1 ¶ If ye then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where the Christ sits at the 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 S et your sight on things above, not on things on the earth.

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

3 F or ye are dead 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 Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, 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 ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil lust, and covetousness, 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 f or which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on 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 walked some time, when ye lived in them.

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

8 ¶ But now put ye also off all these things: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication 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 L ie not one to another, putting 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 being clothed with the new man, who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one that 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 here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, slave nor free: but Christ is all 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 ¶ Clothed, therefore, (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) with bowels of mercies, with kindness, with humility, with meekness, with tolerance,

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 anyone has a quarrel against another: even as Christ forgave you, so also do 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 above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.

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 God rule in your hearts, into which likewise ye are called into one body, and be ye 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 in abundance in all wisdom, teaching you and exhorting you one to another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with grace singing in your hearts unto the Lord.

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 whatever ye do whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the God and 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 ¶ Wives, be subject to your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord.

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

19 H usbands, love your wives and do not be 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 unto the Lord.

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

21 F athers, provoke not your children lest they become disheartened.

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

22 S laves, in all things hearken unto your masters according to the flesh, not serving to be seen as those who only please men, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

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 A nd whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto 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 the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for 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 B ut he that does wrong shall receive the wrong which he has done, now that there is no respect of persons.

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