In Colossians 3:12, one of the characteristics that Paul indicated the elect should “put on” is “tender mercies.” The KJV and Young’s literal translation put it most literally, “bowels of mercy.” The ASV and ESV have it “a heart of compassion” and “compassionate hearts”, respectively.
It is not surprising Paul would use such biological terms to indicate the seat of empathy. We do the same, which is why the newer translations use the word heart to translate the phrase. We talk about broken hearts, tender hearts and smitten hearts. Here, the apostle is talking about the need for the child of God to be compassionate, and to express that compassion to others.
Paul used the same words in Philippians 2:1, indicating that such compassion is the appropriate response of a child of God who has experienced consolation in Christ.
Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Philippians, said it well. He notes that bowels of mercy indicate legitimate compassion, not merely outward action:
“Though I know that to put on, and to be clothed with, are figurative expressions, and mean to assume such and such characters and qualities; yet there may be a higher meaning here. The apostle would have them to feel the slightest touch of another’s misery; and, as their clothes are put over their body, so their tenderest feeling should be always within the reach of the miserable. Let your feelings be at hand, and feel and commiserate as soon as touched.”
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