scripture (2 Peter 3:16), it is important to compare the same message to other churches in order to understand the full concept.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:15-21)
What about other Apostles?
Since no word of prophecy came by the will of man, but prophets spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21), it important to compare the same message from other writers in order to understand the full concept.
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:17-22)
What does this verse mean?
With this background, I hope you are ready to take time to carefully and prayerfully read these comments from godly men who have gone before.
(17) All in the name of the Lord Jesus.—Comp. here the more general exhortation of 1Corinthians 10:31, “Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” This is the first principle of all godly life. The main object of all life, speculative or practical, is declared to be, not our own happiness or perfection, not the good of our fellow-men, but the “glory of God”—the carrying out of His will, and so manifesting His moral attributes. We are taught that if we “seek this first, all the other things shall be added unto us.” But here we have the principle, not only of godly life, but of Christian life. It does all “in the name of Christ,” that is, as conformed to His image, and so being His representative; it looks up thankfully to God our Father, but it is through Him, “having our sonship by adoption” through His all-sufficient mediation. Its desire is, not only that God may be glorified, but that “He may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 4:11). Once more we trace here the special and emphatic purpose of the Epistle.–Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
in the name of the Lord Jesus: elsewhere writing the same thing, the apostle adds Christ, Ephesians 5:20. Plato could say: Not only every word, but every thought, should take its beginning from God; but he understood nothing of the Mediator, of the love of him and the Father: but Christians know, as there is salvation in no other name, Acts 4:12, so there is no acceptance of their persons and performances in any other name than in his in whom they believe, Philippians 2:10; Hebrews 10:19,20 1Jo 5:13; and therefore in all their desires they are to respect him, John 14:13,14 15:3,16 16:23,26; looking for his authority and warrant, Matthew 18:18-20 Mark 11:9 1Jo 5:14; following his example, Matthew 11:29 16:24 John 13:15 1 Peter 2:21-24 1Jo 2:6; in all they set about, desiring strength from him, Psalm 71:17 Acts 4:7,10 1 Corinthians 15:10 Philippians 4:13 2 Timothy 2:1; living by faith upon him, Galatians 2:20 Hebrews 10:38 2 Peter 1:2,3; waiting upon him, worshipping and serving of him, according to his prescription, Micah 4:5 Matthew 28:19,20 Ac 2:42,43 2 Timothy 2:19; for his sake, Matthew 19:29 24:9 Acts 9:16 Revelation 2:3,13 3:8; to his honour and glory, Psalm 31:3 1 Corinthians 10:31 Revelation 4:9,11 5:12,13 11:13. Endeavouring to render hearty thanks unto God and the Father, i.e. to God the Father: the Syriac and Arabic do omit the conjunction copulative; however, it is to be understood expositively of God the Father of Christ, and our Father, who doth embrace us as his children. –Matthew Poole’s Commentary
Verse 17. – And everything, whatever ye he doing in word or deed, (do) all in the name of (the) Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 5:4; Ephesians 5:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:17). Ver. 16 speaks of “word” only; to it is added the “deed,” which stands for all the practical activities of life. Both meet in the following “all.” “The name of the Lord Jesus” is the expression of his authority as “Lord” (Colossians 1:13, 15, 18; Colossians 2:6; Philippians 2:9-11; Ephesians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 14:9; Acts 10:36), and of his personal character and relation to us as “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:31, Revised Text). (On the prominence of the title “Lord” in this Epistle, see note on Colossians 2:6.) (For the emphatic, absolute nominative πᾶν at the head of the sentence, comp. John 6:39; John 15:2; John 17:2; Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:10.) Giving thanks to God (the) Father through him (ver. 15; Colossians 1:12-14; Colossians 2:7; Colossians 4:2). Again thanksgiving is urged on the Colossians. It is to be the accompaniment of daily talk and work – to be offered to God in his character as “Father” (see notes on Colossians 1:2, 3, 12), and “through the Lord Jesus” (Romans 1:8; Romans 7:25), by whom we have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12; Romans 5:1, 2; Hebrews 10:19-22) and receive from him all the benefits of redemption (Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 2:5-10; Romans 3:24-26; Titus 3:4-7).–Pulpit Commentary
Prologue
Sadly, I know Christians today, that have taken this verse and made it into a Shibboleth (Judges 12:6) to justify their man-made sectarian religious division. I think some of them are going to be very surprised when they get to heaven and see this company of redeemed. I expect to be in the presence of this crowd. I hope you are too.
After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!” (Revelation 7:9-12 GWT)
Featured image from Uhlandstraße, Berlin, Germany by Fab Lentz