Colossians 3

1 Therefore [as a consequence of your new life], since you have been raised [brought back to life spiritually] with Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], strive [seek, look for] for the things above [in heaven, of a spiritual nature], where Christ [the Lord, Savior] is seated [sitting, reigning] at the right hand [place of honor, authority] of God [the Almighty, Creator]. word study 2 Set your minds [think, reason, focus] on things above [in heaven, on high], not [excluding] on earthly [upon the earth] things [the temporal, worldly concerns]. word study 3 For you [have spiritually ceased to exist, died to sin] died, and your [eternal, spiritual] life is now [concealed, hidden from the world] hidden with [in close association, united to] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] in [within the presence, under the care of] God [the Supreme Deity, Creator]. word study 4 When Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], who is your [spiritual] life, appears [is revealed, manifested], then you also will appear [be manifested, be seen] with Him [together, in His presence] in [a state of, surrounded by] glory [honor, praise, divine splendor]. word study 5 Put to death [make dead, subdue], therefore [then, as a consequence], the components [members, parts] of your earthly [worldly, fleshly] nature [self, being]: sexual immorality [fornication, uncleanness], impurity [uncleanness, moral filth], lust [passion, inordinate desire], evil desires [evil concupiscence, worthless longing], and greed [covetousness, avarice], which is [essentially, in reality] idolatry [worship of false gods, idol worship]. word study 6 Because [on account of, due to] of these, the wrath [strong anger, divine judgment] of God [the one true deity] is coming [approaching, will be unleashed] on [upon, against] the sons [children, offspring] of disobedience [rebellious refusal to obey, unbelief]. word study 7 When [at a specific point in time, in the past] you [as believers, directly addressed] lived [experienced life, physically and spiritually] among [in the midst of, surrounded by] them, you also [in addition, as well] used to walk [follow a certain path, conduct your life] in [according to, in harmony with] these ways [manner of life, habits, and customs]. word study 8 But now [at this present time] you must put aside [get rid of, remove] all such things as these: anger [wrath, intense displeasure], rage [uncontrolled anger], malice [evil, wickedness], slander [blasphemy, speaking badly of others], and filthy [obscene, vile] language [communication, speech] from your lips [mouth, the source of speech]. word study 9 Do not [stop speaking the truth, refrain from falsehood] lie [deceive, speak falsely] to one another [mutually, toward each other], since you have taken off [stripped away, removed] the old [former, outdated] self [human nature, person] with its [accompanying, associated] practices [actions, deeds], word study 10 and have put on [clothed yourselves with] the new [renewed, youthful] self, which is being [continually, progressively] renewed [made new again, restored] in knowledge [deep understanding, recognition of God’s truth] in the image [likeness, representation] of its [the one who is] Creator [the one who made, brought into existence]. word study 11 Here [in this new situation, as a result of that] there is no [none, not one] Greek [Gentile, non-Jew] or Jew [person from Judah, Jewish descent], circumcised [having received the Jewish rite of cutting] or uncircumcised [not having received the Jewish rite of cutting, non-Jewish], barbarian [foreigner, non-Greek], Scythian [person from Scythia, fierce and uncivilized], slave [bondservant, one subject to another], or free [unrestricted, not a slave], but [in contrast, on the other hand] Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus as Messiah] is all [everything, supreme over all] and is in [dwelling among, present within] all [every person, all things]. word study 12 Therefore, as the elect [chosen, select] of God [the one true deity], holy [set apart, dedicated] and beloved [loved, esteemed], clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion [pity, sympathy], kindness [goodness, moral excellence], humility [lowliness], gentleness [meekness, mildness], and patience [longsuffering, endurance]. word study 13 Bear with [be patient with, tolerate] one another and forgive [pardon, show kindness to] any complaint [quarrel, grievance] you may have against someone else [one another, a brother]. Forgive [give grace, show mercy] as the Lord [Christ, the Anointed One] forgave [freely pardoned] you. word study 14 And over [above, surpassing] all these virtues [excellent qualities, moral excellence] put on [wrap around, envelop] love [agape, unconditional affection], which [as the bond of perfect unity, the tie that binds] is the bond [tie, ligament] of perfect [complete, mature] unity [oneness, harmony]. word study 15 Let the peace [harmony, prosperity, freedom from war] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] rule [have control, arbitrate] in your hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], for to this [unity, oneness] you were called [invited, summoned] as members of one body [the whole physical person, the church]. And be [become, come into being] thankful [grateful, appreciative, acknowledging God’s goodness]. word study 16 Let the word [Logos, divine message] of Christ [the Anointed One] richly [in abundance, fully] dwell within you as you teach [instruct, guide] and admonish [warn, counsel] one another with all [every kind of] wisdom [spiritual understanding], and as you sing psalms [sacred songs], hymns [songs of praise], and spiritual [non-carnal, supernatural] songs with gratitude [thankfulness, appreciation] in your hearts [inner being, soul] to God [the Lord, Creator]. word study 17 And whatever [in every circumstance, all the time] you do, in word [message, declaration] or deed [action, work], do it all [everything, every aspect] in the name [authority, character] of the Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus, giving thanks [expressing gratitude, praise] to God [Creator] the Father [Elohim, the supreme Parent] through [by means of, because of] Him. word study 18 Wives [you women, married women], submit [be in subjection, obey] to your husbands [your own men, as is fitting in a marriage], as [when, in the manner that] is fitting [proper, becoming] in [among, under the authority of] the Lord [God, Master]. word study 19 Husbands [you married men], love [show esteem and goodwill towards] your wives [the women who are your partners] and do not [lest you] be harsh [bitter, embittered] with them [towards your wives]. word study 20 Children [kids, young ones], obey [listen attentively to, heed] your parents [fathers and mothers, guardians] in everything [all things, every circumstance], for [because, since] this [what you do] is pleasing [well-pleasing, acceptable] to the Lord [God, the supreme authority]. word study 21 Fathers [parents, male caregivers], do not [lest, so as not to] provoke [irritate, anger] your children [sons and daughters, offspring], so they will not [in order that they may not] become [feel, be] discouraged [disheartened, spiritless]. word study 22 Slaves [servants, bondservants], obey your earthly masters [those who are your masters according to the flesh] in everything, not only to please them [as men-pleasers] while they are watching [with eye-service], but with sincerity [singleness, openness] of heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] and fear [reverence, awe] of the Lord [God, the supreme authority]. word study 23 Whatever [all things, everything] you do, work [labor, strive] at it with your whole being [from the heart, out of soul], for the Lord [God, Master] and not for men [human beings, people], word study 24 because you know [are certain, have spiritual awareness] that you will receive [take, accept] an inheritance [a heavenly possession, a promised gift] from the Lord [the supreme Master] as your reward [recompense, payment for service]. It is the Lord Christ [the anointed Messiah] you are serving [as a slave, in obedience]. word study 25 Whoever [he that, anyone who] does wrong [to harm, act unjustly] will be repaid [receive again, punished] for his wrong [the wrong that he hath done], and there is [exists] no [absolutely none] favoritism [respect of persons, partiality]. word study