Colossians 3
New King James Version
Not Carnality but Christ
3 If then you were (A)raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, (B)where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the (C)earth. 3 (D)For you died, (E)and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 (F)When Christ who is (G)our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in (H)glory.
5 (I)Therefore put to death (J)your members which are on the earth: (K)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (L)which is idolatry. 6 (M)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon (N)the sons of disobedience, 7 (O)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 (P)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who (Q)is renewed in knowledge (R)according to the image of Him who (S)created him, 11 where there is neither (T)Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, (U)but Christ is all and in all.
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, (V)as the elect of God, holy and beloved, (W)put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 (X)bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 (Y)But above all these things (Z)put on love, which is the (AA)bond of perfection. 15 And let (AB)the peace of God rule in your hearts, (AC)to which also you were called (AD)in one body; and (AE)be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another (AF)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And (AG)whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
The Christian Home(AH)
18 (AI)Wives, submit to your own husbands, (AJ)as is fitting in the Lord.
19 (AK)Husbands, love your wives and do not be (AL)bitter toward them.
20 (AM)Children, obey your parents (AN)in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 (AO)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 (AP)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 (AQ)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 (AR)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; (AS)for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and (AT)there is no partiality.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:24 NU omits for
Colossians 3
New American Standard Bible
Put On the New Self
3 Therefore, if you have been (A)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, (B)seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a](C)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have (D)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, (E)who is our life, is revealed, (F)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 (G)Therefore, [b]treat (H)the parts of your earthly body as dead to (I)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [c]amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that (J)the wrath of God is coming [d]upon the [e]sons of disobedience, 7 and (K)in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. 8 But now you also, (L)rid yourselves of all of them: (M)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and (N)obscene speech from your mouth. 9 [g](O)Do not lie to one another, since you (P)stripped off the old [h]self with its evil practices, 10 and have (Q)put on the new self, which is being [i](R)renewed to a true knowledge (S)according to the image of the One who (T)created it— 11 a renewal in which (U)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, (V)circumcised and uncircumcised, [j](W)barbarian, [k]Scythian, (X)slave, and free, but (Y)Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been (Z)chosen of God, holy and beloved, (AA)put on a (AB)heart of compassion, kindness, (AC)humility, gentleness, and [l](AD)patience; 13 (AE)bearing with one another, and (AF)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; (AG)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is [m](AH)the perfect bond of (AI)unity. 15 Let (AJ)the peace of Christ, to which you were [n]indeed called in (AK)one body, [o]rule in your hearts; and [p]be thankful. 16 Let (AL)the word of [q]Christ richly dwell within you, [r]with all wisdom (AM)teaching and admonishing [s]one another (AN)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, (AO)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 (AP)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AQ)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Family Relations
18 (AR)Wives, (AS)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 (AT)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 (AU)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing [t]to the Lord. 21 (AV)Fathers, do not [u]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.
22 [v](AW)Slaves, obey those who are your [w]human masters in everything, (AX)not with [x]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [y]heartily, (AY)as for the Lord and not for people, 24 (AZ)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [z]of (BA)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you (BB)serve. 25 For (BC)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [aa](BD)that without partiality.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:2 Or Be intent on
- Colossians 3:5 Lit put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth
- Colossians 3:5 Lit is
- Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain upon the sons of disobedience
- Colossians 3:6 I.e., people opposed to God
- Colossians 3:7 Or among these
- Colossians 3:9 Or Stop lying
- Colossians 3:9 Lit person
- Colossians 3:10 Lit renovated
- Colossians 3:11 I.e., uncultured
- Colossians 3:11 I.e., a member of an ancient people near the Black Sea, often considered unrefined
- Colossians 3:12 I.e., forbearance toward others
- Colossians 3:14 Lit the uniting bond of perfection
- Colossians 3:15 Or also
- Colossians 3:15 Or be in control in
- Colossians 3:15 Or show yourselves thankful
- Colossians 3:16 One early ms the Lord
- Colossians 3:16 Or in
- Colossians 3:16 Or one another, singing with psalms...
- Colossians 3:20 Lit in
- Colossians 3:21 Or provoke to anger
- Colossians 3:22 I.e., slaves in first-century Roman culture
- Colossians 3:22 Lit masters according to flesh
- Colossians 3:22 I.e., working only when watched
- Colossians 3:23 Lit from the soul
- Colossians 3:24 I.e., consisting of
- Colossians 3:25 Lit there is no partiality
Colossians 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Life of the New Man
3 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.(A) 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.(B) 3 For you have died,(C) and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is your[a] life, is revealed,(D) then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.(E)
5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature:[b] sexual immorality, impurity,(F) lust,(G) evil desire, and greed,(H) which is idolatry.(I) 6 Because of these, God’s wrath(J) comes on the disobedient,[c] 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living(K) in them. 8 But now you must also put away(L) all the following: anger,(M) wrath,(N) malice,(O) slander,(P) and filthy language from your mouth.(Q) 9 Do not lie(R) to one another, since you have put off(S) the old self[d](T) with its practices 10 and have put on(U) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your[e] Creator.(V) 11 In Christ[f] there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,[g] slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.(W)
The Christian Life
12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved,(X) put on heartfelt compassion, kindness,(Y) humility,(Z) gentleness,(AA) and patience,(AB) 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.(AC) 14 Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called(AD) in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. 16 Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name(AE) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Christ in Your Home
18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.(AF)
19 Husbands,(AG) love your wives(AH) and don’t be bitter(AI) toward them.
20 Children,(AJ) obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers,(AK) do not exasperate(AL) your children, so they won’t become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your human(AM) masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.(AN)
23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically,[h] as something done for the Lord and not for men,(AO) 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer(AP) will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:4 Other mss read our
- Colossians 3:5 Lit death the members on the earth
- Colossians 3:6 Other mss omit on the disobedient
- Colossians 3:9 Lit man; = a person before conversion
- Colossians 3:10 Lit his
- Colossians 3:11 Lit Where
- Colossians 3:11 A term for a savage
- Colossians 3:23 Lit do it from the soul
Colossians 3
Young's Literal Translation
3 If, then, ye were raised with the Christ, the things above seek ye, where the Christ is, on the right hand of God seated,
2 the things above mind ye, not the things upon the earth,
3 for ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God;
4 when the Christ -- our life -- may be manifested, then also we with him shall be manifested in glory.
5 Put to death, then, your members that [are] upon the earth -- whoredom, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness, which is idolatry --
6 because of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,
7 in which also ye -- ye did walk once, when ye lived in them;
8 but now put off, even ye, the whole -- anger, wrath, malice, evil-speaking, filthy talking -- out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, having put off the old man with his practices,
10 and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him;
11 where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, servant, freeman -- but the all and in all -- Christ.
12 Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any one with any one may have a quarrel, as also the Christ did forgive you -- so also ye;
14 and above all these things, [have] love, which is a bond of the perfection,
15 and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body, and become thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord;
17 and all, whatever ye may do in word or in work, [do] all things in the name of the Lord Jesus -- giving thanks to the God and Father, through him.
18 The wives! be subject to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord;
19 the husbands! love your wives, and be not bitter with them;
20 the children! obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord;
21 the fathers! vex not your children, lest they be discouraged.
22 The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;
23 and all, whatever ye may do -- out of soul work -- as to the Lord, and not to men,
24 having known that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance -- for the Lord Christ ye serve;
25 and he who is doing unrighteously shall receive what he did unrighteously, and there is no acceptance of persons.
Colossians 3
English Standard Version
Put On the New Self
3 (A)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek (B)the things that are above, where Christ is, (C)seated at the right hand of God. 2 (D)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For (E)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ (F)who is your[a] life (G)appears, then you also will appear with him (H)in glory.
5 (I)Put to death therefore (J)what is earthly in you:[b] (K)sexual immorality, impurity, (L)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (M)which is idolatry. 6 (N)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 (O)In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now (P)you must put them all away: (Q)anger, wrath, malice, (R)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 (S)Do not lie to one another, seeing that (T)you have put off (U)the old self[d] with its practices 10 and (V)have put on (W)the new self, (X)which is being renewed in knowledge (Y)after the image of (Z)its creator. 11 (AA)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is (AB)all, and in all.
12 (AC)Put on then, as (AD)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, (AE)compassionate hearts, (AF)kindness, (AG)humility, meekness, and patience, 13 (AH)bearing with one another and, (AI)if one has a complaint against another, (AJ)forgiving each other; (AK)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on (AL)love, which (AM)binds everything together in (AN)perfect harmony. 15 And let (AO)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called (AP)in one body. And (AQ)be thankful. 16 Let (AR)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, (AS)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (AT)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And (AU)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AV)giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Rules for Christian Households
18 (AW)Wives, submit to your husbands, as (AX)is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and (AY)do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents (AZ)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey (BA)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[f] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (BB)Whatever you do, work heartily, (BC)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (BD)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (BE)You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
- Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
- Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
- Colossians 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
- Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22
- Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
