---
title: "Colossians 3 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/colossians/3/
description: "He exhorts them to put off the old man, and to put on the new. The duties of… Colossians 3 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Colossians 3

Colossians 3 is chapter 3 of 4 in the Letter to the Colossians. Here are all 25 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> He exhorts them to put off the old man, and to put on the new. The duties of wives and husbands, children and servants.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Colossians 3 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Therefore, if you have risen together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2. Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.
3. For you have died, and so your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4. When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5. Therefore, mortify your body, while it is upon the earth. For because of fornication, impurity, lust, evil desires, and avarice, which are a kind of service to idols,
6. the wrath of God has overwhelmed the sons of unbelief.
7. You, too, walked in these things, in times past, when you were living among them.
8. But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth.
9. Do not lie to one another. Strip yourselves of the old man, with his deeds,
10. and clothe yourself with the new man, who has been renewed by knowledge, in accord with the image of the One who created him,
11. where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, servant nor free. Instead, Christ is everything, in everyone.
12. Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience.
13. Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do.
14. And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.
15. And let the peace of Christ lift up your hearts. For in this peace, you have been called, as one body. And be thankful.
16. Let the word of Christ live in you in abundance, with all wisdom, teaching and correcting one another, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing to God with the grace in your hearts.
17. Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18. Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.
19. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.
20. Children, obey your parents in all things. For this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
21. Fathers, do not provoke your children to indignation, lest they lose heart.
22. Servants, obey, in all things, your lords according to the flesh, not serving only when seen, as if to please men, but serving in simplicity of heart, fearing God.
23. Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.
24. For you know that you will receive from the Lord the repayment of an inheritance. Serve Christ the Lord.
25. For whoever causes injury shall be repaid for what he has wrongfully done. And there no favoritism with God.

## Colossians 3 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Igitur, si consurrexistis cum Christo: quæ sursum sunt quærite, ubi Christus est in dextera Dei sedens:
2. quæ sursum sunt sapite, non quæ super terram.
3. Mortui enim estis, et vita vestra est abscondita cum Christo in Deo.
4. Cum Christus apparuerit, vita vestra: tunc et vos apparebitis cum ipso in gloria.
5. Mortificate ergo membra vestra, quæ sunt super terram: fornicationem, immunditiam, libidinem, concupiscentiam malam, et avaritiam, quæ est simulacrorum servitus:
6. propter quæ venit ira Dei super filios incredulitatis:
7. in quibus et vos ambulastis aliquando, cum viveretis in illis.
8. Nunc autem deponite et vos omnia: iram, indignationem, malitiam, blasphemiam, turpem sermonem de ore vestro.
9. Nolite mentiri invicem, expoliantes vos veterem hominem cum actibus suis,
10. et induentes novum eum, qui renovatur in agnitionem secundum imaginem ejus qui creavit illum:
11. ubi non est gentilis et Judæus, circumcisio et præputium, Barbarus et Scytha, servus et liber: sed omnia, et in omnibus Christus.
12. Induite vos ergo, sicut electi Dei, sancti, et dilecti, viscera misericordiæ, benignitatem, humilitatem, modestiam, patientiam:
13. supportantes invicem, et donantes vobismetipsis si quis adversus aliquem habet querelam: sicut et Dominus donavit vobis, ita et vos.
14. Super omnia autem hæc, caritatem habete, quod est vinculum perfectionis:
15. et pax Christi exsultet in cordibus vestris, in qua et vocati estis in uno corpore: et grati estote.
16. Verbum Christi habitet in vobis abundanter, in omni sapientia, docentes, et commonentes vosmetipsos, psalmis, hymnis, et canticis spiritualibus, in gratia cantantes in cordibus vestris Deo.
17. Omne, quodcumque facitis in verbo aut in opere, omnia in nomine Domini Jesu Christi, gratias agentes Deo et Patri per ipsum.
18. Mulieres, subditæ estote viris, sicut oportet, in Domino.
19. Viri, diligite uxores vestras, et nolite amari esse ad illas.
20. Filii, obedite parentibus per omnia: hoc enim placitum est in Domino.
21. Patres, nolite ad indignationem provocare filios vestros, ut non pusillo animo fiant.
22. Servi, obedite per omnia dominis carnalibus, non ad oculum servientes, quasi hominibus placentes, sed in simplicitate cordis, timentes Deum.
23. Quodcumque facitis, ex animo operamini sicut Domino, et non hominibus:
24. scientes quod a Domino accipietis retributionem hæreditatis. Domino Christo servite.
25. Qui enim injuriam facit, recipiet id quod inique gessit: et non est personarum acceptio apud Deum.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- CCC ¶ 1002: Christ's Resurrection and Ours ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 655: On the Third Day He Rose From the Dead ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1003: Christ's Resurrection and Ours ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1420: The Sacraments of Healing ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2796: "Who Art in Heaven" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2772: The Prayer of the Church ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1852: The Different Kinds of Sins ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2518: Purification of the Heart ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2809: "Hallowed be Thy Name" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 815: The Church Is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1827: The Theological Virtues ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2633: Prayer of Petition ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2641: Prayer of Praise ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 79: The Apostolic Tradition ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1156: How is the Liturgy Celebrated? ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2204: The Family in God's Plan ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2217: The Duties of Family Members ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2286: Respect for the Dignity of Persons ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## The saints

- “No one can be made happy unless he rise above himself, not by an ascent of the body, but of the heart.” — St. Bonaventure, The Journey of the Mind to God, prologue, 1259 (On this theme: verse 1)
- “Place your mind before the mirror of eternity; place your soul in the brilliance of glory; place your heart in the figure of the divine substance, and transform your whole being into the image of the Godhead itself through contemplation.” — St. Clare of Assisi, Letter to Agnes of Prague, 3, 1238 (On this theme: verse 2)
- “Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself.” — St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, III.9, 1609 (On this theme: verse 12)
- “Have charity, guard humility, and make your treasure out of voluntary poverty.” — St. Dominic, Last words to his brothers, 1221 (On this theme: verse 14)
- “He who sings prays twice.” — St. Augustine of Hippo, popular saying, source unconfirmed (Attributed: verse 16)
- “A psalm is the calm of souls, the arbiter of peace; it stills the stormy waves of thought.” — St. Basil the Great, Homily on Psalm 1, c. 370 (On this theme: verse 16)
- “To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.” — St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, ch. 9, 1897 (On this theme: verse 17)
- “I am well aware, almighty God and Father, that in my life I owe You a most particular duty. It is to make my every thought and word speak of You.” — St. Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity, I.37, c. 360 (On this theme: verse 17)
- “Pray as if everything depended on God; work as if everything depended on you.” — St. Ignatius of Loyola, popular saying, source unconfirmed (Attributed: verse 23)

## Read at Mass (US)

- Sun, Dec 27, 2026: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph — Second Reading, Colossians 3:12-21; Alleluia, Colossians 3:15a, 16a
- Sun, Mar 28, 2027: The Resurrection of the Lord — Second Reading, Colossians 3:1-4
- Sat, May 1, 2027: Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter — Alleluia, Colossians 3:1
- Mon, May 10, 2027: Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter — Alleluia, Colossians 3:1

9 more dates through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option).

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).