Colossians 3

Evangelical Heritage Version

3 Therefore, because you were raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

The New Creation

⁵ So put to death whatever is worldly in you: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.^{[b] 7} You too once walked in these things, when you were living in them.

⁸ But now, you too are to rid yourselves of all of these: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to each other since you have put off the old self with its practices, ¹⁰ and put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but rather Christ is all and is in all.

List of Virtues

¹² Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone else. Forgive, just as Christ^[c] forgave you. ¹⁴ And, in addition to all these things, put on love, which ties things together in perfect unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, to which you were also called, in one body. And be thankful.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ^[d] dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.^{[e] 17} And everything you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Household Duties

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not treat them harshly.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not embitter your children, so that they do not become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your human masters^[f] in everything, not just when they are watching you, like people-pleasers, but with a sincere heart, out of respect for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, keep working at it with all your heart, as for the Lord and not for people, ²⁴ because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Keep serving the Lord Christ! ²⁵ Indeed, the one who does what is wrong will be repaid for what he did wrong, and there is no favoritism.