1 | If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. |
2 | Keep your mind on the higher things, not on the things of earth. |
3 | For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God. |
4 | At the coming of Christ who is our life, you will be seen with him in glory. |
5 | Then put to death your bodies which are of the earth; wrong use of the flesh, unclean things, passion, evil desires and envy, which is the worship of strange gods; |
6 | Because of which the wrath of God comes on those who go against his orders; |
7 | Among whom you were living in the past, when you did such things. |
8 | But now it is right for you to put away all these things; wrath, passion, bad feeling, curses, unclean talk; |
9 | Do not make false statements to one another; because you have put away the old man with all his doings, |
10 | And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his maker; |
11 | Where there is no Greek or Jew, no one with circumcision or without circumcision, no division between nations, no servant or free man: but Christ is all and in all. |
12 | As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things; |
13 | Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you: |
14 | And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together. |
15 | And let the peace of Christ be ruling in your hearts, as it was the purpose of God for you to be one body; and give praise to God at all times. |
16 | Let the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts. |
17 | And whatever you do, in word or in act, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving praise to God the Father through him. |
18 | Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord. |
19 | Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them. |
20 | Children, do the orders of your fathers and mothers in all things, for this is pleasing to the Lord. |
21 | Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken. |
22 | Servants, in all things do the orders of your natural masters; not only when their eyes are on you, as pleasers of men, but with all your heart, fearing the Lord: |
23 | Whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men; |
24 | Being certain that the Lord will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the Lord Christ. |
25 | For the wrongdoer will have punishment for the wrong he has done, without respect for any man's position. |