Colossians 3:12-17

Expanded Bible

¹² ·God loves you and has chosen you and made you his holy people. So [^LAs God’s chosen, holy and beloved ones; Ex. 19:6; 1 Pet. 2:9] you should always clothe yourselves with ·mercy [^La heart of compassion], kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ ·Bear with [Make allowances for; Be patient with] each other, and forgive each other. If someone ·does wrong to you [^Lhas a grievance/complaint against someone], forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ ·Even more than all this [Above all], clothe yourself in love, which ·holds you all together in perfect unity [or binds everything together; ^Lis the bond of perfection/completeness]. ¹⁵ Let the peace ·that Christ gives [of Christ] ·control [rule; arbitrate] your ·thinking [hearts], because you were all called together in one body [^Cthe church as the body of Christ] to have peace. Always be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the ·teaching [message; word] of Christ ·live in [or dwell among] you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and ·instruct [warn; admonish] each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with ·thankfulness [gratitude; grace] in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Everything you do or say should be done ·to obey [or as a representative of; ^Lin the name of] the Lord Jesus. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.