1 I f, then, ye were raised with the Christ, the things above seek ye, where the Christ is, on the right hand of God seated,

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 t he things above mind ye, not the things upon the earth,

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

3 f or ye did die, and your life hath been 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 -- our life -- may be manifested, then also we with him shall be manifested 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, then, your members that upon the earth -- whoredom, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and the 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 b ecause of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the 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 also ye -- ye did walk once, when ye lived in them;

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

8 b ut now put off, even ye, the whole -- anger, wrath, malice, evil-speaking, filthy talking -- 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, having put off the old man with his practices,

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

10 a nd having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create 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 not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, servant, freeman -- but the all and in all -- Christ.

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 choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,

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 each other, if any one with any one may have a quarrel, as also the Christ did forgive 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 above all these things, love, which is a bond of the 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, to which also ye were called in one body, and become 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 Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to 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 all, whatever ye may do in word or in work, all things in the name of the Lord Jesus -- giving thanks to the God and Father, through 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 T he wives! be subject to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord;

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

19 t he husbands! love your wives, and be not bitter with them;

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

20 t he children! obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord;

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

21 t he fathers! vex not your children, lest they be discouraged.

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

22 T he servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, 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 all, whatever ye may do -- out of soul work -- 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 h aving known that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance -- for the Lord Christ ye serve;

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 a nd he who is doing unrighteously shall receive what he did unrighteously, and there is no acceptance of persons.

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