Colossians 3
3
Live as God’s People
1Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne. 2Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. 3You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.
5Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). 6It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him.#3:6 Some manuscripts and translations omit “on those who refuse to obey him.” 7You used to live that kind of sinful life. 8Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. 9Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, 10and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator. 11Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything.
12As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly. 15Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful. 16Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about ⌞God’s⌟ kindness.#3:16 Or “grace.” Sing to God in your hearts. 17Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Advice for Wives and Husbands, Parents and Children, Slaves and Masters
18Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. This is appropriate behavior for the Lord’s people. 19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be harsh with them.
20Children, always obey your parents. This is pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers, don’t make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged.
22Slaves, always obey your earthly masters. Don’t obey them only while you’re being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. Be sincere in your motives out of respect for your real master. 23Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans. 24You know that your real master will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is Christ, your real master, whom you are serving. 25The person who does wrong will be paid back for the wrong he has done. God does not play favorites.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Colossians 3
3
Your life hidden in Christ
1Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. 2Think about the things above and not things on earth. 3You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. 7You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things. 8But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. 9Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices 10and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. 11In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.
12Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. 14And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. 16The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.
18Wives, submit to your husbands in a way that is appropriate in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and don’t be harsh with them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, because this pleases the Lord. 21Parents, don’t provoke your children in a way that ends up discouraging them.
22Slaves, obey your masters on earth in everything. Don’t just obey like people pleasers when they are watching. Instead, obey with the single motivation of fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. 24You know that you will receive an inheritance as a reward. You serve the Lord Christ. 25But evildoers will receive their reward for their evil actions. There is no discrimination.
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