Outline
. The Old Self and the New Self (3:1-17)
B. Further Instructions (4:2-6)
Final Greetings and Benediction (4:7-18)
Colossians 3 NLT
1 Since you have been raised to new
life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits
in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
2 Think about the things of heaven, not
the things of earth.
3 For you died to this life, and your
real life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 And when Christ, who is your life, is
revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly
things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity,
lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater,
worshiping the things of this world.
6 Because of these sins, the anger of
God is coming.
7 You used to do these things when your
life was still part of this world.
8 But now is the time to get rid of
anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have
stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
10 Put on your new nature, and be
renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter
if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric,
uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of
us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy
people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Make allowance for each other’s
faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so
you must forgive others.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with
love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from
Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live
in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all
its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom
he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as
a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the
Father.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is
fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat
them harshly.
20 Children, always obey your parents,
for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or
they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in
everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are
watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the
Lord.
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as
though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
24 Remember that the Lord will give you
an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is
Christ.
25 But if you do what
is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no
favorites.
Colossians 4 NLT
1 Masters, be just and fair to your
slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an
alert mind and a thankful heart.
3 Pray for us, too, that God will give
us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ.
That is why I am here in chains.
4 Pray that I will proclaim this
message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not
believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
6 Let your conversation be gracious and
attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
7 Tychicus will give you a full report
about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who
serves with me in the Lord’s work.
8 I have sent him to you for this very
purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
9 I am also sending Onesimus, a
faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell
you everything that’s happening here.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with
me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were
instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way.
11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also
sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers;
they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they
have been!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own
fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always
prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully
confident that you are following the whole will of God.
13 I can assure you that he prays hard
for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his
greetings, and so does Demas.
15 Please give my greetings to our
brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in
her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass
it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read
the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to
carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
18 HERE IS MY GREETING
IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL . Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you.
