Colossians 3

Your life hidden in Christ

1 Therefore if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side.2 Think about the things above and not things on earth.3 You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5 So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).6 The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things.7 You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things.8 But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language.9 Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices10 and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it.

11 In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.
12 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.13 Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other.14 And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.15 The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people.16 The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

17 Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands in a way that is appropriate in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives and don’t be harsh with them.20 Children, obey your parents in everything, because this pleases the Lord.

21 Parents, don’t provoke your children in a way that ends up discouraging them.
22 Slaves, obey your masters on earth in everything. Don’t just obey like people pleasers when they are watching. Instead obey with the single motivation of fearing the Lord.23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people.24 You know that you will receive an inheritance as a reward. You serve the Lord Christ.

25 But evildoers will receive their reward for their evil actions. There is no discrimination.

Colossians 3

Exhortations to Seek the Things Above

1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.4 When Christ (who is yours life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth:t sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion,t evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.ss7 You also lived your livest in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.8 But now, put off all such thingst as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices10 and have been clothed with the new mans that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.

11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slavet or free, but Christ is all and in all.

Exhortation to Unity and Love

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy,t kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and forgivingt one another, if someone happens to havet a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.t14 And to all theset virtuest addt love, which is the perfect bond.t15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one bodyt to this peace), and be thankful.16 Let the word of Christs dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with gracet in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, submit to yourt husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.21 Fathers,t do not provoket your children, so they will not become disheartened.22 Slaves,t obey your earthlyt masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.23 Whatever you are doing,t work at it with enthusiasm,t as to the Lord and not for people,t24 because you know that you will receive yourt inheritancet from the Lord as the reward. Servet the Lord Christ.25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong,ts and there are no exceptions.t