Colossians 3:1–4:18
3 If then you were araised with Christ, seek those things which are above, bwhere Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the cearth. 3 dFor you died, eand your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 fWhen Christ who is gour life appears, then you also will appear with Him in hglory.
5 iTherefore put to death jyour members which are on the earth: kfornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, lwhich is idolatry. 6 mBecause of these things the wrath of God is coming upon nthe sons of disobedience, 7 oin which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 pBut now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who qis renewed in knowledge raccording to the image of Him who screated him, 11 where there is neither tGreek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, ubut Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, vas the elect of God, holy and beloved, wput on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 xbearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 yBut above all these things zput on love, which is the abond of perfection. 15 And let bthe peace of God rule in your hearts, cto which also you were called din one body; and ebe thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another fin psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And gwhatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
18 hWives, submit to your own husbands, ias is fitting in the Lord.
19 jHusbands, love your wives and do not be kbitter toward them.
20 lChildren, obey your parents min all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 nFathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 oBondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 pAnd whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 qknowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; rfor 1you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and sthere is no partiality.
4 Masters, agive your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2 bContinue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it cwith thanksgiving; 3 dmeanwhile praying also for us, that God would eopen to us a door for the word, to speak fthe 1mystery of Christ, gfor which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 hWalk in iwisdom toward those who are outside, jredeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be kwith grace, lseasoned with salt, mthat you may know how you ought to answer each one.
7 nTychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 oI am sending him to you for this very purpose, that 2he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with pOnesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.
10 qAristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with rMark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.
12 sEpaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always tlaboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand uperfect and 3complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great 4zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 vLuke the beloved physician and wDemas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and 5Nymphas and xthe church that is in 6his house.
Closing Exhortations and Blessing
16 Now when ythis epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to zArchippus, “Take heed to athe ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
18 bThis salutation by my own hand—Paul. cRemember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.