Note 14 at Col. 3:14: The English word "above" was translated from the Greek word EPI, and means "upon, on or over" (Thayer). Paul was continuing his analogy of putting on Christian virtues as one would put on clothes (see note 9 at v. 12, p. 1210). Now he exhorts the Colossian saints to put on, over all these (see note 11 in v. 12), love as the overcoat which conspicuously covers everything else. This states that every one of these virtues has to be done in God's divine love. Without the God kind of love, they are nothing (see note 3 at 1 Cor. 13:1, p. 937).

Note 15 at Col. 3:14: The old English word "charity" is denoting what we would call "God's kind of love" today (see note 2 at 1 Cor. 13:1, p. 937).

Note 16 at Col. 3:14: Love or charity (Gk.-AGAPE) is the "bond of perfectness." Just as individual bricks must be bound together with mortar, likewise love is the mortar that pulls all Christian virtues together. Walking in love will cause us to be kind, longsuffering, and so forth.

The word "bond" was translated from the Greek word SUNDESMOS, which means "that which binds together" (Thayer). It is used in Colossians 2:19 of ligaments by which the members of the human body are united. Therefore, God's kind of love is like the ligaments of the body which join different bones together and make them function as one. There are many qualities which the Christian must manifest to be effective, but love is the key ingredient which initiates and motivates all the rest.