If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that
are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set
your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on
earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in
God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is
idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these
you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must
put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk
from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have
put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new
self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its
creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all,
and in all.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
bearing 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. And above all these put on love, which binds
everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ
rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.
And be thankful. Let 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. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children,
obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become
discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your
earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but
with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work
heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the
Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are
serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for
the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
