Colossians 3-4

Colossians 3

¹If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things which are above, where the Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God:

²have your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth;

³for ye have died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God.

⁴When the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall *ye* also be manifested with him in glory.

⁵Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, vile passions, evil lust, and unbridled desire, which is idolatry.

⁶On account of which things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

⁷In which *ye* also once walked when ye lived in these things.

⁸But now, put off, *ye* also, all these things, wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, vile language out of your mouth.

⁹Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds,

¹⁰and having put on the new, renewed into full knowledge according to the image of him that has created him;

¹¹wherein there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is everything, and in all.

¹²Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

¹³forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any should have a complaint against any; even as the Christ has forgiven you, so also do *ye*.

¹⁴And to all these add love, which is the bond of perfectness.

¹⁵And let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts, to which also ye have been called in one body, and be thankful.

¹⁶Let the word of the Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.

¹⁷And everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.

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

¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.

²¹Fathers, do not vex your children, to the end that they be not disheartened.

²²Bondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

²³Whatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as doing it to the Lord, and not to men;

²⁴knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance; ye serve the Lord Christ.

²⁵For he that does a wrong shall receive the wrong he has done, and there is no respect of persons.

Colossians 4

¹Masters, give to bondmen what is just and fair, knowing that *ye* also have a Master in the heavens.

²Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving;

³praying at the same time for us also, that God may open to us a door of the word to speak the mystery of Christ, on account of which also I am bound,

⁴to the end that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.

⁵Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming opportunities.

⁶Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt, so as to know how ye ought to answer each one.

⁷Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-bondman in the Lord, will make known to you all that concerns me;

⁸whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that he might know your state, and that he might encourage your hearts:

⁹with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known to you everything here.

¹⁰Aristarchus my fellow-captive salutes you, and Mark, Barnabas's cousin, concerning whom ye have received orders, (if he come to you, receive him,)

¹¹and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are the only fellow-workers for the kingdom of God who have been a consolation to me.

¹²Epaphras, who is one of you, the bondman of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always combating earnestly for you in prayers, to the end that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

¹³For I bear him witness that he labours much for you, and them in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

¹⁴Luke, the beloved physician, salutes you, and Demas.

¹⁵Salute the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly which is in his house.

¹⁶And when the letter has been read among you, cause that it be read also in the assembly of Laodiceans, and that *ye* also read that from Laodicea.

¹⁷And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, to the end that thou fulfil it.

¹⁸The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.