Colossians 3-4

English Standard Version

Put On the New Self

3 ^(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. ^2 (D)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For ^(E)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ ^(F)who is your^[a] life ^(G)appears, then you also will appear with him ^(H)in glory.

^5 (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. ^6 (N)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^{[c] 7 (O)}In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now ^(P)you must put them all away: ^(Q)anger, wrath, malice, ^(R)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ^9 (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.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants^[g] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

^2 (BF)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it ^(BG)with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may ^(BH)open to us a door for the word, ^(BI)to declare the mystery of Christ, ^(BJ)on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

^5 (BK)Walk in wisdom toward ^(BL)outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always ^(BM)be gracious, ^(BN)seasoned with salt, ^(BO)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you ^(BP)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant^[h] in the Lord. ⁸ I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, ⁹ and with him ^(BQ)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(BR)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

^10 (BS)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark ^(BT)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—^(BU)if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called ^(BV)Justus. ^(BW)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and ^(BX)they have been a comfort to me. ^12 (BY)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^(BZ)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^(CA)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. ^14 (CB)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does ^(CC)Demas. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers^[i] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and ^(CD)the church in her house. ¹⁶ And when ^(CE)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(CF)Archippus, “See that you fulfill ^(CG)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, ^(CH)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(CI)Remember ^(CJ)my chains. ^(CK)Grace be with you.