God's New Bible

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians

Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 3 -

(Ephesians 4:17–32)
1
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4
When Christ, who is your (a) life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
6
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.(b)
7
When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
8
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14
And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christian Households

(Ephesians 6:1–4)
18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
21
Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

Serving with Honor

(Ephesians 6:5–9; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)
22
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
23
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
24
because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
25
Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Footnotes

(a)3:4 NE, WH, BYZ, and TR our
(b)3:6 NE, WH, and Tischendorf do not include on the sons of disobedience.
(Ephesians 4:17–32)
1
If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2
Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4
When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5
Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6
For these thingssake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7
You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,
8
but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9
Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10
and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11
where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
12
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
16
Let 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.
17
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Christian Households

(Ephesians 6:1–4)
18
Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19
Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21
Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

Serving with Honor

(Ephesians 6:5–9; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)
22
Servants, 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.
23
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
24
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25
But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.