Colossians 3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
IV. The Ideal Christian Life in the World
Chapter 3
Mystical Death and Resurrection.[a] 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.(A) 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.(B) 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
Renunciation of Vice.[b] 5 Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:(C) immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.[c] 6 Because of these the wrath of God[d] is coming [upon the disobedient].(D) 7 By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. 8 But now you must put them all away:[e] anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.(E) 9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices(F) 10 [f]and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.(G) 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,[g] slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.(H)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,(I) 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.(J) 14 And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.(K) 15 And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.(L) 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.(M) 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.(N)
The Christian Family. 18 [h]Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.(O) 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.(P) 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.(Q)
Slaves and Masters. 22 Slaves,[i] obey your human masters in everything, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.(R) 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.(S)
Footnotes
- 3:1–4 By retaining the message of the gospel that the risen, living Christ is the source of their salvation, the Colossians will be free from false religious evaluations of the things of the world (Col 3:1–2). They have died to these; but one day when Christ…appears, they will live with Christ in the presence of God (Col 3:3–4).
- 3:5–17 In lieu of false asceticism and superstitious festivals, the apostle reminds the Colossians of the moral life that is to characterize their response to God through Christ. He urges their participation in the liturgical hymns and prayers that center upon God’s plan of salvation in Christ (Col 3:16).
- 3:5, 8 The two lists of five vices each are similar to enumerations at Rom 1:29–31 and Gal 5:19–21.
- 3:6 The wrath of God: see note on Rom 1:18. Many manuscripts add, as at Eph 5:6, “upon the disobedient.”
- 3:8–10 Put…away; have taken off; have put on: the terms may reflect baptismal practice, taking off garments and putting on new ones after being united with Christ, here translated into ethical terms.
- 3:10 Image: see note on Col 1:15.
- 3:11 Scythian: a barbarous people from north of the Black Sea.
- 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).
Colossians 3
King James Version
3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Colossians 3
Tree of Life Version
Put Off the Old, Put On the New
3 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things above—where Messiah is, sitting at the right hand of God. [a] 2 Focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. [b] 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God. 4 When Messiah, who is your[c] life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him, in glory!
5 Therefore, put to death what is earthly in you—sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed—for that is idolatry. 6 Because of such things God’s wrath is coming upon the sons of disobedience. 7 At one time you also walked in these ways, when you used to live in these ways. 8 But now, set them all aside—anger, rage, malice, slander, and foul language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another.[d] After all, you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self that is being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of the One who created him. [e] 11 Here there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, savage,[f] slave and free; but Messiah is all, and in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience— 13 bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord pardoned you, so also you must pardon others. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfect harmony. 15 Let the shalom of Messiah rule in your hearts—to this shalom you were surely called in one body. Also be thankful. 16 Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Orderly, Mutual Relationships
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not become harsh toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in every respect, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your human masters in every respect—not just within your master’s sight as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it from the soul, as for the Lord and not for people. 24 For you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is to the Lord Messiah you are giving service. 25 For the one doing wrong will be paid back for what he did wrong, and there is no favoritism.[g]
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:2 cf. Ps. 80:15, 17; 89:13; 110:1; 118:15-16, etc.
- Colossians 3:3 cf. Ps. 57:5, 7; 103:11; 115:16; Isa. 40:22; 55:9.
- Colossians 3:4 Other mss. read our.
- Colossians 3:9 cf. Lev. 19:11; Ps. 24:4.
- Colossians 3:11 cf. Gen. 1:26-27.
- Colossians 3:11 Lit. Scythian.
- Colossians 3:25 cf. Deut. 10:17.
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.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.