Colossians Chapter 3
Showing all 25 verses for Colossians Chapter 3.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. "
"Paul says that since they've been raised with Christ, they should set their sights on the things above, where Christ sits at God's right hand."
When daily pressures narrow your focus down to what's right in front of you, pull your view back up to what actually matters most. A wider perspective changes how the small stuff looks.
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. "
"Paul tells them to focus their thoughts and desires on things above, not on earthly things."
What you keep dwelling on shapes who you become - so choose deliberately what gets your attention and longing, rather than letting whatever's loudest or nearest claim it by default.
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. "
"Paul says that, in a sense, they have died, and their true life is now hidden together with Christ in God."
Your real worth doesn't depend on being visible or recognised right now - it can be genuinely secure even while hidden from view. Don't measure your value only by what's currently on display.
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. "
"Paul says that when Christ, who is their true life, appears again, they too will appear together with him in glory."
What feels overlooked or unrecognised now isn't the final word - there's a future where what's true about you becomes fully visible. Hold on to that patiently rather than demanding recognition now.
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: "
"Paul tells them to actively put to death whatever in them is oriented towards earthly, harmful desires: sexual immorality, impurity, uncontrolled passion, evil desire, and greed, which he calls a form of idolatry."
Some habits need to be actively ended, not just gently managed - be honest and decisive about what's genuinely harming you, especially the quiet greed that convinces you that more is always the answer. That craving is worth naming honestly.
"For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: "
"Paul warns that because of these things, God's judgement comes upon those who are disobedient."
What you do has real weight and consequence - not to frighten you into compliance, but because genuine choices genuinely matter. Take that seriously without living in anxious dread.
"In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. "
"Paul reminds them that this is how they used to live, back when they were caught up in those same patterns."
Whatever you used to be caught up in doesn't have to define who you are now - a genuinely different way of living is possible, and your past doesn't disqualify you from it.
"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. "
"Paul now tells them to get rid of all of these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and abusive language from their mouths."
You can put down anger, spite, and cutting words the same way you'd put down something you're holding - deliberately, on purpose. They're not permanent parts of your character; they're things you can choose to release.
"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; "
"Paul tells them not to lie to one another, since they have taken off the old self along with its old ways of behaving."
Lying to each other corrodes exactly the kind of trust real relationships need - and since you've already set that old pattern aside, there's no need to pick it back up. Choose honesty as your default, not your exception.
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: "
"Paul says they have instead put on the new self, which is being continually renewed in knowledge, formed after the image of the one who created it."
You're not just trying to erase old habits - you're being actively remade into something with real, growing understanding, shaped after the very source that made you in the first place. That's a process worth staying patient with.
"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. "
"Paul says that in this new life, there's no longer any distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free - Christ is everything, and is in everyone."
I don't rank people by nationality, class, background, or status - none of the labels the world uses to sort people into better and lesser mean anything to me. Let that shape how completely you refuse to look down on anyone.
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; "
"Paul tells them, as people chosen by God, holy and dearly loved, to clothe themselves with genuine compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
These qualities aren't things you either naturally have or don't - you can choose to put them on each day like clothing, deliberately. And you do it not to earn love but because you're already loved; let that security be the source, not the goal.
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. "
"Paul tells them to bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving just as Christ forgave them."
Forgive the way you've been forgiven - fully, not grudgingly, not keeping score of how much the other person deserves it. Holding a grudge costs you more than it costs them; let it go the way I let go of what was against you.
"And above all these things put on which is the bond of perfectness. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"Paul says that above all these things, they should put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity."
Of everything I ask of you, love is what actually holds the rest together - kindness without love is empty, patience without love is just endurance. Make love the thread that ties every other effort together.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. "
"Paul tells them to let the peace of God govern their hearts, since as one body, they were called to that peace, and to be thankful."
When you're torn about a decision or an inner conflict, let peace be the tiebreaker - not fear, not pride, not the loudest voice in your head. And remember that peace, done right, isn't just private; it belongs to the whole community you're part of.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. "
"Paul tells them to let the message of Christ live richly within them, teaching and encouraging one another with all wisdom, through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with genuine gratitude in their hearts to God."
Let what matters most actually take up real space in you, not just a token corner, and don't try to grow entirely alone. Teach each other, encourage each other, and let shared creativity - music, honest conversation - carry as much weight as formal instruction.
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. "
"Paul says that whatever they do, in word or action, they should do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
There's no part of your life too small or too ordinary to matter - every word and action can carry real meaning and gratitude if you let it, rather than dividing your life into important and unimportant categories.
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. "
"Paul tells wives to submit to their own husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord."
Whatever your role in a relationship, hold it in a way shaped by love and respect, not domination - and note that in the very next line I ask husbands for love, not obedience. Read these instructions as a pair, never one without the other.
"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. "
"Paul tells husbands to love their wives and not be harsh or bitter towards them."
If you're in a position of authority or influence over someone close to you, use it to love them well, not to harden against them - bitterness quietly poisons a relationship long before it's ever spoken aloud, so watch for it early.
"Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. "
"Paul tells children to obey their parents in everything, because this pleases the Lord."
Respecting those who care for you is a good and pleasing thing - not because obedience earns love, but because it reflects the same trust and respect that should flow both ways in any healthy relationship.
"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. "
"Paul tells fathers not to provoke their children to anger or resentment, so they don't become discouraged."
If you have authority over someone younger or more vulnerable than you, watch carefully that you're not crushing their spirit through harshness or constant criticism - encouragement builds a person up; provocation tears them down, often for a long time.
"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: "
"Paul tells servants to obey their earthly masters in everything, not just when being watched, trying to impress people, but with sincere hearts, out of reverence for God."
Do what's right whether or not anyone's watching - that consistency, doing the same whether you're seen or unseen, is what real integrity looks like. Let your motivation come from something deeper than the fear of being caught out.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; "
"Paul tells them that whatever work they do, they should do it wholeheartedly, as if working for the Lord rather than for other people."
Whatever you're doing today, even something small or unnoticed, put your whole self into it - not to impress anyone, but because it genuinely matters when done with real heart. That kind of wholehearted effort dignifies even the most ordinary task.
"Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. "
"Paul reminds them that they will receive their reward, an inheritance, from the Lord, because it is actually Christ they are serving."
Your real reward was never dependent on whether the people around you notice or reward your effort fairly - it's secured somewhere far more certain. Let that free you from working purely for other people's approval.
"But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. "
"Paul warns that whoever does wrong will be repaid for the wrong they've done, and that there is no favouritism."
No one gets a free pass because of their status, wealth, or power - real accountability applies equally to everyone, and that's actually good news if you've ever been treated unfairly by someone more powerful than you.