³¹ So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.^(A)

The Temple of the Living God

¹⁴ Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? Or what partnership is there between light and darkness?^{(A) 15} What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we^[a] are the temple of the living God, as God said,

The Works of the Flesh

¹⁶ Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{(A) 17} For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.^{(B) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.^{(C) 19} Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery,^{(D) 20} idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(E)

The Fruit of the Spirit

²² By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,^{(F) 23} gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ^[b] have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.^{(G) 25} If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

²⁷ and do not make room for the devil. ²⁸ Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. ²⁹ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up,^[a] as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.^{(A) 31} Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.^{(B) 32} Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.^[b](C) 5 ¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,^{(D) 2} and walk in love, as Christ loved us^[c] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(E)

Renounce Pagan Ways

³ But sexual immorality and impurity of any kind or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.^{(F) 4} Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ Be sure of this, that no sexually immoral or impure person or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^(G)

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.^{[d](H) 7} Therefore do not be associated with them, ⁸ for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light,^{(I) 9} for the fruit of the light^[e] is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰ Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.^{(J) 12} For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, ¹³ but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

¹⁵ Be careful, then, how you live,^[f] not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil.^{(L) 17} So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.^{(M) 18} Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,^{(N) 19} as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,^{(O) 20} giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(P) 21} being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The Christian Household

²² Wives, be subject^[g] to your husbands as to the Lord,^{(Q) 23} for the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.^{(R) 24} Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish.^{(S) 28} In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ because we are members of his body.^{[h](T) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^(U)

The New Life in Christ

3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^{(A) 2} Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, ³ for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.^{(B) 4} When Christ who is your^[a] life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.^(C)

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).^{(D) 6} On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.^{[b](E) 7} These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.^{[c] 8} But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive^[d] language from your mouth.^{(F) 9} Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.^{(G) 11} In that renewal^[e] there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all!^(H)

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.^{(I) 13} Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord^[f] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ^[g] rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.^{(J) 16} Let the word of Christ^[h] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.^{[i](K) 17} And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.^(L)