Colossians 3 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Put On the New Self

Col 3:1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Col 3:2

Col 3:2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Col 3:3

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

Col 3:4

Col 3:4When Christ who is your[fn] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Col 3:5

Col 3:5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[fn] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Col 3:6

Col 3:6On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[fn]

Col 3:7

Col 3:7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Col 3:8

Col 3:8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Col 3:9

Col 3:9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[fn] with its practices

Col 3:10

Col 3:10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Col 3:11

Col 3:11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[fn] free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Col 3:12

Col 3:12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Col 3:13

Col 3:13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Col 3:14

Col 3:14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Col 3:15

Col 3:15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Col 3:16

Col 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Col 3:17

Col 3:17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

(cf. Eph 5:21—6:9 )

Col 3:18

Col 3:18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Col 3:19

Col 3:19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Col 3:20

Col 3:20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Col 3:21

Col 3:21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Col 3:22

Col 3:22Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,[fn] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Col 3:23

Col 3:23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Col 3:24

Col 3:24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Col 3:25

Col 3:25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(3:4)

Some manuscripts our

(3:5)

Greek therefore your members that are on the earth

(3:6)

Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience

(3:9)

Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10

(3:11)

For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22

(3:22)

Or your masters according to the flesh

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.