Colossians 3

Colossians 3:1-4

¹If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. ³For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

Raised with Christ, believers must seek and set their minds on things above where Christ is seated; having died, their life is hidden with Christ in God, and when He appears they will appear with Him in glory.

Colossians 3:5-11

⁵Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. ⁷You also once walked in those, when you lived in them, ⁸but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. ⁹Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, ¹⁰and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, ¹¹where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put to death earthly members—immorality and covetous idolatry—and put away anger and lies; having put off the old self and put on the new renewed after the Creator’s image, where Christ is all and in all.

Colossians 3:12-17

¹²Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; ¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. ¹⁴Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. ¹⁷Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As God’s chosen, holy, and beloved, believers put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience; forgive as Christ forgave; let love bind all; let Christ’s peace rule and His word dwell richly with thankful singing; and do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Colossians 3:18

¹⁸Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Wives are called to be subject to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord, locating marital order under Christ’s lordship.

Colossians 3:19

¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.

Husbands must love their wives and not be bitter against them, matching headship with Christlike care rather than harshness.

Colossians 3:20

²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

Children are to obey their parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

Colossians 3:21

²¹Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

Fathers must not provoke their children, lest they become discouraged, pairing authority with gentle care.

Colossians 3:22

²²Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

Servants must obey earthly masters in everything with sincerity, not as eye-pleasers, but in singleness of heart fearing God.

Colossians 3:23-24

²³And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Whatever believers do, they are to work heartily as for the Lord and not for people, knowing they will receive from the Lord the reward of the inheritance, because they serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:25

²⁵But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.

Wrongdoers will receive back for the wrong done, and there is no partiality—God’s justice applies without favoritism.

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