Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,(A) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(B) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(C) For you died,(D) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life,(E) appears,(F) then you also will appear with him in glory.(G)

Put to death,(H) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:(I) sexual immorality,(J) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,(K) which is idolatry.(L) Because of these, the wrath of God(M) is coming.[b] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.(N) But now you must also rid yourselves(O) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,(P) and filthy language from your lips.(Q) Do not lie to each other,(R) since you have taken off your old self(S) with its practices 10 and have put on the new self,(T) which is being renewed(U) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.(V) 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew,(W) circumcised or uncircumcised,(X) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,(Y) but Christ is all,(Z) and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(AA) with compassion, kindness, humility,(AB) gentleness and patience.(AC) 13 Bear with each other(AD) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(AE) 14 And over all these virtues put on love,(AF) which binds them all together in perfect unity.(AG)

15 Let the peace of Christ(AH) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(AI) you were called to peace.(AJ) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(AK) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(AL) through psalms,(AM) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(AN) 17 And whatever you do,(AO) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(AP) to God the Father through him.

Instructions for Christian Households(AQ)

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,(AR) as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers,[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(AS) from the Lord as a reward.(AT) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
  2. Colossians 3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient
  3. Colossians 3:21 Or Parents

Put On the New Self

Therefore, if you have been (A)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, (B)seated at the right hand of God. [a](C)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have (D)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, (E)who is our life, is revealed, (F)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

(G)Therefore, [b]treat (H)the parts of your earthly body as dead to (I)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [c]amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that (J)the wrath of God is coming [d]upon the [e]sons of disobedience, and (K)in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. But now you also, (L)rid yourselves of all of them: (M)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and (N)obscene speech from your mouth. [g](O)Do not lie to one another, since you (P)stripped off the old [h]self with its evil practices, 10 and have (Q)put on the new self, which is being [i](R)renewed to a true knowledge (S)according to the image of the One who (T)created it— 11 a renewal in which (U)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, (V)circumcised and uncircumcised, [j](W)barbarian, [k]Scythian, (X)slave, and free, but (Y)Christ is all, and in all.

12 So, as those who have been (Z)chosen of God, holy and beloved, (AA)put on a (AB)heart of compassion, kindness, (AC)humility, gentleness, and [l](AD)patience; 13 (AE)bearing with one another, and (AF)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; (AG)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is [m](AH)the perfect bond of (AI)unity. 15 Let (AJ)the peace of Christ, to which you were [n]indeed called in (AK)one body, [o]rule in your hearts; and [p]be thankful. 16 Let (AL)the word of [q]Christ richly dwell within you, [r]with all wisdom (AM)teaching and admonishing [s]one another (AN)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, (AO)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 (AP)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AQ)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Family Relations

18 (AR)Wives, (AS)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 (AT)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 (AU)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing [t]to the Lord. 21 (AV)Fathers, do not [u]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

22 [v](AW)Slaves, obey those who are your [w]human masters in everything, (AX)not with [x]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [y]heartily, (AY)as for the Lord and not for people, 24 (AZ)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [z]of (BA)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you (BB)serve. 25 For (BC)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [aa](BD)that without partiality.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:2 Or Be intent on
  2. Colossians 3:5 Lit put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth
  3. Colossians 3:5 Lit is
  4. Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain upon the sons of disobedience
  5. Colossians 3:6 I.e., people opposed to God
  6. Colossians 3:7 Or among these
  7. Colossians 3:9 Or Stop lying
  8. Colossians 3:9 Lit person
  9. Colossians 3:10 Lit renovated
  10. Colossians 3:11 I.e., uncultured
  11. Colossians 3:11 I.e., a member of an ancient people near the Black Sea, often considered unrefined
  12. Colossians 3:12 I.e., forbearance toward others
  13. Colossians 3:14 Lit the uniting bond of perfection
  14. Colossians 3:15 Or also
  15. Colossians 3:15 Or be in control in
  16. Colossians 3:15 Or show yourselves thankful
  17. Colossians 3:16 One early ms the Lord
  18. Colossians 3:16 Or in
  19. Colossians 3:16 Or one another, singing with psalms...
  20. Colossians 3:20 Lit in
  21. Colossians 3:21 Or provoke to anger
  22. Colossians 3:22 I.e., slaves in first-century Roman culture
  23. Colossians 3:22 Lit masters according to flesh
  24. Colossians 3:22 I.e., working only when watched
  25. Colossians 3:23 Lit from the soul
  26. Colossians 3:24 I.e., consisting of
  27. Colossians 3:25 Lit there is no partiality

Put On the New Self

(A)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek (B)the things that are above, where Christ is, (C)seated at the right hand of God. (D)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For (E)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (F)who is your[a] life (G)appears, then you also will appear with him (H)in glory.

(I)Put to death therefore (J)what is earthly in you:[b] (K)sexual immorality, impurity, (L)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (M)which is idolatry. (N)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] (O)In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now (P)you must put them all away: (Q)anger, wrath, malice, (R)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (S)Do not lie to one another, seeing that (T)you have put off (U)the old self[d] with its practices 10 and (V)have put on (W)the new self, (X)which is being renewed in knowledge (Y)after the image of (Z)its creator. 11 (AA)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is (AB)all, and in all.

12 (AC)Put on then, as (AD)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, (AE)compassionate hearts, (AF)kindness, (AG)humility, meekness, and patience, 13 (AH)bearing with one another and, (AI)if one has a complaint against another, (AJ)forgiving each other; (AK)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on (AL)love, which (AM)binds everything together in (AN)perfect harmony. 15 And let (AO)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called (AP)in one body. And (AQ)be thankful. 16 Let (AR)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, (AS)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (AT)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And (AU)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AV)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

18 (AW)Wives, submit to your husbands, as (AX)is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and (AY)do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents (AZ)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey (BA)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[f] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (BB)Whatever you do, work heartily, (BC)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (BD)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (BE)You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
  2. Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
  3. Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
  4. Colossians 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
  5. Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22
  6. Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh

Living the New Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[b] You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Instructions for Christian Households

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.[e] 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

Footnotes

  1. 3:4 Some manuscripts read our.
  2. 3:6 Some manuscripts read is coming on all who disobey him.
  3. 3:11a Greek a Greek.
  4. 3:11b Greek Barbarian, Scythian.
  5. 3:24 Or and serve Christ as your Master.