Put On the New Self

Therefore, if you have been (A)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, (B)seated at the right hand of God. [a](C)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have (D)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, (E)who is our life, is revealed, (F)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

(G)Therefore, [b]treat (H)the parts of your earthly body as dead to (I)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [c]amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that (J)the wrath of God is coming [d]upon the [e]sons of disobedience, and (K)in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. But now you also, (L)rid yourselves of all of them: (M)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and (N)obscene speech from your mouth. [g](O)Do not lie to one another, since you (P)stripped off the old [h]self with its evil practices, 10 and have (Q)put on the new self, which is being [i](R)renewed to a true knowledge (S)according to the image of the One who (T)created it— 11 a renewal in which (U)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, (V)circumcised and uncircumcised, [j](W)barbarian, [k]Scythian, (X)slave, and free, but (Y)Christ is all, and in all.

12 So, as those who have been (Z)chosen of God, holy and beloved, (AA)put on a (AB)heart of compassion, kindness, (AC)humility, gentleness, and [l](AD)patience; 13 (AE)bearing with one another, and (AF)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; (AG)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is [m](AH)the perfect bond of (AI)unity. 15 Let (AJ)the peace of Christ, to which you were [n]indeed called in (AK)one body, [o]rule in your hearts; and [p]be thankful. 16 Let (AL)the word of [q]Christ richly dwell within you, [r]with all wisdom (AM)teaching and admonishing [s]one another (AN)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, (AO)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 (AP)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AQ)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Family Relations

18 (AR)Wives, (AS)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 (AT)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 (AU)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing [t]to the Lord. 21 (AV)Fathers, do not [u]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

22 [v](AW)Slaves, obey those who are your [w]human masters in everything, (AX)not with [x]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [y]heartily, (AY)as for the Lord and not for people, 24 (AZ)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [z]of (BA)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you (BB)serve. 25 For (BC)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [aa](BD)that without partiality.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:2 Or Be intent on
  2. Colossians 3:5 Lit put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth
  3. Colossians 3:5 Lit is
  4. Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain upon the sons of disobedience
  5. Colossians 3:6 I.e., people opposed to God
  6. Colossians 3:7 Or among these
  7. Colossians 3:9 Or Stop lying
  8. Colossians 3:9 Lit person
  9. Colossians 3:10 Lit renovated
  10. Colossians 3:11 I.e., uncultured
  11. Colossians 3:11 I.e., a member of an ancient people near the Black Sea, often considered unrefined
  12. Colossians 3:12 I.e., forbearance toward others
  13. Colossians 3:14 Lit the uniting bond of perfection
  14. Colossians 3:15 Or also
  15. Colossians 3:15 Or be in control in
  16. Colossians 3:15 Or show yourselves thankful
  17. Colossians 3:16 One early ms the Lord
  18. Colossians 3:16 Or in
  19. Colossians 3:16 Or one another, singing with psalms...
  20. Colossians 3:20 Lit in
  21. Colossians 3:21 Or provoke to anger
  22. Colossians 3:22 I.e., slaves in first-century Roman culture
  23. Colossians 3:22 Lit masters according to flesh
  24. Colossians 3:22 I.e., working only when watched
  25. Colossians 3:23 Lit from the soul
  26. Colossians 3:24 I.e., consisting of
  27. Colossians 3:25 Lit there is no partiality

Keep Focusing on the Messiah

Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah,[a] keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah[b] is seated at the right hand of God. Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah[c] in God. When the Messiah,[d] who is[e] your[f] life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.

So put to death your worldly impulses:[g] sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.[h] You used to behave like them as you lived among them. But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene speech, and all such sins. Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old nature with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of the one who created it. 11 In him[i] there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,[j] slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah[k] is all and in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness,[l] and patience. 13 Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord[m] has forgiven you, you also should forgive.[n] 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with[o] love, which ties everything together in unity. 15 Let the peace of the Messiah[p] also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of the Messiah[q] inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Family Duties

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is appropriate for those who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with[r] them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not make your children resentful. Otherwise, they’ll become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched in order to please them, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it[s] for the Lord and not merely for people. 24 You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Messiah[t] whom you are serving! 25 For the person who does what is wrong will be paid back for what he has done without favoritism.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:1 Or Christ
  2. Colossians 3:1 Or Christ
  3. Colossians 3:3 Or Christ
  4. Colossians 3:4 Or Christ
  5. Colossians 3:4 The Gk. lacks who is
  6. Colossians 3:4 Other mss. read our
  7. Colossians 3:5 Lit. the parts that are on the earth
  8. Colossians 3:6 Lit. on the sons of disobedience
  9. Colossians 3:11 Lit. it, 11 where
  10. Colossians 3:11 I.e. uncivilized person
  11. Colossians 3:11 Or Christ
  12. Colossians 3:12 Or gentleness
  13. Colossians 3:13 Other mss. read the Messiah
  14. Colossians 3:13 Lit. so you also
  15. Colossians 3:14 The Gk. lacks clothe yourselves with
  16. Colossians 3:15 Or Christ
  17. Colossians 3:16 Or Christ; other mss. read of God; still other mss. read of the Lord
  18. Colossians 3:19 Or bitter toward
  19. Colossians 3:23 The Gk. lacks though you were doing it
  20. Colossians 3:24 Or Christ