Note 12 at Col. 3:13: This is a command which many consider to be beyond the reach of mere mortals, even if they are Christians. It's true that operating in the perfect forgiveness that Jesus demonstrated on the cross is beyond our ability. But the Lord wouldn't have given us this command if we couldn't fulfill it. We can fulfill God's command to forgive as we have been forgiven when we draw on God's ability which now indwells us (see note 28 at Eph. 4:32, p. 1125).

Note 13 at Col. 3:13: Paul's letter to the Ephesians and the Colossians are very similar (see OVERVIEW in the INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS, p. 1182). Compare this list of Christian virtues with the list Paul gave to the Ephesians in Ephesians 4:2 (see note 4 at Eph. 4:2, p. 1115).