Kolosser 3
1 Seid ihr nun mit Christus auferstanden, so trachtet nach dem, was droben ist, wo Christus zur Rechten Gottes sitzt!
You now are alive [spiritually], and [it is as though you were given new life] {[God caused you to become alive]} when he caused Christ to become alive again. So be constantly wanting what is associated with heaven [MTY], where Christ is. There God has given him supreme authority and the highest honor.
2 Richtet euern Sinn auf das Himmlische, nicht auf das Irdische!
Be constantly wanting the blessings that God has prepared for you in heaven [MTY]. Do not be constantly wanting [to do the evil deeds that people on] earth do [MTY],
3 Denn ihr seid gestorben, und euer Leben ist mit Christus in Gott verborgen.
because you have [ceased to behave as you formerly did. You are like people who have] died. You now live [spiritually] together with Christ in [the presence of] God; and [people] cannot see that [you have a new life].
4 Wenn Christus, euer Leben, offenbar wird, dann werdet ihr auch zugleich mit ihm offenbar werden in Herrlichkeit.
When Christ, who causes you to live [spiritually], is publicly revealed, then God will also reveal you publicly together with Christ, [and you together with Christ will be] glorious.
5 Tötet darum die Glieder, die auf Erden sind: Unzucht, Unreinigkeit, Leidenschaft, böse Lust und die Habsucht, die nichts als Götzendienst ist!
[Get rid of your evil practices/deeds] [MET, MTY] [as though they were enemies whom] you were killing (OR, [Stop doing evil things] [MET, MTY], just as dead people do not do what is evil). Specifically, do not practice sexual immorality. Do not commit unnatural sexual acts. Do not desire to act like that, and do not desire [to do anything that is] evil. Do not desire to have more things than you need, because, if you do that, you are (worshipping material things instead of worshipping God/making material things to become your god).
6 Wegen dieser Sünden bricht Gottes Zorngericht herein über alle, die ihm ungehorsam sind.
[Do not behave like that] since God will punish [MTY] those who disobey him, because of their sins.
7 Unter diesen Leuten habt auch ihr euch einst bewegt, als ihr in solchen Lastern lebtet.
You also formerly did those things when you were disobeying God.
8 Jetzt aber sollt auch ihr dies alles ablegen, auch Zorn, Erbitterung, Bosheit, Lästerung und häßliches Gerede.
Now, however, as for you, do not do any of these evil deeds: Do not get angry in any way [DOU]. Do not act maliciously. Do not (slander/talk evil about) people. Do not talk abusively to people.
9 Belügt einander nicht! Ihr habt ja den alten Menschen samt seinen Werken ausgezogen
Do not lie to one another. Do not do those things, because you have (disposed of/stopped obeying) your former evil nature and stopped doing what you did when you had that former [evil] nature,
10 und angezogen den neuen Menschen, der nach dem Bild seines Schöpfers zu der Erkenntnis (Gottes) erneuert wird.
and because you have received a new nature. God is causing your new nature to become more and more like his own nature. He created your new nature in order that [you might get to] know [God] truly.
11 In dieser neuen Schöpfung gibt es keinen Unterschied mehr zwischen Griechen und Juden, Beschnittenen und Unbeschnittenen, Barbaren und Skythen, Sklaven und Freien. Sondern Christus gilt alles, und er wohnt in allen.
As a result of that, it is not [important whether anyone is a] non-Jew or a Jew, or [whether anyone is] circumcised or not, or [whether anyone is] a foreigner, or even uncivilized, or [whether anyone is] a slave or not a slave. But [what is important is] Christ, who is supremely important in every way.
12 Als heilige und geliebte Auserwählte Gottes kleidet euch nun mit herzlichem Erbarmen, mit Güte, Demut, Milde, Langmut!
Because God has chosen you to be his people; and because he loves you, be compassionate to one another. Be kind to one another. Be humble. Be meek (OR, be considerate toward one another), be patient with one another,
13 Habt miteinander Nachsicht und verzeiht, wenn einer dem anderen etwas vorzuwerfen hat! Wie der Herr euch verziehen hat, so tut auch ihr!
and tolerate one another’s flaws. Forgive one another, if one of you has a grudge/complaint against another. Just like the Lord [Jesus freely/willingly] forgave you, you too [must freely/willingly forgive one another].
14 Über alle diese Tugenden aber zieht an das Kleid der Liebe: sie ist das Band der Vollkommenheit!
And what is more important than all of these is that you love one another, because by doing that you will be perfectly united together.
15 Und Christi Friede walte in euern Herzen! Zu diesem Frieden seid ihr berufen; denn ihr seid ein Leib. Zeigt euch dankbar!
Because God chose you to live peacefully [with one another] in your local congregations, let that peace which Christ gives control your (inner beings/hearts), and be constantly thanking God.
16 Christi Wort wohne reichlich unter euch! In aller Weisheit belehrt und ermahnt einander! Mit Psalmen, Lobgesängen und geistlichen Liedern singt Gott voll Dankbarkeit in euern Herzen!
And continue to let the message about Christ govern/direct all you think and do, as you very wisely teach and warn one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (OR, songs that God’s Spirit [gives you]), while you sincerely and thankfully sing to God.
17 Was ihr tut in Wort und Werk, tut es alles in dem Namen des Herrn Jesus und dankt durch ihn Gott dem Vater!
Whatever you say, and whatever you do, do all of this in the manner that those who are representatives [MTY] of the Lord Jesus [should do], while you constantly thank God, our Father, as you ask the Lord Jesus to take your prayers to God.
18 Ihr Frauen, seid euern Männern untertan, wie es sich ziemt im Herrn!
You women, be subject to your husbands, since that is what you should do because you have a close relationship with the Lord [Jesus].
19 Ihr Männer, liebt eure Frauen und behandelt sie nicht hart!
You men, love your wives; and, do not be harsh with them.
20 Ihr Kinder, gehorcht euern Eltern in allen Stücken; denn das gefällt dem Herrn wohl!
You children, obey your parents in every circumstance, because the Lord [God] is pleased when you do that.
21 Ihr Väter, reizt eure Kinder nicht (durch übertriebene Strenge), damit sie nicht verschüchtert werden!
You parents (OR, you fathers), do not correct your children more than you need to, in order that they do not become discouraged.
22 Ihr Sklaven, gehorcht euern irdischen Herren in allen Stücken: nicht mit Augendienerei, um Menschen zu gefallen, sondern mit aufrichtigem Herzen als solche, die den Herrn fürchten!
You slaves, obey your earthly masters in every circumstance. Do not obey your masters only when they are watching [MTY] you, like those who [merely] want to impress their masters favorably. Instead, obey your masters sincerely. Do this because you reverence the Lord [Jesus] (OR, [God]).
23 Alles, was ihr tut, das tut mit willigem Herzen, als gälte es dem Herrn und nicht Menschen!
Whatever [work] you do, work wholeheartedly. Work wholeheartedly, like those who are working for the Lord [Jesus]. Do not work like those who are working [merely] for [their] masters,
24 Ihr wißt doch, daß ihr zum Lohn dafür das (himmlische) Erbe von dem Herrn empfangen sollt. Ihr seid ja Sklaven des Herrn Christus.
because you know that it is the Lord who will [properly/justly] repay you. That is, you will receive what God has promised. [Remember that] it is Christ who is the real master whom you are serving.
25 Wer Unrecht tut, den trifft dafür die wohlverdiente Strafe. Da gilt kein Unterschied.
But [God] will judge everyone impartially. He will punish you according to what you have done that is wrong.
