Seek the Things Above

¹ Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on earth.

³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

⁴ When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put Off the Old Behavior

⁵ Therefore put to death ⌞what is earthly in you⌟¹: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustful passion, evil desire, and greediness, which is idolatry,

1. Literally “the members on the earth”

⁶ because of which the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

⁷ in which also you once lived, when you used to live in them.¹

1. Or “among them” (the pronoun may refer either to people or to sins)

⁸ But now you also lay aside all these things: anger, rage, wickedness, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

⁹ Do not lie to one another, because you¹ have taken off the old man together with his deeds,

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have taken off”) which is understood as causal

¹⁰ and have put on the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him,

¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all, and in all.

Appeal for New Behavior

¹² Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,

¹³ putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you do the same.

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

¹⁵ And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

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

¹⁷ and everything ⌞whatever⌟¹ you do in word or in deed, giving thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus to God the Father through him.

1. Literally “if anything that”

Mutual Responsibilities in Christian Relationships

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

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

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your ⌞human⌟¹ masters in everything, not ⌞while being watched⌟², as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

1. Literally “according to the flesh”
2. Literally “with eye-service”

²³ Whatever you do, accomplish it from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to people,

²⁴ because you¹ know that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve² the Lord Christ.

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
2. Or “You serve”; the same Greek verb form can be understood as either imperative (“serve”) or indicative (“you serve”), so that commentators and Bible translations differ

²⁵ For the one who does wrong will receive back whatever wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.