Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your3:4 Some manuscripts our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Instructions for Christian Households
18Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers,3:21 Or Parents do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Novi život u Kristu
1Uskrsnuli ste s Kristom. Zato težite za nebeskim, gdje Krist sjedi na počasnome mjestu, Bogu zdesna. 2Razmišljajte o onome što u nebu; ne provodite vrijeme baveći se zemaljskim stvarima. 3Jer umrli ste s Kristom i vaš je pravi život skriven s Kristom u Bogu. 4A kada se Krist, koji je naš pravi život, objavi cijelome svijetu, tada će i vi imati udjela u njegovoj slavi.
5Usmrtite dakle ono zemaljsko u svojemu tijelu: blud, nečistoću, strasti, zlu požudu i pohlepu. Ne budite pohlepni za stvarima ovoga svijeta jer je to idolopoklonstvo 6zbog kojega će na ljude pasti Božji gnjev. 7I vi ste nekoć tako živjeli. 8Ali sada od sebe odbacite gnjev, srdžbu, opakost, hulu i prostotu! 9Ne lažite jedni drugima jer ste sa sebe svukli staru zlu narav i njezina zla djela. 10Obukli ste na sebe posve novoga čovjeka, koji se obnavlja spoznajući svojega Stvoritelja. 11Nema više ovdje ni Grka ni Židova, ni obrezana ni neobrezana, ni barbara ni skita, ni roba ni slobodna čovjeka; tu je samo Krist—koji je sve i u svima.
12Vi ste sveti i ljubljeni Božji izabranici. Obucite se stoga u milosrdno srce, dobrostivost, poniznost i strpljivost. 13Podnosite nedostatke drugih i praštajte onima kojima imate što zamjeriti. Kao što je Gospodin vama oprostio, tako i vi opraštajte drugima. 14A najvažnije je: obucite se u ljubav! Ona nas veže u savršeni sklad.
15Neka vašim srcima upravlja Kristov mir. Udovi ste istoga tijela i zato ste pozvani živjeti u miru. Budite zahvalni! 16Neka Kristova riječ u svem svojem bogatstvu prebiva u vama. Poučavajte se i opominjite međusobno sa svom mudrošću. U srcu pjevajte Bogu psalme, hvalospjeve i duhovne pjesme sa zahvalnošću. 17I ma što činili, riječju ili djelom, činite u ime Gospodina Isusa, zahvaljujući po njemu Bogu Ocu.
Upute kršćanskim obiteljima
18Žene, pokoravajte se svojim muževima kao što dolikuje u Gospodinu.
19Muževi, volite svoje žene i ne budite osorni prema njima.
20Djeco, slušajte u svemu roditelje jer je to ugodno Gospodinu.
21Očevi, ne ogorčujte svoju djecu da ne postanu malodušna.
22Robovi, budite poslušni svojim zemaljskim gospodarima u svemu. Ne trudite se da im ugodite samo dok vas vide, već uvijek tako činite, iskrena srca, u strahu Gospodnjem. 23Što god činili, činite od srca, kao Gospodinu, a ne ljudima. 24Znajte da ćete od Gospodina kao nagradu dobiti baštinu. Služite Gospodinu Kristu. 25Tko čini nepravdu, dobit će i plaću nepravednika. U Bogu nema pristranosti!
