3:10 day of the Lord. The time of divine intervention and judgment (Is. 13:9–13; Joel 1:15; 3:14; 1 Thess. 5:2), synonymous with the Second Coming of Christ (v. 12).

like a thief. Jesus used this metaphor to convey how unexpected the event would be (Luke 12:39, 40).

the heavens . . . with a roar. The language is reminiscent of the Old Testament and of Jesus Himself (Is. 34:4; 64:1–4; Matt. 24:29–31).

heavenly bodies. Greek stoicheia, a term used for (a)Â the elements making up the world (according to the philosophers these were earth, air, fire, and water); (b)Â heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars; (c)Â angelic beings with power over nature (Introduction to Colossians: Interpretive Difficulties). Most interpreters favor (b) or a combination of (b) and (c).

will be exposed. Or “found.” The Greek text of this phrase is disputed (text note). Some manuscripts say “will be burned up,” presumably to mean that the earth will undergo a catastrophic judgment.