Colossians 3 - 1 Thessalonians 4

Christian Standard Bible

The Life of the New Man

3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^{(A) 2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.^{(B) 3} For you died,^(C) and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears,^(D) then you also will appear with him in glory.^(E)

⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,^(F) lust,^(G) evil desire, and greed,^(H) which is idolatry.^{(I) 6} Because of these, God’s wrath^(J) is coming upon the disobedient,^{[b] 7} and you once walked in these things when you were living^(K) in them. ⁸ But now, put away^(L) all the following: anger,^(M) wrath,^(N) malice,^(O) slander,^(P) and filthy language from your mouth.^{(Q) 9} Do not lie^(R) to one another, since you have put off^(S) the old self^(T) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on^(U) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your^[c] Creator.^{(V) 11} In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.^(W)

The Christian Life

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,^(X) put on compassion, kindness,^(Y) humility,^(Z) gentleness,^(AA) and patience,^{(AB) 13} bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.^{(AC) 14} Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called^(AD) in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,^[d] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name^(AE) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Christ in Your Home

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.^{(AF) 19} Husbands,^(AG) love your wives^(AH) and don’t be bitter^(AI) toward them. ²⁰ Children,^(AJ) obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers,^(AK) do not exasperate^(AL) your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. ²² Slaves, obey your human^(AM) masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.^{(AN) 23} Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,^{(AO) 24} knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer^(AP) will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

4 Masters,^(AQ) deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

Speaking to God and Others

² Devote yourselves^(AR) to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door^(AS) to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ,^(AT) for which I am in chains,^{(AU) 4} so that I may make it known as I should. ⁵ Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.^{(AV) 6} Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,^(AW) so that you may know how you should answer each person.^(AX)

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus,^(AY) our dearly loved brother, faithful^(AZ) minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ⁸ I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are^[e] and so that he may encourage^(BA) your hearts.^{(BB) 9} He is coming with Onesimus,^(BC) a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

¹⁰ Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark,^(BD) Barnabas’s^(BE) cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras,^(BF) who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling^(BG) for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured^[f] in everything God wills.^{(BH) 13} For I testify about him that he works hard^[g](BI) for you, for those in Laodicea,^(BJ) and for those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas^(BK) send you greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home.^{(BL) 16} After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And tell Archippus,^(BM) “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”^(BN)

¹⁸ I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains.^(BO) Grace be with you.^[h](BP)

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus,^[i](BQ) and Timothy:^(BR)

To the church of the Thessalonians^(BS) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace.^[j]

Thanksgiving

² We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. ³ We recall, in the presence of our God and Father,^(BT) your work produced by faith,^(BU) your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(BV) 4} For we know, brothers and sisters loved^(BW) by God,^(BX) that he has chosen you,^{(BY) 5} because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit,^(BZ) and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you^(CA) for your benefit, ⁶ and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message^(CB) with joy from the Holy Spirit. ⁷ As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia^(CC) and Achaia.^{(CD) 8} For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith^[k](CE) in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, ⁹ for they themselves report^[l] what kind of reception^(CF) we had from you: how you turned^(CG) to God from idols^(CH) to serve the living^(CI) and true^(CJ) God ¹⁰ and to wait^(CK) for his Son^(CL) from heaven, whom he raised from the dead^(CM)—Jesus, who rescues us^(CN) from the coming wrath.^(CO)

Paul’s Conduct

2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit^(CP) with you was not without result. ² On the contrary, after we had previously suffered^(CQ) and were treated outrageously in Philippi,^(CR) as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. ³ For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity^(CS) or an intent to deceive.^{(CT) 4} Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted^(CU) with the gospel,^(CV) so we speak, not to please people, but rather God,^(CW) who examines our hearts.^{(CX) 5} For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy^(CY) motives^(CZ)—God is our witness^(DA)— ⁶ and we didn’t seek glory^(DB) from people, either from you or from others. ⁷ Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,^(DC) instead we were gentle^[m] among you, as a nurse^[n] nurtures her own children. ⁸ We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. ⁹ For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working^(DD) night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(DE) and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,^(DF) and blamelessly^(DG) we conducted ourselves with you believers. ¹¹ As you know, like a father with his own children,^{(DH) 12} we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God,^(DI) who calls you into his own kingdom^(DJ) and glory.^(DK)

Reception and Opposition to the Message

¹³ This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,^(DL) the word of God,^(DM) which also works effectively in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,^(DN) since you have also suffered^(DO) the same things from people of your own country,^(DP) just as they did from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(DQ) and the prophets and persecuted us.^(DR) They displease God and are hostile to everyone, ¹⁶ by keeping us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are constantly filling up their sins to the limit,^(DS) and wrath has overtaken them at last.^[o]

Paul’s Desire to See Them

¹⁷ But as for us, brothers and sisters, after we were forced to leave you^[p] for a short time (in person, not in heart^(DT)), we greatly desired and made every effort to return^(DU) and see you face to face. ¹⁸ So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan^(DV) hindered us. ¹⁹ For who is our hope or joy^(DW) or crown^(DX) of boasting^(DY) in the presence of our Lord^(DZ) Jesus at his coming?^(EA) Is it not you?^{(EB) 20} Indeed you are our glory^(EC) and joy!

Anxiety in Athens

3 Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.^{(ED) 2} And we sent Timothy,^(EE) our brother and God’s coworker^[q] in the gospel of Christ,^(EF) to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, ³ so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. ⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

Encouraged by Timothy

⁶ But now Timothy has come to us^(EG) from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you.^{(EH) 7} Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand firm^(EI) in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy^(EJ) we experience before our God because of you, ¹⁰ as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face^(EK) and to complete what is lacking in your faith?^(EL)

Prayer for the Church

¹¹ Now may our God and Father^(EM) himself, and our Lord Jesus,^(EN) direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love^(EO) for one another^(EP) and for everyone, just as we do for you. ¹³ May he make your hearts blameless^(EQ) in holiness^(ER) before our God and Father at the coming^(ES) of our Lord^(ET) Jesus with all his saints. Amen.^[r]

The Call to Sanctification

4 Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing^[s]—do this even more. ² For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is God’s will,^(EU) your sanctification:^(EV) that you keep away^(EW) from sexual immorality, ⁴ that each of you knows how to control his own body^[t] in holiness and honor, ⁵ not with lustful passions,^(EX) like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. ⁶ This means one must not transgress against and take advantage^(EY) of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us to impurity^(EZ) but to live in holiness. ⁸ Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.^(FA)

Loving and Working

⁹ About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God^(FB) to love one another.^{(FC) 10} In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia.^(FD) But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, ¹¹ to seek to lead a quiet life,^(FE) to mind your own business,^[u] and to work^(FF) with your own hands, as we commanded you, ¹² so that you may behave properly^(FG) in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.^[v](FH)

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.^{(FI) 14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose^(FJ) again,^(FK) in the same way, through Jesus,^(FL) God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a word from the Lord:^(FM) We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming^(FN) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(FO) 16} For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[w](FP) with the archangel’s^(FQ) voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ^(FR) will rise first. ¹⁷ Then^(FS) we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(FT) to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[x] one another with these words.