Colossians 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Since You Were Raised With Christ, Be Seeking His Things
3 If then you were raised-with Christ, be seeking the things above where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Be thinking[a] the things above, not the things upon the earth. 3 For you died, and your life has been hidden[b] with Christ in God. 4 When Christ appears— your life— then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Put To Death The Practices of The Old Person And Put On The New Person
5 Therefore, put-to-death your body-part things[c] on earth— sexual-immorality, impurity, passion[d], evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry— 6 because of which things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of [e] disobedience, 7 in which[f] things you also formerly walked when you were living in these things. 8 But now you also, lay-aside all these things— wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy-language[g] from your mouth; 9 do not be lying to one another— having stripped-off the old person with his practices, 10 and having put-on the new person being renewed to knowledge in-accordance-with the image of the One having created him, 11 where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian[h], Scythian[i], slave, free, but Christ is all things and in all persons.
Therefore, Clothe Yourself In Love, Christ’s Peace, God’s Word, And Thankfulness
12 Therefore, as chosen[j] ones of God, holy and having been loved, put-on[k] deep-feelings[l] of compassion, kindness, humblemindedness, gentleness, patience, 13 bearing-with one another, and forgiving each other— if anyone has a complaint against anyone. Just as indeed the Lord forgave you, so also you forgive. 14 And over[m] all these things put on love, which is the bond[n] of [o] perfection. 15 And let the peace of [p] Christ be arbitrating[q] in your hearts— into which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ be dwelling in[r] you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing each other with psalms[s], hymns, spiritual songs; with gratitude[t] singing with[u] your hearts to God. 17 And everything, whatever thing you may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving-thanks to God the Father through Him.
Behave In a Godly Manner In Your Family
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as[v] it is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, be loving your wives, and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, be obeying your parents in all things, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not be provoking your children, in order that they may not be discouraged[w].
Work As For The Lord, Not For People
22 Slaves, be obeying your masters according-to[x] the flesh in all things, not with eye-service[y] as people-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, be working from the soul as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the payback[z] of [aa] the inheritance. You are serving[ab] the Lord Christ! 25 For the one[ac] doing-wrong will receive-back what he did-wrong, and there is no respect-of-persons.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:2 Or, setting your mind on.
- Colossians 3:3 That is, hidden safely, like a treasure.
- Colossians 3:5 That is, the sins associated with your body, the sins mentioned next. Or, your body-parts, members, limbs. That is, the physical members of your body insofar as they serve as instruments of sin; or, the metaphorical members of your ‘old person’, the old desires.
- Colossians 3:5 Or, lustfulness.
- Colossians 3:6 That is, characterized by.
- Colossians 3:7 Or, among whom you.
- Colossians 3:8 That is, obscene-language, foul-talk. Or, abusive-language, foul-mouthed-abusiveness.
- Colossians 3:11 That is, uncivilized.
- Colossians 3:11 These were brutal, feared, savage enemies from the East who attacked Palestine 600 years earlier.
- Colossians 3:12 Or, elect, selected.
- Colossians 3:12 That is, like clothes.
- Colossians 3:12 Or, a heart.
- Colossians 3:14 Or, upon, in addition to.
- Colossians 3:14 Or, binding. Some think it binds together the virtues just mentioned; others, the people putting on these virtues, the church.
- Colossians 3:14 That is, characterized by (the perfect bond); or, belonging to (perfection’s bond); or, toward, leading to, resulting in, producing perfection.
- Colossians 3:15 That is, given by.
- Colossians 3:15 Or, judging, deciding, ruling, umpiring.
- Colossians 3:16 Or, among.
- Colossians 3:16 with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. Or, this phrase may go with the ‘singing’ that follows.
- Colossians 3:16 Or, with the giving-of-thanks.
- Colossians 3:16 Or, in (silently).
- Colossians 3:18 That is, as it should be in union with the Lord; or, to the extent proper in the Lord; or, as appropriate among those who are in the Lord.
- Colossians 3:21 Or, dispirited, despondent.
- Colossians 3:22 Or, with respect to.
- Colossians 3:22 That is, merely with an eye on the master to curry favor or avoid punishment.
- Colossians 3:24 That is, reward.
- Colossians 3:24 That is, consisting of.
- Colossians 3:24 Or, You are a slave to. Or, this may be a command, Be serving.
- Colossians 3:25 That is, whether the slave or the master.
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
English Standard Version
Put On the New Self
3 (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. 2 (D)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For (E)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ (F)who is your[a] life (G)appears, then you also will appear with him (H)in glory.
5 (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. 6 (N)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 (O)In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now (P)you must put them all away: (Q)anger, wrath, malice, (R)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 (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
- Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
- Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
- Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
- Colossians 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
- Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22
- Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
