Colossians 3:1–25

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.