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

Your New Life

You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory.

So put everything evil out of your life: sexual sin, doing anything immoral, letting sinful thoughts control you, and wanting things that are wrong. And don’t keep wanting more and more for yourself, which is the same as worshiping a false god. God will show his anger against those who don’t obey him,[a] because they do these evil things. You also did these things in the past, when you lived like them.

But now put these things out of your life: anger, losing your temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and saying shameful things. Don’t lie to each other. You have taken off those old clothes—the person you once were and the bad things you did then. 10 Now you are wearing a new life, a life that is new every day. You are growing in your understanding of the one who made you. You are becoming more and more like him. 11 In this new life it doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, circumcised or not. It doesn’t matter if you speak a different language or even if you are a Scythian.[b] It doesn’t matter if you are a slave or free. Christ is all that matters, and he is in all of you.

Your New Life With Each Other

12 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you. 14 Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body.[c] And always be thankful.

16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

Your New Life at Home

18 Wives, be willing to serve your husbands. This is the right thing to do in following the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be gentle to them.

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

21 Fathers, don’t upset your children. If you are too hard to please, they might want to stop trying.

22 Servants, obey your masters in everything. Obey all the time, even when they can’t see you. Don’t just pretend to work hard so that they will treat you well. No, you must serve your masters honestly because you respect the Lord. 23 In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master. 24 Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, who will give you what he promised his people. Yes, you are serving Christ. He is your real Master.[d] 25 Remember that anyone who does wrong will be punished for that wrong. And the Lord treats everyone the same.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:6 against … him Some Greek copies do not have these words.
  2. Colossians 3:11 Scythians Known as wild and uncivilized people.
  3. Colossians 3:15 body Christ’s spiritual body, meaning the church—his people.
  4. Colossians 3:24 Yes, you … Master Or “Serve the Lord Christ.” The Greek word translated “Lord” is the same as the word for “master” in verses 22 and 23.

劝门徒思念上面的事

所以,你们若真与基督一同复活,就当求在上面的事,那里有基督坐在神的右边。 你们要思念上面的事,不要思念地上的事, 因为你们已经死了,你们的生命与基督一同藏在神里面。 基督是我们的生命,他显现的时候,你们也要与他一同显现在荣耀里。

弃旧更新

所以要治死你们在地上的肢体,就如淫乱、污秽、邪情、恶欲和贪婪,贪婪就与拜偶像一样。 因这些事,神的愤怒必临到那悖逆之子。 当你们在这些事中活着的时候,也曾这样行过。 但现在你们要弃绝这一切的事,以及恼恨、愤怒、恶毒[a]、毁谤并口中污秽的言语。 不要彼此说谎,因你们已经脱去旧人和旧人的行为, 10 穿上了新人;这新人在知识上渐渐更新,正如造他主的形象。 11 在此并不分希腊人、犹太人,受割礼的、未受割礼的,化外人,西古提人,为奴的,自主的,唯有基督是包括一切,又住在各人之内。

爱心是联络全德的

12 所以,你们既是神的选民、圣洁蒙爱的人,就要存[b]怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心。 13 倘若这人与那人有嫌隙,总要彼此包容,彼此饶恕;主怎样饶恕了你们,你们也要怎样饶恕人。 14 在这一切之外,要存着爱心,爱心就是联络全德的。 15 又要叫基督的平安在你们心里做主,你们也为此蒙召,归为一体;且要存感谢的心。 16 当用各样的智慧,把基督的道理丰丰富富地存在心里[c],用诗章、颂词、灵歌彼此教导,互相劝诫,心被恩感歌颂神。 17 无论做什么,或说话或行事,都要奉主耶稣的名,借着他感谢父神。

劝夫妇父子主仆各尽其分

18 你们做妻子的,当顺服自己的丈夫,这在主里面是相宜的。 19 你们做丈夫的,要爱你们的妻子,不可苦待她们。 20 你们做儿女的,要凡事听从父母,因为这是主所喜悦的。 21 你们做父亲的,不要惹儿女的气,恐怕他们失了志气。 22 你们做仆人的,要凡事听从你们肉身的主人;不要只在眼前侍奉,像是讨人喜欢的,总要存心诚实敬畏主。 23 无论做什么,都要从心里做,像是给主做的,不是给人做的。 24 因你们知道,从主那里必得着基业为赏赐,你们所侍奉的乃是主基督。 25 那行不义的必受不义的报应,主并不偏待人。

Footnotes

  1. 歌罗西书 3:8 或作:阴毒。
  2. 歌罗西书 3:12 原文作:穿。下同。
  3. 歌罗西书 3:16 或作:当把基督的道理丰丰富富地存在心里,以各样的智慧。

Not Carnality but Christ

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. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the (C)earth. (D)For you died, (E)and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (F)When Christ who is (G)our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in (H)glory.

(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. (M)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon (N)the sons of disobedience, (O)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

(P)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 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

  1. Colossians 3:24 NU omits for