1 I f therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things above, where the Christ is, sitting at right hand of God:

If then you have been raised with Christ, keep looking for the good things of heaven. This is where Christ is seated on the right side of God.

2 h ave your mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth;

Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth.

3 f or ye have died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God.

You are dead to the things of this world. Your new life is now hidden in God through Christ.

4 W hen the Christ is manifested who our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory.

Christ is our life. When He comes again, you will also be with Him to share His shining-greatness. The Old Person Put Aside

5 P ut to death therefore your members which upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, vile passions, evil lust, and unbridled desire, which is idolatry.

Destroy the desires to sin that are in you. These desires are: sex sins, anything that is not clean, a desire for sex sins, and wanting something someone else has. This is worshiping a god.

6 O n account of which things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

It is because of these sins that the anger of God comes down on those who do not obey Him.

7 I n which ye also once walked when ye lived in these things.

You used to do these sins when you lived that kind of life.

8 B ut now, put off, ye also, all things, wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, vile language out of your mouth.

Put out of your life these things also: anger, bad temper, bad feelings toward others, talk that hurts people, speaking against God, and dirty talk.

9 D o not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds,

Do not lie to each other. You have put out of your life your old ways.

10 a nd having put on the new, renewed into full knowledge according to image of him that has created him;

You have now become a new person and are always learning more about Christ. You are being made more like Christ. He is the One Who made you.

11 w herein there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ everything, and in all.

There is no difference in men in this new life. Greeks and Jews are the same. The man who has gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew and the one who has not are the same. There is no difference between nations. Men who are servants and those who are free are the same. Christ is everything. He is in all of us.

12 P ut on therefore, as elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

God has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him. Because of this, your new life should be full of loving-pity. You should be kind to others and have no pride. Be gentle and be willing to wait for others.

13 f orbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any should have a complaint against any; even as the Christ has forgiven you, so also ye.

Try to understand other people. Forgive each other. If you have something against someone, forgive him. That is the way the Lord forgave you.

14 A nd to all these love, which is the bond of perfectness.

And to all these things, you must add love. Love holds everything and everybody together and makes all these good things perfect.

15 A nd let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts, to which also ye have been called in one body, and be thankful.

Let the peace of Christ have power over your hearts. You were chosen as a part of His body. Always be thankful.

16 L et the word of the Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.

Let the teaching of Christ and His words keep on living in you. These make your lives rich and full of wisdom. Keep on teaching and helping each other. Sing the Songs of David and the church songs and the songs of heaven with hearts full of thanks to God.

17 A nd everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, all things in name of Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.

Whatever you say or do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus. How Families Should Live

18 W ives, be subject to husbands, as is fitting in Lord.

Wives, obey your husbands. This is what the Lord wants you to do.

19 H usbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Husbands, love your wives. Do not hold hard feelings against them.

20 C hildren, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in Lord.

Children, obey your parents in everything. The Lord is pleased when you do.

21 F athers, do not vex your children, to the end that they be not disheartened.

Fathers, do not be so hard on your children that they will give up trying to do what is right.

22 B ondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

You who are servants who are owned by someone, obey your owners. Work hard for them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Work for them as you would for the Lord because you honor God.

23 W hatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.

24 k nowing that of Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance; ye serve the Lord Christ.

Remember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Christ.

25 F or he that does a wrong shall receive the wrong he has done, and there is no respect of persons.

If anyone does wrong, he will suffer for it. God does not respect one person more than another.