Putting on the New Self

1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on the things above, not the things on the earth. 3For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ youra life may be revealed, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5Therefore put to death the members which are upon the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, 6because of which things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience,b 7in which you also once walked when you were living in them. 8But now you also put off all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, foul language out of your mouth.

9Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his practices, 10and having put on the new, the one being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one having created him, 11where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free; but Christ is all and in all.

12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13bearing with each other and forgiving each other. If anyone should have a complaint against another, even as also the Lord has forgiven you, so also you. 14And beyond all these, put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. And be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with grace in your hearts to God. 17And all, whatever you might 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

18Wives, submit yourselves to the husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19Husbands, love the wives and do not be harsh toward them.

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

21Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they might become discouraged.

22Slaves, obey the earthly masters in all things, not with eye-services as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

23Whatever you might do, work from the soul, as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that you will receive from the Lord the reward of the inheritance. You serve the Lord Christ! 25For the one doing wrong will be repaid for what he has done wrong; and there is no partiality.