JMNT(i)
12 Therefore, as God's chosen, set-apart and beloved ones (or: God’s sacred, loved and chosen people; or: as elect... ones from God),
clothe yourselves with (or: enter within)
bowels (internal organs; = the tender parts; seat of deep feelings)
of compassion, kindness (adaptable usefulness),
humility (the minding and disposition of things of lowness or of low station),
gentleness (meekness; mildness),
waiting long before rushing with emotions (even-temperedness; long-suffering; = putting up with people and situations for a long time),
13 being folks continuously holding up [
things or situations]
pertaining to one another (or: habitually holding yourselves up, belonging to one another; constantly putting up with one another)
and incessantly giving grace to or doing a favor for (dealing graciously with and among)
yourselves, if ever anyone may continue having (or: holding)
a complaint toward someone. Just as the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh; some MSS: Christ; Aleph* & some Vulgate MSS read: God]
also gave (or: gives)
grace to and favor for you (deals graciously in, with and among you folks),
thus also you folks [
do the same]
.
14 Now upon (= on top of)
all these things [
put on; superimpose]
the Love, which continues being (or: is)
a joining link and uniting band of perfection (a tie which binds together and pertains to the goal of maturity, being the result of fruitfulness; [the] fastening connection of the finished product; [the] bond producing perfection and destiny; a binding conjunction which brings union, which is the goal).
15 Furthermore, let the peace [=
shalom]
of the Christ (belonging to and originating in the [Messiah]; the harmony which is the Anointing [other MSS: God])
continuously umpire (act as a judge in the games)
within your hearts (= in union with the core of your being) –
into which [
peace]
you folks are called (were called; were invited),
within one body. And progressively come to be thankful people (or: continue becoming folks expressing gratitude for the goodness, ease and well-being that comes in grace; be habitually graceful folks).
16 Let Christ's Word (or: the Logos, which is the Christ; the Idea which is the Anointing; or: the message of and from the Christ [other MSS: of God; of {the} Lord])
be continuously making its home within you folks (or: progressively indwelling – centered in and in union with you)
richly, within the midst of and in union with all wisdom, habitually teaching [
it]
and placing [
it]
in the minds of yourselves by psalms, in hymns, by spiritual songs and odes, within grace and amidst favor constantly singing within your hearts to God (or: habitually singing to God [other MSS: to {the} Lord], in union with the grace resident within your hearts {= the core of your being}).
17 And everything – whatsoever you may be habitually doing, in word or in action (within a thought or message, or within a work or deed) – [
do]
everything (all; all things)
within and in union with [
the]
Name of [
the]
Lord, Jesus [other MSS: of Jesus Christ; others: of {the} Lord, Jesus Christ],
constantly giving thanks (expressing gratitude)
to Father God (or: in union with God, [the] Father)
through Him.