John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

3 In those days John the Baptist^(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(C) has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

⁴ John’s^(E) clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.^(F) His food was locusts^(G) and wild honey. ⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized^(H) by him in the Jordan River.

⁵³ For the perishable^(A) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(B) and the mortal with immortality.

² Meanwhile we groan,^(A) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^{(B) 3} because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan^(C) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(D) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(A) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^(B)

²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off^(A) your old self,^(B) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;^{(C) 23} to be made new in the attitude of your minds;^{(D) 24} and to put on^(E) the new self,^(F) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.^(G)

⁹ Do not lie to each other,^(A) since you have taken off your old self^(B) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self,^(C) which is being renewed^(D) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.^{(E) 11} Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(F) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(G) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(H) but Christ is all,^(I) and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves^(J) with compassion, kindness, humility,^(K) gentleness and patience.^(L)