歌 羅 西 書 3
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
你们的新生
3 所以，既然你们与基督一起复活了，就应该努力追求天堂的事情，在那里基督坐在上帝的右侧。 2 要专心致力于天堂里的事情，而不是地上的事情。 3 因为你们旧的自我已经死去，新的生命和基督一起隐藏在上帝之中。 4 当基督，我们的生命再次出现时，你们也会和他一起在荣耀里出现。
5 所以，要把你们之中一切属于尘世的东西都置于死地：不道德的性行为、不纯、淫欲、邪念和贪婪，贪婪是崇拜偶像的一种形式。 6 因为这些，上帝的愤怒就要来临了。 [a] 7 在你们过去的罪恶生活中，你们也做过这些事情。
8 但现在你们必须摒弃所有这些事情：恼怒、愤恨、恶意、诽谤和无耻的语言。 9 不要尔虞我诈，因为你们已经抛弃了旧我以及它的行为， 10 换上了新我。新我要在创世主的形象中不断地更新，以便充分地认识他。 11 因此，犹太人与非犹太人之间、受割礼的和未受割礼的人之间、外邦人或西古提人 [b]、奴隶与自由人之间都没有任何区别。基督是一切，并在所有的信仰之中。
你们彼此相处的新生活
12 上帝挑选了你们，使你们成为他所爱的圣民，因此，你们要怜悯、善良、谦卑、温和与耐心， 13 要相互容忍，彼此有纷争时，要无代价地宽恕对方，就像主宽恕你们那样。 14 除此之外，你们还要有爱心，爱把你们完美地结合在一起。 15 愿来自基督的和平支配你们的内心，为了这和平你们做为一体而蒙召，你们要常常感恩。 16 基督的信息应该丰盛地活在你们中间，要用所有的智慧互相开导与指教。你们内心要怀着感恩之情，用圣歌、赞美歌、属灵之歌来颂扬上帝。 17 不论你们说什么、做什么，都要以主耶稣的名义，并通过他向父上帝表达感激之情。
你们在家的新生活
18 妻子要服从丈夫，这是主的信徒的本份。
19 丈夫要爱妻子，不要虐待她们。
20 子女事事都要服从父母，主的信徒的这种行为令上帝喜悦。
21 父母不要为难子女，免得他们灰心丧气。
22 仆人事事要服从尘世的主人，你们这么做，不仅是给主人看，想讨他们的喜欢，而且是发自内心的真诚，因为你们敬畏上帝。 23 不论做什么，都要全心全意，就像在为主工作，而不是为人工作。 24 记住，主会赐给你们天堂的财产做为奖赏。侍奉基督吧，他是你们真正的主。 25 做错事的人最终要为他的错误受到惩罚。主一视同仁地对待你们。
Footnotes
- 歌 羅 西 書 3:6 一些希腊本添有“反对那些不服从上帝的人。”
- 歌 羅 西 書 3:11 西古提人： 野蛮人。
Colossians 3
The Voice
Paul knows the people in Colossae are facing many religious and philosophical options, none of which are neutral. Notice Paul doesn’t say, “Just add Jesus to what you already believe,” or, “Factor Jesus into your philosophy,” or, “Include Jesus in this or that ritual.” The claim that “Jesus is Lord” does not allow that. If Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of all creation, then all other teachings must give way. All people must bow before Him and only Him.
3 So it comes down to this: since you have been raised with the Anointed One, the Liberating King, set your mind on heaven above. The Anointed is there, seated at God’s right hand. 2 Stay focused on what’s above, not on earthly things, 3 because your old life is dead and gone. Your new life is now hidden, enmeshed with the Anointed who is in God. 4 On that day when the Anointed One—who is our[a] very life—is revealed, you will be revealed with Him in glory! 5 So kill your earthly impulses: loose sex, impure actions, unbridled sensuality, wicked thoughts, and greed (which is essentially idolatry). 6 It’s because of these that God’s wrath is coming [upon the sons and daughters of disobedience],[b] so avoid them at all costs. 7 These are the same things you once pursued, and together you spawned a life of evil. 8 But now make sure you shed such things: anger, rage, spite, slander, and abusive language. 9 And don’t go on lying to each other since you have sloughed away your old skin along with its evil practices 10 for a fresh new you, which is continually renewed in knowledge according to the image of the One who created you. 11 In this re-creation there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian and conqueror,[c] or slave and free because the Anointed is the whole and dwells in us all.
Paul tells them the key to remain unified is to show compassion and forgiveness toward one another.
12 Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind. 14 But above all these, put on love! Love is the perfect tie to bind these together. 15 Let your hearts fall under the rule of the Anointed’s peace (the peace you were called to as one body), and be thankful.
16 Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness. 17 Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father.
For Paul it isn’t enough just to believe the right things. Right belief always produces right living. The gift of salvation demands that we put into practice the character of our King. Just as we take off and throw away old, worn-out clothes, we must strip off certain attitudes and actions of our old selves. Since our lives have been made new in Him, things like sexual immorality, greed, anger, lies, and the rest must find no place in us. But it is not enough to strip off the old; we must put on the new. And that new creation has many qualities of Jesus: compassion, gentleness, and humility; putting up with each other, forgiving each other, and above all, loving each other. These are the ways of Jesus, so they must be our ways too.
18 Wives: be submitted to your husbands as is appropriate in the Lord. 19 Husbands: love your wives, and don’t treat them harshly or respond with bitterness toward them.
20 Children: obey your parents in every way. The Lord is well pleased by it. 21 Fathers: don’t infuriate your children, so their hearts won’t harbor resentment and become discouraged. 22 Slaves: obey your earthly masters in all things. Don’t just act earnest in your service only when they are watching. Serve with a sincere heart (even when others aren’t watching), fearing the Lord who is always watching! 23 So no matter what your task is, work hard. Always do your best as the Lord’s servant, not as man’s, 24 because you know your reward is the Lord’s inheritance. You serve the Lord, the Anointed One, and 25 anyone who does wrong will be paid his due because He doesn’t play favorites.
Copyright © 2004 by World Bible Translation Center
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.