Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Colossians | Page 3

to mere human injunctions and teachings? 002:023 These rules have indeed an appearance of wisdom where self-imposed worship exists, and an affectation of humility and an ascetic severity. But not one of them is of any value in combating the indulgence of our lower natures. 003:001 If however you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, enthroned at God's right hand. 003:002 Give your minds to the things that are above, not to the things that are on the earth. 003:003 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 003:004 When Christ appears--He is our true Life--then you also will appear with Him in glory. 003:005 Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations-- fornication, impurity, sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of idolatry. 003:006 It is on account of these very sins that God's anger is coming, 003:007 and you also were once addicted to them, while you were living under their power. 003:008 But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin-- angry and passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that these may never soil your lips. 003:009 Do not speak falsehoods to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its doings, 003:010 and have clothed yourselves with the new self which is being remoulded into full knowledge so as to become like Him who created it. 003:011 In that new creation there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free man, but Christ is everything and is in all of us. 003:012 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own people holy and dearly loved, with tender-heartedness, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; 003:013 bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive. 003:014 And over all these put on love, which is the perfect bond of union; 003:015 and let the peace which Christ gives settle all questionings in your hearts, to which peace indeed you were called as belonging to His one Body; and be thankful. 003:016 Let the teaching concerning Christ remain as a rich treasure in your hearts. In all wisdom teach and admonish one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and sing with grace in your hearts to God. 003:017 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and let it be through Him that you give thanks to God the Father. 003:018 Married women, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 003:019 Married men, be affectionate to your wives, and do not treat them harshly. 003:020 Children be obedient to your parents in everything; for that is right for Christians. 003:021 Fathers, do not fret and harass your children, or you may make them sullen and morose. 003:022 Slaves, be obedient in everything to your earthly masters; not in acts of eye service, as aiming only to please men, but with simplicity of purpose, because you fear the Lord. 003:023 Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men. 003:024 For you know that it is from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Christ is the Master whose bondservants you are. 003:025 The man who perpetrates a wrong will find the wrong repaid to him; and with God there are no merely earthly distinctions. 004:001 Masters, deal justly and equitably with your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in Heaven. 004:002 Be earnest and unwearied in prayer, being on the alert in it and in your giving of thanks. 004:003 And pray at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door for preaching, for us to tell the truth concerning Christ for the sake of which I am even a prisoner. 004:004 Then I shall proclaim it fully, as it is my duty to do. 004:005 Behave wisely in relation to the outside world, buying up your opportunities. 004:006 Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer. 004:007 Tychicus, our much-loved brother, a trusty assistant and fellow servant with us in the Lord's work, will give you every information about me. 004:008 And for this very purpose I send him to you that you may know how we are faring; and that he may cheer your hearts. 004:009 And with him I send our dear and trusty brother Onesimus, who is one of yourselves. They will inform you of everything