The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
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You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God.
2 Keep your mind on the higher things, not on the things of earth.
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Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth.
3 For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God.
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For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 At the coming of Christ who is our life, you will be seen with him in glory.
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Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!
5 Then put to death your bodies which are of the earth; wrong use of the flesh, unclean things, passion, evil desires and envy, which is the worship of strange gods;
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You must put to death, then, the earthly desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry).
6 Because of which the wrath of God comes on those who go against his orders;
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Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.
7 Among whom you were living in the past, when you did such things.
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At one time you yourselves used to live according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.
8 But now it is right for you to put away all these things; wrath, passion, bad feeling, curses, unclean talk;
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But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips.
9 Do not make false statements to one another; because you have put away the old man with all his doings,
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Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits
10 And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his maker;
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and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.
11 Where there is no Greek or Jew, no one with circumcision or without circumcision, no division between nations, no servant or free man: but Christ is all and in all.
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As a result, there is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians, savages, slaves, and free, but Christ is all, Christ is in all.
12 As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;
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You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you:
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Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.
14 And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together.
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And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.
15 And let the peace of Christ be ruling in your hearts, as it was the purpose of God for you to be one body; and give praise to God at all times.
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The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.
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Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do, in word or in act, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving praise to God the Father through him.
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Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.
18 Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord.
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Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians.
19 Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them.
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Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, do the orders of your fathers and mothers in all things, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
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Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, for that is what pleases God.
21 Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken.
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Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Servants, in all things do the orders of your natural masters; not only when their eyes are on you, as pleasers of men, but with all your heart, fearing the Lord:
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Slaves, obey your human masters in all things, not only when they are watching you because you want to gain their approval; but do it with a sincere heart because of your reverence for the Lord.
23 Whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men;
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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.
24 Being certain that the Lord will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the Lord Christ.
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Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.
25 For the wrongdoer will have punishment for the wrong he has done, without respect for any man's position.
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And all wrongdoers will be repaid for the wrong things they do, because God judges everyone by the same standard.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.