Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because^[a] of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(A) with a desire for more and more.^[b]

²⁰ But that is not how you came to know Christ, ²¹ assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth^(B) is in Jesus, ²² to take off^[c](C) your former way of life,^(D) the old self^(E) that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^[d] in the spirit^(F) of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^[e](G) the new self, the one created^(H) according to God’s likeness^(I) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, putting away^(J) lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,^[f](K) because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin.^[g](L) Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(M) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^[h] so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.^(N) You were sealed by him^[i] for the day of redemption.^{(O) 31} Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(P) and compassionate^(Q) to one another, forgiving^(R) one another, just as God also forgave you^[j] in Christ.

5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, ² and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us,^(S) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But sexual immorality^(T) and any impurity^(U) or greed^(V) should not even be heard of^[k] among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵ For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral^(W) or impure^(X) or greedy^(Y) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^(Z) of Christ and of God.

Controlling the Tongue

3 Not many should become teachers, my brothers,^[a] because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.^{(A) 2} For we all stumble in many ways.^(B) If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.^{(C) 3} Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us,^(D) we direct their whole bodies. ⁴ And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things.^(E) Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed^[b] among our members. It stains the whole body,^(F) sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^{(G) 9} With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.^{(H) 10} Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. ¹¹ Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.^{(I) 14} But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.^{(J) 15} Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(K) 16} For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.^{(L) 18} And the fruit of righteousness^(M) is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.