Colossians 3:18-4

English Standard Version

Rules for Christian Households

^18 (A)Wives, submit to your husbands, as ^(B)is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and ^(C)do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents ^(D)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey ^(E)in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ^23 (F)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(G)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(H)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(I)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^[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

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

^5 (O)Walk in wisdom toward ^(P)outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always ^(Q)be gracious, ^(R)seasoned with salt, ^(S)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you ^(T)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant^[c] 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 ^(U)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(V)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

^10 (W)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark ^(X)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—^(Y)if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called ^(Z)Justus. ^(AA)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and ^(AB)they have been a comfort to me. ^12 (AC)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^(AD)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^(AE)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 (AF)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does ^(AG)Demas. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers^[d] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and ^(AH)the church in her house. ¹⁶ And when ^(AI)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 ^(AJ)Archippus, “See that you fulfill ^(AK)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, ^(AL)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(AM)Remember ^(AN)my chains. ^(AO)Grace be with you.