but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:
As we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate passions (Col 3:8): But now you also put off all these, anger wrath, malice; for these are contrary to the design of the gospel, as well as grosser impurities; and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in them.
Commenting on Colossians 3:8-11
In the foregoing verses, St. Paul exhorted the Colossians to mortify external and outward sins, as fornication and uncleanness; here he presses them to mortify internal and spiritual sins, such as anger, wrath, and malice, sins of the heart. The axe of mortification must be laid to the root of inward corruption, spiritual sins, heart sins: Though they are minoris infamia, of less infamy and...
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 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.