Colossians 3-4

American Standard Version

3 If then ye 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 upon the earth. ³ For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is ^[a]our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

⁵ Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; ⁶ for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God ^[b]upon the sons of disobedience: ^7 [c]wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; ⁸ but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: ⁹ lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹ where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as ^[d]the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: ¹⁴ and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ ^[e]rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of ^[f]Christ dwell in you ^[g]richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing ^[h]one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. ¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

¹⁸ Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged. ^22 [i]Servants, obey in all things them that are your ^[j]masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord: ²³ whatsoever ye do, work ^[k]heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For he that doeth wrong shall ^[l]receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 4 ^1 [m]Masters, render unto your ^[n]servants that which is just and ^[o]equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

² Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; ³ withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. ⁵ Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, ^[p]redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.

⁷ All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: ⁸ whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts; ⁹ together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here.

¹⁰ Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him), ¹¹ and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me. ¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a ^[q]servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness, that he hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas salute you. ¹⁵ Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and ^[r]Nymphas, and the church that is in ^[s]their house. ¹⁶ And when ^[t]this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

¹⁸ The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.