The “things above” that Paul wants his readers to concentrate on stands in contrast to the “earthly things” of the false teaching. And the basis for his commands picks up the theology that Paul has already developed in chapter 2: “since … you have been raised with Christ” repeats 2:12 (cf. also “God made you alive with Christ” in 2:13); and “you died” (v. 3) repeats in abbreviated form “you died with Christ” in v. 20 (cf. vv. 11–12). From a broader perspective, vv. 1–4 bring to a climax and summarize
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