The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(Ephesians 4:17–32)

Therefore, if you have risen together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.

For you have died, and so your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Therefore, mortify your body, while it is upon the earth. For because of fornication, impurity, lust, evil desires, and avarice, which are a kind of service to idols,

the wrath of God has overwhelmed the sons of unbelief.

You, too, walked in these things, in times past, when you were living among them.

But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth.

Do not lie to one another. Strip yourselves of the old man, with his deeds,

and clothe yourself with the new man, who has been renewed by knowledge, in accord with the image of the One who created him,

where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, servant nor free. Instead, Christ is everything, in everyone.

Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience.

Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do.

And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of Christ lift up your hearts. For in this peace, you have been called, as one body. And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ live in you in abundance, with all wisdom, teaching and correcting one another, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing to God with the grace in your hearts.

Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Christian Households

(Ephesians 6:1–4)

Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.

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

Fathers, do not provoke your children to indignation, lest they lose heart.

Serving with Honor

(Ephesians 6:5–9; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)

Servants, obey, in all things, your lords according to the flesh, not serving only when seen, as if to please men, but serving in simplicity of heart, fearing God.

Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.

For you know that you will receive from the Lord the repayment of an inheritance. Serve Christ the Lord.

For whoever causes injury shall be repaid for what he has wrongfully done. And there no favoritism with God.

(Ephesians 4:17–32)

If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,

but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

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.

Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

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.

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)

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

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

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

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)

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.

And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

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