Colossians 3

Live as God’s People

1 Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the highest position.2 Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things.3 You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ your life appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.
5 Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth).6 It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him.t7 You used to live that kind of sinful life.8 Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins.9 Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live,10 and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator.

11 Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything.
12 As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient.13 Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly.15 Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful.16 Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about God’s kindness.t Sing to God in your hearts.

17 Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Advice for Wives and Husbands, Parents and Children, Slaves and Masters

18 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority.t This is appropriate behavior for the Lord’s people.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be harsh with them.
20 Children, always obey your parents. This is pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, don’t make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, always obey your earthly masters. Don’t obey them only while you’re being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. Be sincere in your motives out of respect for your real master.23 Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans.24 You know that your real master will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is Christ, your real master, whom you are serving.

25 The person who does wrong will be paid back for the wrong he has done. God does not play favorites.

Colossians 3

1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;6 for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:7 wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.12 Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.21 Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.22 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:23 whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.25 For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.