Children and Parents (Colossians 3:18–21)
1 UDB You children, because you belong to the Lord Jesus, obey your parents because it is right for you to do that. BSB BSB: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 UDB God commanded in the scriptures, "Greatly respect your father and mother." That is the first law that God commanded in which he also promised something. He promised, BSB BSB: “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),
3 UDB "If you do that, you will prosper, and you will live a long time on the earth." BSB BSB: “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”
4 UDB You parents, do not treat your children so severely that they become angry. Instead, bring them up well by instructing them and by disciplining them in the manner that the Lord Jesus wants you to do. BSB BSB: Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Serving with Honor (Colossians 3:22–25; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)
5 UDB You slaves, obey those who are your masters here on the earth. Obey them very respectfully and sincerely, just like you obey Christ. BSB BSB: Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 UDB Obey them not only when they are watching you. Instead, obey them as though you were slaves of Christ, not slaves of your masters. Do enthusiastically what God wants you to do. BSB BSB: And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 UDB Happily serve your masters, as you would serve the Lord Jesus, not as you would serve ordinary people. BSB BSB: Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,
8 UDB Do this because you know that one day the Lord Jesus will reward each person for whatever good deeds that person has done. It makes no difference whether that person was slave or free. BSB BSB: because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
The Full Armor of God 10 UDB Finally, rely completely on the Lord Jesus to strengthen you spiritually by his own mighty power. BSB BSB: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
11 UDB Just like a soldier puts on all his armor, you should use every resource from God to successfully resist the devil when he cleverly schemes against you. BSB BSB: Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 UDB We are not fighting against other humans, but instead we are battling against all kinds of demonic rulers and evil spirits who live in spiritual darkness. BSB BSB: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 UDB Therefore, just as a soldier puts on all his armor, so also you must put on all of the armor of God so that you can stand against evil in this time of evil on earth. With God's armor, you can fight against attacks of evil and live for God. BSB BSB: Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
14 UDB Stand firm as a soldier is on guard. Wear truth like the soldier fastens his belt around his waist; and as he puts on a breastplate, you put on your breastplate by doing what God has commanded you to do. BSB BSB: Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
15 UDB Just as soldiers put on their boots, be ready to go anywhere you are needed for the sake of the good news. You carry the good news with you everywhere you go, and you bring peace with you everywhere. BSB BSB: and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
16 UDB As the soldier takes up a shield for protection, so you take up the shield of faith, and that shield will put out the flaming darts that the evil one will shoot at you. Your shield will protect you. BSB BSB: In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 UDB As the soldier puts on a helmet to protect his head, your helmet of protection is your salvation. The soldier has a sword, but your sword is the word of God, which is "the sword of the Spirit." BSB BSB: And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 UDB And let God's Spirit direct you in how you pray and what you pray for. Keep praying to God at all times and keep asking God to meet the needs that other people have. If you are going to be effective in your prayers, you must keep spiritually alert. Take special care to pray for all God's holy people. BSB BSB: Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
19 UDB And pray for me. Pray that God will tell me what I should say whenever I speak, in order that I may boldly tell others the good news about Christ. People did not know that message before, but God has now revealed it to me. BSB BSB: Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 UDB I am a representative of Christ because of that, here in prison. Pray that when I tell others about Christ I may speak without being afraid because that is how I ought to speak. BSB BSB: for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings (Philippians 4:21–23; 2 Timothy 4:19–22)
21 UDB In order that you may know about what is happening to me and what I am doing, I am sending Tychicus to you with this letter. He will tell you everything that is happening here. He is a fellow believer whom we all love very much, and he serves the Lord Jesus faithfully. BSB BSB: Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
22 UDB That is the reason that I am sending him to you; I want you to know how my companions and I are. I want him to comfort and encourage you. BSB BSB: I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 UDB I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ may cause all of you fellow believers to have inner peace, to love each other, and to have faith in God. BSB BSB: Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 UDB May God give his grace to all people who love our Lord Jesus Christ without ceasing. BSB BSB: Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.