Colossians 3:11

Greek nor Jew. In the new order of Christian living all national distinctions are removed (see on Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28; cf. on Romans 1:6).

Circumcision nor uncircumcision. See on Romans 2:25-29; Galatians 5:6.

Barbarian. See on Acts 28:2; Romans 1:14.

Scythian. A synonym for the wildest of barbarians.

Bond nor free. Or, “slave nor free.” Here the apostle speaks of social distinctions. Paul is declaring that in the sphere of Christ, and in the process of permitting the creative energy of God to bring about a new creature, no national, religious, racial, or social barriers exist. “The life of Christ established a religion in which there is no caste, a religion by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God” (9T 191).

Christ is all, and in all. Jesus Christ is here depicted as the goal for ultimate realization. He is “the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). Since His character is in all His people, how can there be any distinction among them? There can be no rivalry or enmity between members of the body of Christ. Jesus is the common heritage of His saints, their ideal, their goal in character building. He is also the means by which this brotherhood of victors is attained.