The Life of the New Man

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) Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.(B) For you have died,(C) and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your[a] life, is revealed,(D) then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.(E)

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) Because of these, God’s wrath(J) comes on the disobedient,[c] and you once walked in these things when you were living(K) in them. 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) 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

  1. Colossians 3:4 Other mss read our
  2. Colossians 3:5 Lit death the members on the earth
  3. Colossians 3:6 Other mss omit on the disobedient
  4. Colossians 3:9 Lit man; = a person before conversion
  5. Colossians 3:10 Lit his
  6. Colossians 3:11 Lit Where
  7. Colossians 3:11 A term for a savage
  8. Colossians 3:23 Lit do it from the soul

La nueva vida

Puesto que ustedes fueron resucitados con Cristo de la muerte, busquen las cosas del cielo, donde Cristo está sentado a la derecha de Dios. Concéntrense en las cosas celestiales y no en las terrenales, pues ustedes han muerto a su vieja manera de vivir, y ahora la nueva vida que disfrutan con Cristo, está guardada en Dios. Por eso, cuando vuelva Cristo, que es su vida, ustedes compartirán su gloria.

Así que saquen todo el mal de su vida: pecados sexuales, inmoralidades, malos pensamientos, malos deseos y codicia, que es una forma de adorar ídolos. Todo esto hace que Dios se enoje con los que son desobedientes.[a] Eso era lo que hacían ustedes antes, cuando llevaban una vida mala. Pero ahora, quiten de su vida todo esto: el enojo, la ira, la maldad, los insultos y las malas palabras. No se mientan unos a otros porque ya se despojaron del antiguo ser humano que eran y del mal que hacían. 10 Ustedes se han revestido de una nueva forma de ser. Dios los está haciendo nuevos a imagen de aquel que los creó hasta que lleguen al pleno conocimiento de él. 11 En esta nueva vida ya no importa si usted es judío o no[b], circuncidado o no, culto o ignorante,[c] esclavo o libre. Cristo está en usted y él es lo único que importa.

12 A ustedes Dios los amó y los eligió para que sean su pueblo santo. Por eso, vivan siempre con compasión, bondad, humildad, gentileza y paciencia. 13 No se enojen unos con otros, más bien, perdónense unos a otros. Cuando alguien haga algo malo, perdónenlo, así como también el Señor los perdonó a ustedes. 14 Pero lo más importante de todo es que se amen unos a otros porque el amor es lo que los mantiene perfectamente unidos. 15 Permitan que la paz de Cristo controle siempre su manera de pensar, pues Cristo los ha llamado a formar un solo cuerpo[d] para que haya paz; y den gracias a Dios siempre.

16 Permitan que el mensaje de Cristo viva plenamente entre ustedes. Enséñense y aconséjense unos a otros con toda la sabiduría que Dios les da. Canten salmos y canciones espirituales con el corazón lleno de agradecimiento a Dios. 17 Siempre dediquen al Señor Jesús todo lo que digan y lo que hagan, dando gracias a Dios Padre a través de Jesús.

Vida nueva en el hogar y en el trabajo

18 Esposas, estén dispuestas a servir a su esposo, que es lo que deben hacer como seguidoras del Señor. 19 Esposos, amen a su esposa y no la traten mal.

20 Hijos, obedezcan siempre a sus padres, porque eso es lo que agrada al Señor. 21 Padres, no sean tan exigentes con sus hijos, para que ellos no se desanimen.

22 Siervos, obedezcan siempre en todo a sus amos terrenales, incluso cuando no los estén mirando. Porque más que agradar a la gente, lo que les debe importar es trabajar honestamente por respeto al Señor. 23 Cuando hagan cualquier trabajo, háganlo de todo corazón, como si estuvieran trabajando para el Señor y no para los seres humanos. 24 Recuerden que ustedes van a recibir la recompensa del Señor que Dios le prometió a su pueblo, pues ustedes sirven a Cristo el Señor. 25 Recuerden que todo el que haga lo malo será castigado y que el Señor trata a todos por igual.

Footnotes

  1. 3:6 con los que son desobedientes Algunos manuscritos no incluyen esta frase.
  2. 3:11 no Textualmente griego. Ver Griego en el vocabulario.
  3. 3:11 culto o ignorante Textualmente bárbaro ni escita. Los bárbaros eran los que hablaban una lengua extranjera; los escitas eran gente a la que se consideraba incivilizada.
  4. 3:15 cuerpo El cuerpo espiritual de Cristo, la iglesia.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,(A) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(B) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(C) For you died,(D) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life,(E) appears,(F) then you also will appear with him in glory.(G)

Put to death,(H) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:(I) sexual immorality,(J) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,(K) which is idolatry.(L) Because of these, the wrath of God(M) is coming.[b] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.(N) But now you must also rid yourselves(O) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,(P) and filthy language from your lips.(Q) Do not lie to each other,(R) since you have taken off your old self(S) with its practices 10 and have put on the new self,(T) which is being renewed(U) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.(V) 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew,(W) circumcised or uncircumcised,(X) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,(Y) but Christ is all,(Z) and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(AA) with compassion, kindness, humility,(AB) gentleness and patience.(AC) 13 Bear with each other(AD) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(AE) 14 And over all these virtues put on love,(AF) which binds them all together in perfect unity.(AG)

15 Let the peace of Christ(AH) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(AI) you were called to peace.(AJ) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(AK) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(AL) through psalms,(AM) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(AN) 17 And whatever you do,(AO) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(AP) to God the Father through him.

Instructions for Christian Households(AQ)

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,(AR) as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers,[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(AS) from the Lord as a reward.(AT) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
  2. Colossians 3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient
  3. Colossians 3:21 Or Parents