Preeminence of Christ

^9 (A)For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask ^(B)that you may be filled with ^(C)the knowledge of His will ^(D)in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ^10 (E)that you may walk worthy of the Lord, ^(F)fully pleasing Him, ^(G)being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the ^(H)knowledge of God; ^11 (I)strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, ^(J)for all patience and longsuffering ^(K)with joy; ^12 (L)giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of ^(M)the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from ^(N)the power of darkness ^(O)and ^[a]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ^14 (P)in whom we have redemption ^[b]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ He is ^(Q)the image of the invisible God, ^(R)the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For ^(S)by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or ^(T)dominions or ^[c]principalities or ^[d]powers. All things were created ^(U)through Him and for Him. ^17 (V)And He is before all things, and in Him ^(W)all things consist. ¹⁸ And ^(X)He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, ^(Y)the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that ^(Z)in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and ^(AA)by Him to reconcile ^(AB)all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, ^(AC)having made peace through the blood of His cross.

²¹ And you, ^(AD)who once were alienated and enemies in your mind ^(AE)by wicked works, yet now He has ^(AF)reconciled ^22 (AG)in the body of His flesh through death, ^(AH)to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

Not Carnality but Christ

3 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. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the ^(C)earth. ^3 (D)For you died, ^(E)and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ^4 (F)When Christ who is ^(G)our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in ^(H)glory.

^5 (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. ^6 (M)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon ^(N)the sons of disobedience, ^7 (O)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

^8 (P)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ 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.