追求屬天的事

你們既然和基督一同復活了,就應當追求天上的事,那裡有坐在上帝右邊的基督。 你們要思想天上的事,而不是地上的事, 因為你們的舊生命已經死了,你們的新生命與基督一同藏在上帝裡面。 基督就是你們的新生命,祂顯現的時候,你們也必和祂一起在榮耀中顯現。

所以,你們要治死身上屬世的罪惡,如淫亂、污穢、邪情、惡慾和貪心,貪心就是拜偶像, 因為上帝的烈怒必臨到做這些事的悖逆之人。 你們過去也和他們一樣過著罪惡的生活, 但現在必須杜絕這一切的惡事,如怒氣、憤恨、惡毒、毀謗和污言穢語。 不要彼此說謊,因為你們已經脫去了舊人和舊的行為, 10 穿上了新人。這新人在知識上不斷更新,更像他的造物主。 11 從此,不再分希臘人、猶太人,受割禮的、未受割禮的,野蠻人、未開化的人[a],奴隸和自由人,基督就是一切,並且貫穿一切。

12 所以,你們既然是上帝所揀選的,是聖潔、蒙愛的人,就要心存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔和忍耐。 13 倘若彼此之間有怨言,總要互相寬容,彼此饒恕,主怎樣饒恕你們,你們也要照樣饒恕他人。 14 最重要的是要有愛,愛能把一切完美地聯合在一起。 15 要讓基督的平安掌管你們的心,你們就是為此而蒙召成為一個身體。要常存感恩的心。 16 要將基督的話豐豐富富地存在心裡,用各樣智慧彼此教導,互相勸誡,以感恩的心用詩篇、聖樂、靈歌頌讚上帝。 17 你們無論做什麼事、說什麼話,都要奉主耶穌的名而行,並藉著祂感謝父上帝。

和諧家庭

18 你們作妻子的,要順服丈夫,信主的人應當這樣做。 19 你們作丈夫的,要愛妻子,不可惡待她們。 20 你們作兒女的,凡事要聽從父母,因為這是主所喜悅的。 21 你們作父親的,不要激怒兒女,免得他們灰心喪志。 22 你們作奴僕的,凡事要聽從你們世上的主人,不要只做討好人的表面工夫,要以敬畏主的心真誠服侍。 23 無論做什麼事,都要發自內心,像是為主做的,而不是為人做的, 24 因為你們知道自己一定會從主那裡得到基業為獎賞。你們事奉的是主基督, 25 凡作惡的人終必自食惡果,因為上帝不偏待人。

Footnotes

  1. 3·11 未開化的人」希臘文是「西古提人」。

Live as God’s People

Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the highest position. Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.

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). It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him.[a] You used to live that kind of sinful life. Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. 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.[b] Sing to God in your hearts. 17 Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Yeshua, 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.[c] 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.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts and translations omit “on those who refuse to obey him.”
  2. Colossians 3:16 Or “grace.”
  3. Colossians 3:18 English equivalent difficult.

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

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are 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 in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit 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 unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.