Colossians 3:18-25
Good News Translation
Personal Relations in the New Life
18 (A)Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians.
19 (B)Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 (C)Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, for that is what pleases God.
21 (D)Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 (E)Slaves, obey your human masters in all things, not only when they are watching you because you want to gain their approval; but do it with a sincere heart because of your reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve. 25 (F)And all wrongdoers will be repaid for the wrong things they do, because God judges everyone by the same standard.
Read full chapter
Colossians 3:18-25
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Rules for Christian Households
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.(A) 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.(B) 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters[a] in everything, not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.[b](C) 23 Whatever task you must do, work as if your soul depends on it, as for the Lord and not for humans, 24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.(D) 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.(E)
Read full chapter
Colossians 3:18-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The Christian Family. 18 [a]Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.(A) 19 Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.(B) 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.(C)
Slaves and Masters. 22 Slaves,[b] obey your human masters in everything, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.(D) 23 Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, 24 knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will receive recompense for the wrong he committed, and there is no partiality.(E)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 3:18–4:6 After general recommendations that connect family life and the social condition of slavery with the service of Christ (Col 3:18–4:1), Paul requests prayers for himself, especially in view of his imprisonment (Col 3:2–3), and recommends friendly relations and meaningful discussions of Christian teaching with outsiders, i.e., non-Christians (Col 3:5–6). See note on Eph 5:21–6:9.
- 3:22–25 Slaves: within this table of duties in family and societal relations, involving wives and husbands, children and parents (Col 3:18–21), such as also appears in Eph 5:22–6:9, slaves here receive special attention because of the case of Onesimus the slave returning to his master (Col 4:9; Phlm 10–12).
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.