The Life of the New Man

1So if you have been raised with the •Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.a 2Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.b 3For you have died,c and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4When the Messiah, who is yourd life, is revealed,e then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.f

5Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature:g sexual immorality, impurity,h lust,i evil desire, and greed,j which is idolatry.k 6Because of these, God’s wrathl comes on the disobedient,m 7and you once •walked in these things when you were livingn in them. 8But now you must also put awayo all the following: anger,p wrath,q malice,r slander,s and filthy language from your mouth.t 9Do not lieu to one another, since you have put offv the old selfw, x with its practices 10and have put ony the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of yourz Creator.aa 11In Christab there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,ac •slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.ad

The Christian Life

12Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved,ae put on heartfelt compassion, kindness,af humility,ag gentleness,ah and patience,ai 13accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.aj 14Above all, put on love — the perfect bond of unity. 15And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also calledak in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. 16Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the nameal of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christ in Your Home

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

19Husbands,an love your wivesao and don’t be bitterap toward them.

20Children,aq obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21Fathers,ar do not exasperateas your children, so they won’t become discouraged.

22Slaves, obey your humanat masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.au

23Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically,av as something done for the Lord and not for men,aw 24knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoerax will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.