verses chock full of stuff

There's just SO MUCH in these few verses - read them slowly, think about them, & consider what our lives would be like if we tried to live more like this.
Btw, this is using the translation by J. B.Phillips, one that you may not be familiar with. Youmight want to check his translation on New Testament references. I use BibleGateway.com to check different translations of the same passage.


Colossians 3
^12-14 As, therefore, God’s picked representatives of the new humanity, purified and beloved of God himself,

          be merciful in action,

          kindly in heart,

          humble in mind.

  Accept life,

   and be most patient and tolerant with one another,

   always ready to forgive if you have a difference with anyone.

Forgive as freely as the Lord has forgiven you.


And, above everything else, be truly loving, for love is the golden chain of all the virtues.



¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

        remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony,

and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you.


^16-17 Let Christ’s teaching live in your hearts,

           making you rich in the true wisdom.

Teach and help one another along the right road with your psalms and hymns and Christian songs,

     singing God’s praises with joyful hearts.


And whatever you may have to do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him.