Since You Were Raised With Christ, Be Seeking His Things
3 If then you were raised-with Christ, be seeking the things above where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Be thinking[a] the things above, not the things upon the earth. 3 For you died, and your life has been hidden[b] with Christ in God. 4 When Christ appears— your life— then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Put To Death The Practices of The Old Person And Put On The New Person
5 Therefore, put-to-death your body-part things[c] on earth— sexual-immorality, impurity, passion[d], evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry— 6 because of which things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of [e] disobedience, 7 in which[f] things you also formerly walked when you were living in these things. 8 But now you also, lay-aside all these things— wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy-language[g] from your mouth; 9 do not be lying to one another— having stripped-off the old person with his practices, 10 and having put-on the new person being renewed to knowledge in-accordance-with the image of the One having created him, 11 where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian[h], Scythian[i], slave, free, but Christ is all things and in all persons.
Therefore, Clothe Yourself In Love, Christ’s Peace, God’s Word, And Thankfulness
12 Therefore, as chosen[j] ones of God, holy and having been loved, put-on[k] deep-feelings[l] of compassion, kindness, humblemindedness, gentleness, patience, 13 bearing-with one another, and forgiving each other— if anyone has a complaint against anyone. Just as indeed the Lord forgave you, so also you forgive. 14 And over[m] all these things put on love, which is the bond[n] of [o] perfection. 15 And let the peace of [p] Christ be arbitrating[q] in your hearts— into which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ be dwelling in[r] you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing each other with psalms[s], hymns, spiritual songs; with gratitude[t] singing with[u] your hearts to God. 17 And everything, whatever thing you may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving-thanks to God the Father through Him.
Behave In a Godly Manner In Your Family
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as[v] it is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, be loving your wives, and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, be obeying your parents in all things, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not be provoking your children, in order that they may not be discouraged[w].
Work As For The Lord, Not For People
22 Slaves, be obeying your masters according-to[x] the flesh in all things, not with eye-service[y] as people-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, be working from the soul as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the payback[z] of [aa] the inheritance. You are serving[ab] the Lord Christ! 25 For the one[ac] doing-wrong will receive-back what he did-wrong, and there is no respect-of-persons.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:2 Or, setting your mind on.
- Colossians 3:3 That is, hidden safely, like a treasure.
- Colossians 3:5 That is, the sins associated with your body, the sins mentioned next. Or, your body-parts, members, limbs. That is, the physical members of your body insofar as they serve as instruments of sin; or, the metaphorical members of your ‘old person’, the old desires.
- Colossians 3:5 Or, lustfulness.
- Colossians 3:6 That is, characterized by.
- Colossians 3:7 Or, among whom you.
- Colossians 3:8 That is, obscene-language, foul-talk. Or, abusive-language, foul-mouthed-abusiveness.
- Colossians 3:11 That is, uncivilized.
- Colossians 3:11 These were brutal, feared, savage enemies from the East who attacked Palestine 600 years earlier.
- Colossians 3:12 Or, elect, selected.
- Colossians 3:12 That is, like clothes.
- Colossians 3:12 Or, a heart.
- Colossians 3:14 Or, upon, in addition to.
- Colossians 3:14 Or, binding. Some think it binds together the virtues just mentioned; others, the people putting on these virtues, the church.
- Colossians 3:14 That is, characterized by (the perfect bond); or, belonging to (perfection’s bond); or, toward, leading to, resulting in, producing perfection.
- Colossians 3:15 That is, given by.
- Colossians 3:15 Or, judging, deciding, ruling, umpiring.
- Colossians 3:16 Or, among.
- Colossians 3:16 with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. Or, this phrase may go with the ‘singing’ that follows.
- Colossians 3:16 Or, with the giving-of-thanks.
- Colossians 3:16 Or, in (silently).
- Colossians 3:18 That is, as it should be in union with the Lord; or, to the extent proper in the Lord; or, as appropriate among those who are in the Lord.
- Colossians 3:21 Or, dispirited, despondent.
- Colossians 3:22 Or, with respect to.
- Colossians 3:22 That is, merely with an eye on the master to curry favor or avoid punishment.
- Colossians 3:24 That is, reward.
- Colossians 3:24 That is, consisting of.
- Colossians 3:24 Or, You are a slave to. Or, this may be a command, Be serving.
- Colossians 3:25 That is, whether the slave or the master.