Colossians 3–4

Not Carnality But Christ

3If then you were ^araised with Christ, seek those things which are above, ^bwhere Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on things above, not on things on the ^cearth. ^3dFor you died, ^eand your life is hidden with Christ in God. ^4fWhen Christ who is ^gour life appears, then you also will appear with Him in ^hglory.

⁵ⁱTherefore put to death ^jyour members which are on the earth: ^kfornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^lwhich is idolatry. ^6mBecause of these things the wrath of God is coming upon ⁿthe sons of disobedience, ^7oin which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

^8pBut now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰and have put on the new man who ^qis renewed in knowledge ^raccording to the image of Him who ^screated him, ¹¹where there is neither ^tGreek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, ^ubut Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

¹²Therefore, ^vas the elect of God, holy and beloved, ^wput on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ^13xbearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ^14yBut above all these things ^zput on love, which is the ^abond of perfection. ¹⁵And let ^bthe peace of God rule in your hearts, ^cto which also you were called ^din one body; and ^ebe thankful. ¹⁶Let 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. ¹⁷And ^gwhatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home

^18hWives, submit to your own husbands, ⁱas is fitting in the Lord.

^19jHusbands, love your wives and do not be ^kbitter toward them.

^20lChildren, obey your parents ^min all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

²¹ⁿFathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

^22oBondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ^23pAnd whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ^24qknowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; ^rfor ¹you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and ^sthere is no partiality.

4Masters, ^agive your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

^2bContinue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it ^cwith thanksgiving; ^3dmeanwhile 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, ⁴that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

^5hWalk in ⁱwisdom toward those who are outside, ^jredeeming the time. ⁶Let your speech always be ^kwith grace, ^lseasoned with salt, ^mthat you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings

⁷ⁿTychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ^8oI am sending him to you for this very purpose, that ²he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹with ^pOnesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

^10qAristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with ^rMark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹and 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.

^12sEpaphras, 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. ¹³For I bear him witness that he has a great ⁴zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ^14vLuke the beloved physician and ^wDemas greet you. ¹⁵Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and ⁵Nymphas and ^xthe church that is in ⁶his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

¹⁶Now 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. ¹⁷And say to ^zArchippus, “Take heed to ^athe ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

^18bThis salutation by my own hand—Paul. ^cRemember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.