Colossians 3
3
1 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Ps. 110:1.]
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
5 So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).
6 It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will),
7 Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices].
8 But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!
9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,
10 And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. [Gen. 1:26.]
11 [In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians [who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all [everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].
12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
13 Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].
14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
16 Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]
22 Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him.
23 Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,
24 Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).
25 For he who deals wrongfully will [reap the fruit of his folly and] be punished for his wrongdoing. And [with God] there is no partiality [no matter what a person's position may be, whether he is the slave or the master].
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1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Colossians 3
3
The Life of the New Man
1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.#Heb 10:12 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.#Php 3:19 3For you died,#Rm 6:8 and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your#3:4 Other mss read our life, appears,#2Co 4:11; 1Jn 1:2; 2:28 then you also will appear with him in glory.#Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 2Pt 3:18
5Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,#1Th 4:3,7 lust,#Rm 1:26; 1Th 4:5 evil desire, and greed,#Eph 5:3 which is idolatry.#1Co 10:14; Gl 5:20; 1Pt 4:3 6Because of these, God’s wrath#Jms 1:19; Rv 6:16 is coming upon the disobedient,#3:6 Other mss omit upon the disobedient 7and you once walked in these things when you were living#Lk 15:13; Rm 6:2 in them. 8But now, put away#Rm 13:12 all the following: anger,#Jms 1:19 wrath,#Rv 14:19 malice,#1Co 14:20 slander,#Jn 10:33; Rv 13:6 and filthy language from your mouth.#Eph 4:22–31 9Do not lie#Lv 19:11; 1Tm 2:7 to one another, since you have put off#Col 2:15 the old self#Eph 4:22 with its practices 10and have put on#Pr 31:25 the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your#3:10 Lit his Creator.#Mk 13:19; Jn 1:3; Rv 3:14 11In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.#Eph 1:23
The Christian Life
12Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,#Jn 3:16; 2Th 2:13; Rv 12:11 put on compassion, kindness,#2Co 6:6 humility,#Ac 20:19; Eph 4:2; Php 2:3; Col 2:18,23; 1Pt 5:5 gentleness,#Jms 3:13 and patience,#2Tm 3:10 13bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.#2Co 2:7,10; 12:13; Eph 4:32 14Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called#Jn 14:27; 1Co 7:15; Php 4:7 in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,#3:16 Or and songs prompted by the Spirit singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name#Jn 14:13; Php 2:10 of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Christ in Your Home
18Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.#Eph 5:22–6:9 19Husbands,#1Pt 3:1 love your wives#Eph 5:25; 1Pt 3:1 and don’t be bitter#Rv 8:11; 10:9–10 toward them. 20Children,#Gn 3:16; Lv 10:14; Dt 31:12; Ps 37:25; Pr 20:7; Lk 1:7; Ac 2:39; Heb 2:13 obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers,#Ps 103:13; Eph 6:4; Heb 11:23 do not exasperate#2Co 9:2 your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. 22Slaves, obey your human#Rm 1:3; 4:1; 8:4–5,12–13; 9:3,5; 1Co 1:26; 10:18; 2Co 1:17; 5:16; 10:2–3; 11:18; Gl 4:23,29; Eph 6:5 masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.#Pr 1:7; Rv 14:7 23Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,#Eph 6:7 24knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoer#Rv 2:11 will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.
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