But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

People's New Testament

3:8 Also put off all these. The sins that follow as well as those named above.

Anger, wrath, malice. A climax, full of evil to other men.

Blasphemy, filthy communication. The Revised Version says, Railing, shameful speaking Sins manifested by the tongue. The reference is to low, profane, filthy abuse, due to anger, wrath, and malice.

Wesley's Notes

3:8 Wrath - Is lasting anger. Filthy discourse - And was there need to warn even these saints of God against so gross and palpable a sin as this? O what is man, till perfect love casts out both fear and sin.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. But now-that ye are no longer living in them.

ye also-like other believers; answering to "ye also" (Col 3:7) like other unbelievers formerly.

put off-"Do ye also put away all these," namely, those just enumerated, and those which follow [Alford].

anger, wrath-(See on [2424]Eph 4:31).

blasphemy-rather, "reviling," "evil-speaking," as it is translated in Eph 4:31.

filthy communication-The context favors the translation, "abusive language," rather than impure conversation. "Foul language" best retains the ambiguity of the original.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:5-11 It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Occasions of sin must be avoided: the lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world; and covetousness, which is idolatry; love of present good, and of outward enjoyments. It is necessary to mortify sins, because if we do not kill them, they will kill us. The gospel changes the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the rule of right reason and conscience, over appetite and passion. There is now no difference from country, or conditions and circumstances of life. It is the duty of every one to be holy, because Christ is a Christian's All, his only Lord and Saviour, and all his hope and happiness.