Put On the New Self

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

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

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

4When Christ, who is ²⁰our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

5Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature: fornication, impurity, lust, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6On account of these things the wrath of God is coming ²¹upon the sons of disobedience.

7You too once walked in these ways when you lived among them.

8But now you must put them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.

9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices

10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its Creator.

11Here there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free, but Christ is all and in all.

12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and beloved, put on tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

13bearing with one another and forgiving one other if any one of you has a complaint against another; just as ²²Christ forgave you, so you also must forgive.

14Above all, put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

15Let the peace of ²³God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to ²⁴the Lord with gratitude in your hearts.

17And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to ²⁵our God and Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

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

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

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

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

22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything. Do not try to please them only when they are watching you, but obey with sincerity of heart, fearing ²⁶God.

23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men,

24knowing that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward; ²⁷for you serve the Lord Christ.

25²⁸But he who does wrong will be paid back the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.