Keep Focusing on the Messiah
3 Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah,[a] keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah[b] is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah[c] in God. 4 When the Messiah,[d] who is[e] your[f] life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.
5 So put to death your worldly impulses:[g] sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.[h] 7 You used to behave like them as you lived among them. 8 But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene speech, and all such sins. 9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old nature with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of the one who created it. 11 In him[i] there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,[j] slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah[k] is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness,[l] and patience. 13 Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord[m] has forgiven you, you also should forgive.[n] 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with[o] love, which ties everything together in unity. 15 Let the peace of the Messiah[p] also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of the Messiah[q] inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Family Duties
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is appropriate for those who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with[r] them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not make your children resentful. Otherwise, they’ll become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched in order to please them, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it[s] for the Lord and not merely for people. 24 You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Messiah[t] whom you are serving! 25 For the person who does what is wrong will be paid back for what he has done without favoritism.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:1 Or Christ
- Colossians 3:1 Or Christ
- Colossians 3:3 Or Christ
- Colossians 3:4 Or Christ
- Colossians 3:4 The Gk. lacks who is
- Colossians 3:4 Other mss. read our
- Colossians 3:5 Lit. the parts that are on the earth
- Colossians 3:6 Lit. on the sons of disobedience
- Colossians 3:11 Lit. it, 11 where
- Colossians 3:11 I.e. uncivilized person
- Colossians 3:11 Or Christ
- Colossians 3:12 Or gentleness
- Colossians 3:13 Other mss. read the Messiah
- Colossians 3:13 Lit. so you also
- Colossians 3:14 The Gk. lacks clothe yourselves with
- Colossians 3:15 Or Christ
- Colossians 3:16 Or Christ; other mss. read of God; still other mss. read of the Lord
- Colossians 3:19 Or bitter toward
- Colossians 3:23 The Gk. lacks though you were doing it
- Colossians 3:24 Or Christ