9-11 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Read full chapter

10 and have put on the new man who (A)is renewed in knowledge (B)according to the image of Him who (C)created him, 11 where there is neither (D)Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, (E)but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

12 Therefore, (F)as the elect of God, holy and beloved, (G)put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Read full chapter

10 and (A)have put on (B)the new self, (C)which is being renewed in knowledge (D)after the image of (E)its creator. 11 (F)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[a] free; but Christ is (G)all, and in all.

12 (H)Put on then, as (I)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, (J)compassionate hearts, (K)kindness, (L)humility, meekness, and patience,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22