Put On the New Self

(A)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek (B)the things that are above, where Christ is, (C)seated at the right hand of God. (D)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For (E)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (F)who is your[a] life (G)appears, then you also will appear with him (H)in glory.

(I)Put to death therefore (J)what is earthly in you:[b] (K)sexual immorality, impurity, (L)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (M)which is idolatry. (N)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] (O)In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now (P)you must put them all away: (Q)anger, wrath, malice, (R)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (S)Do not lie to one another, seeing that (T)you have put off (U)the old self[d] with its practices 10 and (V)have put on (W)the new self, (X)which is being renewed in knowledge (Y)after the image of (Z)its creator. 11 (AA)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is (AB)all, and in all.

12 (AC)Put on then, as (AD)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, (AE)compassionate hearts, (AF)kindness, (AG)humility, meekness, and patience, 13 (AH)bearing with one another and, (AI)if one has a complaint against another, (AJ)forgiving each other; (AK)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on (AL)love, which (AM)binds everything together in (AN)perfect harmony. 15 And let (AO)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called (AP)in one body. And (AQ)be thankful. 16 Let (AR)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, (AS)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (AT)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And (AU)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AV)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

18 (AW)Wives, submit to your husbands, as (AX)is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and (AY)do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents (AZ)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey (BA)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[f] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (BB)Whatever you do, work heartily, (BC)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (BD)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (BE)You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
  2. Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
  3. Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
  4. Colossians 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
  5. Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22
  6. Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh

The Life of the New Man

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(A) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(B) For you died,(C) and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears,(D) then you also will appear with him in glory.(E)

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,(F) lust,(G) evil desire, and greed,(H) which is idolatry.(I) Because of these, God’s wrath(J) is coming upon the disobedient,[b] and you once walked in these things when you were living(K) in them. But now, put away(L) all the following: anger,(M) wrath,(N) malice,(O) slander,(P) and filthy language from your mouth.(Q) Do not lie(R) to one another, since you have put off(S) the old self(T) with its practices 10 and have put on(U) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your[c] Creator.(V) 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.(W)

The Christian Life

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,(X) put on compassion, kindness,(Y) humility,(Z) gentleness,(AA) and patience,(AB) 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.(AC) 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called(AD) in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,[d] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name(AE) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Christ in Your Home

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.(AF) 19 Husbands,(AG) love your wives(AH) and don’t be bitter(AI) toward them. 20 Children,(AJ) obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers,(AK) do not exasperate(AL) your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your human(AM) masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.(AN) 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,(AO) 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer(AP) will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

Footnotes

  1. 3:4 Other mss read our
  2. 3:6 Other mss omit upon the disobedient
  3. 3:10 Lit his
  4. 3:16 Or and songs prompted by the Spirit