Children and Parents (Colossians 3:18–21)
1 UST As for you who are children, obey your parents as a way of serving the Lord Jesus because it is right for you to do that. BSB BSB: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 UST 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 UST “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 UST As for you who are fathers, do not treat your children in a way that makes them 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 UST As for you who are slaves, very respectfully and sincerely obey those who are your masters here on the earth, just as you obey the Messiah. BSB BSB: Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 UST Obey them not only when they are watching you, as people do who only care about appearing to work hard. Instead, work as though you were slaves of the Messiah, doing 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 UST Serve your masters willingly, as though you are serving the Lord Jesus rather than people. BSB BSB: Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,
8 UST Do this because you know that the Lord Jesus will reward each person for whatever good deeds that person has done. It makes no difference whether that person was a slave or a free person. 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 UST Finally, rely completely on the Lord Jesus to strengthen you spiritually because he is immeasurably strong. BSB BSB: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
11 UST Just as a soldier puts on all of his armor to be ready to fight his enemy, you should use every spiritual resource that God provides for you so that you may 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 UST Remember that we are not fighting against other human beings. Instead, we are fighting against the demons who have authority to rule over the people doing evil things in this evil time, that is, against the evil spirits who live in the air. 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 UST That is why you must use well all of the spiritual resources that God has given you, like a soldier who puts on all of his armor. If you do that, you will be able to resist the evil spirits when they attack you. You will also be ready for when they attack you again and able to continue to live well 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 UST You must be ready to resist the devil and his evil spirits just as soldiers must always be ready to resist the enemy. To do that, keep thinking about the true things that God has shown you. Also, continue to act righteously. This will protect you like a soldier’ s armor protects his chest. BSB BSB: Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
15 UST Just like a soldier who keeps his boots on, be ready to go anywhere you are needed for the sake of the good news that tells people how to be at peace with God. BSB BSB: and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
16 UST Just as a soldier holds up a shield to stop the flaming arrows that his enemy shoots at him, you must keep trusting firmly in the Lord at all times. That will protect you from all of the things that your enemy, Satan, the evil one, will try to do to harm you spiritually. 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 UST Also, as a soldier relies on a helmet to protect his head, rely on the fact that God has saved you. And just as a soldier uses a sword to defeat his enemies, use the weapon that God’ s Spirit gives you, which is the message that comes from God. BSB BSB: And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 UST Whenever you pray to God and request things from him, always let God’ s Spirit direct you in how you pray and what you pray for. To be most effective, keep watching to see what God is doing, and be persistent as you continue to pray for all of God’ s 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 UST Pray for me, also, that God would tell me what I should say whenever I speak, in order that I may boldly tell others the good news about the Messiah that people did not know before. 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 UST It is because I have been telling people about the Messiah that I am now representing him here in prison. Pray that as I continue to tell others about the Messiah, I may speak boldly 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 UST Now in order that you may know about what is happening with me and what I am doing, Tychicus 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 UST That is the reason that I am sending him to you with this letter; I want you to know how we are, and 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 UST I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah may give to all of you fellow believers a peaceful spirit and enable you to love each other and to continue to trust in God. BSB BSB: Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 UST I pray that God will continue to act graciously among all people who steadfastly love our Lord Jesus the Messiah. 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.