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
Put On the New Self
1 # ch. 2:12 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek #[Phil. 3:14] the things that are above, where Christ is, #See Eph. 1:20seated at the right hand of God. 2#See Matt. 16:23Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For #ch. 2:20; See Rom. 6:2you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ #See John 11:25 who is your#3:4 Some manuscripts our life #[Phil. 3:21; 1 Pet. 1:1, 7, 13; 1 John 2:28; 3:2] appears, then you also will appear with him #1 Cor. 15:43in glory.
5 #
Rom. 8:13; [Gal. 5:24] Put to death therefore #Rom. 6:13 what is earthly in you:#3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth #See Eph. 5:3, 5 sexual immorality, impurity, #Rom. 1:26 passion, evil desire, and covetousness, #[Job 31:25, 26]which is idolatry. 6#See Eph. 5:6On account of these the wrath of God is coming.#3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience 7#See Eph. 2:2, 11In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now #See Eph. 4:22 you must put them all away: #Eph. 4:31 anger, wrath, malice, #See Eph. 4:29slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9#Lev. 19:11; See Eph. 4:25 Do not lie to one another, seeing that #ch. 2:11 you have put off #Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22the old self#3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10 with its practices 10and #Eph. 4:24 have put on #See Rom. 6:4 the new self, #See Rom. 12:2 which is being renewed in knowledge #See Rom. 8:29 after the image of #[Eph. 2:10]its creator. 11#[Rom. 10:12]; See 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 5:6 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,#3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22 free; but Christ is #Eph. 1:23all, and in all.
12 # ver. 10 Put on then, as #Rom. 8:33 God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, #Phil. 2:1 compassionate hearts, #Eph. 4:32 kindness, #See Eph. 4:2humility, meekness, and patience, 13#[See ver. 12 above] bearing with one another and, #Mark 11:25 if one has a complaint against another, #[See ver. 12 above]forgiving each other; #[See ver. 12 above]as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on #[1 Thess. 5:8]; See Eph. 5:2 love, which #Eph. 4:3 binds everything together in #Heb. 6:1; [John 17:23]perfect harmony. 15And let #See Phil. 4:7 the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called #Eph. 2:16 in one body. And #ver. 17be thankful. 16Let #John 15:3 the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, #See Eph. 5:19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, #ch. 4:6with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And #ver. 23; 1 Cor. 10:31 whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, #ch. 1:12; 4:2; See Eph. 5:20giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Rules for Christian Households
18 # For ch. 3:18–4:1, see Eph. 5:22–6:9 Wives, submit to your husbands, as #Eph. 5:4; Philem. 8is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and #Eph. 4:31do not be harsh with them. 20Children, obey your parents #[Eph. 5:24; Titus 2:9]in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22Bondservants, obey #[See ver. 20 above]in everything those who are your earthly masters,#3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23#ver. 17 Whatever you do, work heartily, #[Philem. 16]as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord #[Eph. 6:8] you will receive the inheritance as your reward. #[1 Cor. 7:22]You are serving the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
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