independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativeconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
Seek the things above 3:1–4
1
If then you were raised with Christ,conditional — the protasis — leans on the imperative below: resurrection (2:12) as premise, not doubt
seek the things above,independent — the chapter's first charge — the upward orientation of the risen
where Christ is,relative — οὗ locates τὰ ἄνω — above is where Christ is
seated at the right hand of God.participial — Ps 110:1 — καθήμενος read as its own predication, not tightly periphrastic with ἐστιν
2
Set your minds on the things above,independent — ζητεῖτε deepened to φρονεῖτε — not only seek but think from above
not on the things on the earth.phrase modifier — the elliptical negative — φρονεῖτε carried over
3
for you died,cause — the ground — the death of 2:20 restated in two words
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.cause — coordinate ground — the perfect κέκρυπται: hidden and still hidden
4
When Christ appears,conditional — ὅταν-temporal set like a protasis — leaning on the promise below
— your life —phrase modifier — apposition to ὁ Χριστός — the hidden life of v. 3 named as a person
then you also will appear with him in glory.independent — the apodosis — the same verb φανερόω: his manifestation is yours
Put to death what is earthly 3:5–11
vv. 5–7 — put to death: the first list, and the wrath it draws
5
Put to death therefore the members that are on the earth:independent — οὖν draws the practice from vv. 1–4 — the limbs of the old life executed
sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,phrase modifier — the vice column — apposition to τὰ μέλη: the members named by their deeds
and covetousness,phrase modifier — the fifth vice, alone with the article — singled out for the unmasking
which is idolatry,relative — ἥτις qualitative — greed unmasked as worship of another god (cf. Eph 5:5)
6
on account of which the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience;relative — δι' ἃ plural — the whole list in view; present ἔρχεται: wrath already on its way (Eph 5:6)
7
In these you too once walked,relative — ἐν οἷς read of the vices — your former element (some: 'among whom', the sons of v. 6)
when you were living in them.conditional — ὅτε-temporal, anchored backward — the walk matched the life
vv. 8–11 — put away, put on: the old man stripped, the new being renewed
8
But now you also must put them all away:independent — νυνὶ δέ — the then/now turn; the clothing metaphor begins
anger, wrath, malice, slander, foul talk from your mouth.phrase modifier — the second column — sins of temper and tongue, apposition to τὰ πάντα
9
Do not lie to one another,independent — the lone finite prohibition — the tongue-sins summed in one
since you have stripped off the old self with its practices,participial — ground 1 — the aorist read causally, not as a command: the stripping already done (2:11, 15)
10
and have put on the new self,participial — ground 2, twin to the first — old man off, new man on
which is being renewed in knowledgeparticipial — attributive present — the once-for-all putting-on issues in ongoing renewal
after the image of its Creator,phrase modifier — Gen 1:26–27 — the new creation restores the εἰκών; the Creator is God in Christ (1:15)
11
where there is no Greek and Jew,relative — ὅπου — in the new humanity the old boundary-pairs fail
circumcised and uncircumcised,phrase modifier — the second pair — οὐκ ἔνι carried over down the series
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;phrase modifier — the pairs dissolve into a bare list — even the Scythian, byword for savagery
but Christ is all, and in all.phrase modifier — the verbless climax — Χριστός the last word, where the list expected more names
Put on the new — love, peace, word, name 3:12–17
vv. 12–14 — clothe yourselves: five graces, crowned by love
12
Put on then,independent — the positive imperative answering Νεκρώσατε and ἀπόθεσθε — the wardrobe of the new man
as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,comparative — Israel's three titles transferred to the church — the standing that grounds the dress
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,phrase modifier — the virtue column — five graces answering the five vices of v. 5 and v. 8
13
bearing with one anotherparticipial — the graces in exercise — endurance of the other
and forgiving each other,participial — χαριζόμενοι — forgiveness as grace given, ἑαυτοῖς for ἀλλήλοις
if anyone has a complaint against another;conditional — the case supposed — anchored back on χαριζόμενοι: forgiveness meets the actual grievance
as the Lord has forgiven you,comparative — the measure — set like a protasis, leaning on οὕτως below (καθὼς … οὕτως)
so you also must forgive.phrase modifier — the verbless apodosis — χαρίζεσθε supplied from the comparison
14
And above all these, love,phrase modifier — still the object of Ἐνδύσασθε — the outer garment over the five
which is the bond of perfection.relative — neuter ὅ sweeps the act of putting on love — the belt that binds the whole outfit
vv. 15–17 — let peace arbitrate, the word indwell, the name govern all
15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,independent — βραβευέτω — the umpire's verb: peace arbitrates the community's disputes
to which indeed you were called in one body;relative — the call was into this peace — one body (1:18) its arena
and be thankful.independent — the first of three thanksgiving notes (vv. 15, 16, 17)
16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,independent — the third jussive — the word takes up residence in the community
in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with grace,participial — the indwelling in practice — mutual instruction in song (ἐν χάριτι punctuated with the songs, readable with ᾄδοντες)
singing in your hearts to God.participial — the song turned Godward — hearts, not only voices (cf. Eph 5:19)
17
And whatever you do, in word or deed,conditional — the universal relative as protasis (πᾶν ὅ τι ἐάν) — leaning on the verbless charge below
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,independent — verbless apodosis — ποιεῖτε supplied: the name over every word and work
giving thanks to God the Father through him.participial — the accompanying posture — thanksgiving through the one name
The household code 3:18–25
vv. 18–21 — wives, husbands, children, fathers: each address with its Lord-ward warrant
18
Wives, submit to your husbands,independent — the code opens — the address-plus-imperative pattern of all five
as is fitting in the Lord.comparative — the qualifier — ἐν κυρίῳ measures, and limits, the submission
19
Husbands, love your wivesindependent — the husband's one verb — ἀγαπᾶτε (cf. Eph 5:25)
and do not be harsh with them.independent — the negative twin — πικραίνεσθε: no embittered edge
20
Children, obey your parents in everything,independent — the children addressed directly — members of the assembly
for this is pleasing in the Lord.cause — the warrant — εὐάρεστον: what pleases, ἐν κυρίῳ again
21
Fathers, do not provoke your children,independent — the counter-charge to the fathers — authority restrained
lest they become discouraged.purpose — negative purpose — ἀθυμῶσιν: a child's broken spirit as the harm in view
vv. 22–25 — slaves: the longest word — working for the Lord who repays
22
Slaves, obey in everything your earthly masters,independent — the fullest address — κατὰ σάρκα already relativizes the masters
not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers,phrase modifier — the manner denied — obedience that performs only under the eye
but with sincerity of heart,phrase modifier — the manner affirmed — ἁπλότης: the undivided heart
fearing the Lord.participial — the true overseer — the fear transferred from master to κύριος
23
Whatever you do,conditional — the relative-protasis (ὃ ἐάν) — leaning on the imperative below, echoing v. 17
work at it from the soul, as for the Lord and not for men,independent — ἐκ ψυχῆς — the whole self in the work; the master swapped for the Lord
24
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.participial — the ground — the inheritance (1:12) paid to those who could inherit nothing
You are serving the Lord Christ.independent — δουλεύετε read as indicative — the fact beneath the charge (many take it as imperative)
25
for the wrongdoer will be repaid for the wrong he has done,cause — the sanction — κομίσεται: wages of wrong paid in kind
and there is no partiality.cause — no προσωπολημψία — said here to slaves what Eph 6:9 says to masters
Analysis. The chapter is a run of flush-left purple imperatives — ζητεῖτε, φρονεῖτε, Νεκρώσατε, ἀπόθεσθε, μὴ ψεύδεσθε, Ἐνδύσασθε, βραβευέτω, ἐνοικείτω, then the five household addresses — each trailing a short chain, with olive protasis lines leaning forward above their apodoses at the seams (Εἰ οὖν in v. 1, ὅταν in v. 4, πᾶν ὅ τι ἐάν in v. 17, ὃ ἐάν in v. 23): the indicative premise always stands over the command. The section's visual signature is its gray dashed columns — two vice lists (vv. 5, 8), a virtue list (v. 12), and the ὅπου series (v. 11) where the boundary-pairs dissolve until Χριστός is the last word — verbless catalogues hanging from a single imperative's object. Interpretive choices the layout takes a side on: ἐστιν and καθήμενος (v. 1) are set as separate lines — 'where Christ is', then the Ps 110:1 session — rather than one periphrastic; ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν (v. 4) is apposition to ὁ Χριστός inside the ὅταν clause; ἐν οἷς (v. 7) is read of the vices, not the sons of disobedience; the aorist participles ἀπεκδυσάμενοι and ἐνδυσάμενοι (vv. 9–10) are grounds ('since you have stripped off'), not fresh commands; ἐπὶ πᾶσιν δὲ τούτοις τὴν ἀγάπην (v. 14) is still the object of Ἐνδύσασθε, with the neuter ὅ sweeping the whole act; ἐν χάριτι (v. 16) is left with the songs as punctuated, though the English lets it lean toward ᾄδοντες; and δουλεύετε (v. 24) is read as indicative — the fact beneath the slaves' charge — not one more imperative.