Colossians 3–4

Chapter 3

Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.

²Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.

³For you are dead: and your life is hid with Christ in God.

⁴When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory.

⁵Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is the service of idols.

⁶For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief.

⁷In which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.

⁸But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.

⁹Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds,

¹⁰And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.

¹¹Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all.

¹²Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:

¹³Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.

¹⁴But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.

¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.

¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.

¹⁷All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

¹⁸Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord.

¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter towards them.

²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

²¹Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged.

²²Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh: not serving to the eye, as pleasing men: but in simplicity of heart, fearing God.

²³Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men:

²⁴Knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward of inheritance. Serve ye the Lord Christ.

²⁵For he that doth wrong shall receive for that which he hath done wrongfully. And there is no respect of persons with God.

Chapter 4

Masters, do to your servants that which is just and equal: knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

²Be instant in prayer: watching in it with thanksgiving.

³Praying withal for us also, that God may open unto us a door of speech to speak the mystery of Christ (for which also I am bound):

⁴That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.

⁵Walk with wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time.

⁶Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt: that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

⁷All the things that concern me, Tychicus, our dearest brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, will make known to you.

⁸What I have sent to you for this same purpose, that he may know the things that concern you and comfort your hearts:

⁹With Onesimus, a most beloved and faithful brother, who is one of you. All things that are done here, they shall make known to you.

¹⁰Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, saluteth you: and Mark, the cousin german of Barnabas, touching whom you have received commandments. If he come unto you, receive him.

¹¹And Jesus that is called Justus: who are of the circumcision. These only are my helpers, in the kingdom of God: who have been a comfort to me.

¹²Epaphras saluteth you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, who is always solicitous for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and full in all the will of God.

¹³For I bear him testimony that he hath much labour for you and for them that are at Laodicea and them at Hierapolis.

¹⁴Luke, the most dear physician, saluteth you: and Demas.

¹⁵Salute the brethren who are at Laodicea: and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

¹⁶And when this epistle shall have been read with you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that you read that which is of the Laodiceans.

¹⁷And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

¹⁸The salutation of Paul with my own hand. Be mindful of my bands. Grace be with you. Amen.