Not Carnality but Christ

3 If then you were ^(A)raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, ^(B)where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the ^(C)earth. ^3 (D)For you died, ^(E)and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ^4 (F)When Christ who is ^(G)our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in ^(H)glory.

^5 (I)Therefore put to death ^(J)your members which are on the earth: ^(K)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(L)which is idolatry. ^6 (M)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon ^(N)the sons of disobedience, ^7 (O)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

^8 (P)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who ^(Q)is renewed in knowledge ^(R)according to the image of Him who ^(S)created him, ¹¹ where there is neither ^(T)Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, ^(U)but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

¹² Therefore, ^(V)as the elect of God, holy and beloved, ^(W)put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ^13 (X)bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ^14 (Y)But above all these things ^(Z)put on love, which is the ^(AA)bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let ^(AB)the peace of God rule in your hearts, ^(AC)to which also you were called ^(AD)in one body; and ^(AE)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another ^(AF)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And ^(AG)whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home^(AH)

^18 (AI)Wives, submit to your own husbands, ^(AJ)as is fitting in the Lord.

^19 (AK)Husbands, love your wives and do not be ^(AL)bitter toward them.

^20 (AM)Children, obey your parents ^(AN)in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

^21 (AO)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

^22 (AP)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ^23 (AQ)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ^24 (AR)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; ^(AS)for^[a] you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and ^(AT)there is no partiality.

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

4 Masters,^(AU) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

^2 (AV)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it ^(AW)with thanksgiving; ^3 (AX)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would ^(AY)open to us a door for the word, to speak ^(AZ)the ^[b]mystery of Christ, ^(BA)for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

^5 (BB)Walk in ^(BC)wisdom toward those who are outside, ^(BD)redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be ^(BE)with grace, ^(BF)seasoned with salt, ^(BG)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings^(BH)

^7 (BI)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ^8 (BJ)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that ^[c]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ with ^(BK)Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

^10 (BL)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with ^(BM)Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

^12 (BN)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always ^(BO)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand ^(BP)perfect and ^[d]complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has a great ^[e]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ^14 (BQ)Luke the beloved physician and ^(BR)Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and ^[f]Nymphas and ^(BS)the church that is in ^[g]his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

¹⁶ Now when ^(BT)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(BU)Archippus, “Take heed to ^(BV)the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

^18 (BW)This salutation by my own hand—Paul. ^(BX)Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(A)Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the ^(B)Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace ^[a]from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Good Example

^2 (C)We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing ^(D)your work of faith, ^(E)labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, ^(F)your election by God. ⁵ For ^(G)our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, ^(H)and in the Holy Spirit ^(I)and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

⁶ And ^(J)you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, ^(K)with joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. ⁸ For from you the word of the Lord ^(L)has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also ^(M)in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves declare concerning us ^(N)what manner of entry we had to you, ^(O)and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and ^(P)to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us ^(Q)from the wrath to come.