The Antidote to Asceticism and Sensualism
Bishop Lightfoot. Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. You must not only seek heaven; you must also think heaven. (Cf. Philippians 3:19, 20.) Extremes meet. Here the apostle points the antithesis between earthly and heavenly things to controvert a Gnostic asceticism: in the Philippian letter he uses the same contrast to denounce an Epicurean sensualism. Both alike are guilty of the same fundamental error; both alike concentrate their thoughts on material, mundane things. (Bishop Lightfoot.) Parallel Verses KJV: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. WEB: Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.