Colossenses 3

Raised with Christ

¹You have been raised with Christ, then. So seek what is above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. ²Fix your thoughts on what is above, not on what is on earth. ³For you died, and the life you now have lies hidden with Christ in God. ⁴Christ is your life. When he is revealed, you too will be revealed with him in glory.^a

Put to death what belongs to the earth

⁵So put to death whatever in you belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on those who disobey.^{b 7}You too once lived among such people, when your life was given over to these things. ⁸But now put all these away, every one: anger, bursts of temper, malice, slander, and foul words from your mouths. ⁹Do not lie to one another. You have stripped off the old self and its ways ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being made new, growing in knowledge, in the image of its Creator. ¹¹In this new humanity it no longer counts whether one is Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian or Scythian, slave or free. Christ is everything, and he is in all.

Clothed in love

¹²You are God’s chosen people, holy and loved by him. So put on, like clothing, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Be patient with one another’s faults, and when someone has a grievance against another, forgive. The Lord has forgiven you freely; you must do the same.^{c 14}Over all of these put on love, which binds everything together and makes it complete. ¹⁵Let the peace that Christ gives be the umpire in your hearts. You were called to this peace as members of one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ make its home among you richly, in all wisdom. Teach and warn one another with psalms, hymns and Spirit-given songs, and sing to God, thankful from the heart.^{d 17}In everything you say and everything you do, act in the name of the Lord Jesus, and through him give thanks to God the Father.

Life in the household

¹⁸Wives, submit to your husbands; this is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and never turn harsh or bitter against them.

²⁰Children, do what your parents tell you in everything, for that is what is pleasing in the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not keep provoking your children, or they will lose heart. ²²Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything. Do not work only while they are watching, to win their favor, but with an undivided heart, out of reverence for the Lord. ²³Whatever you are doing, put your whole self into the work, as for the Lord and not for people, ²⁴knowing that you will receive from the Lord the inheritance as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you serve as slaves.^{e 25}Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for that wrong, and there is no favoritism with the Lord.