4:1But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all; 4:2But is under keepers and managers till the time fixed by the father. 4:3So we, when we were young, were kept under the first rules of the world; 4:4But when the time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 4:5That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons. 4:6And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, saying, Abba, Father. 4:7So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours. 4:8But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods: 4:9But now that you have come to have knowledge of God, or more truly, God has knowledge of you, how is it that you go back again to the poor and feeble first things, desiring to be servants to them again? 4:10You keep days, and months, and fixed times, and years. 4:11I am in fear of you, that I may have been working for you to no purpose. 4:12My desire for you, brothers, is that you may be as I am, because I am as you are. You have done me no wrong; 4:13But you have knowledge that with a feeble body I was preaching the good news to you the first time; 4:14And you did not have a poor opinion of me because of the trouble in my flesh, or put shame on it; but you took me to your hearts as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 4:15Where then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me. 4:16So then am I no longer your friend, because I give you true words? 4:17Their interest in you is not good; but their desire is that you may be shut out, so that you may go after them. 4:18But it is good to have an interest in a good cause at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 4:19My children, of whom I am again in birth-pains till Christ is formed in you, 4:20Truly my desire is to be present with you now, using a changed voice; for I am troubled about you. 4:21Say, you whose desire it is to be under the law, do you not give ear to the law? 4:22Because it is in the Writings, that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman, and one by the free woman. 4:23Now the son by the servant-woman has his birth after the flesh; but the son by the free woman has his birth through the undertaking of God. 4:24Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which is Hagar. 4:25Now this Hagar is the mountain Sinai in Arabia, and is the image of the Jerusalem which now is: which is a servant with her children. 4:26But the Jerusalem on high is free, which is our mother. 4:27For it is in the Writings, You who have never given birth, be glad; give cries of joy, you who have had no birth-pains; for the children of her who has been given up by her husband are more than those of the woman who has a husband. 4:28Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of the undertaking of God. 4:29But as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now. 4:30What then do the Writings say? Send away the servant-woman and her son; for the son of the servant-woman will not have a part in the heritage with the son of the free woman. 4:31So, brothers, we are not children of the servant-woman, but of the free woman.
5:1Christ has truly made us free: then keep your free condition and let no man put a yoke on you again. 5:2See, I Paul say to you, that if you undergo circumcision, Christ will be of no use to you. 5:3Yes, I give witness again to every man who undergoes circumcision, that he will have to keep all the law. 5:4You are cut off from Christ, you who would have righteousness by the law; you are turned away from grace. 5:5For we through the Spirit by faith are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 5:6Because in Christ Jesus, having circumcision or not having circumcision are equally of no profit; but only faith working through love. 5:7You were going on well; who was the cause of your not giving ear to what is true? 5:8This ready belief did not come from him who had made you his. 5:9A little leaven makes a change in all the mass. 5:10I am certain about you in the Lord, that you will be of no other mind; but he who is troubling you will have his punishment, whoever he is. 5:11But I, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still attacked? then has the shame of the cross been taken away. 5:12My desire is that they who give you trouble might even be cut off themselves. 5:13Because you, brothers, were marked out to be free; only do not make use of your free condition to give the flesh its chance, but through love be servants one to another. 5:14For all the law is made complete in one word, even in this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. 5:15But if you are given to fighting with one another, take care that you are not the cause of destruction one to another. 5:16But I say, Go on in the Spirit, and you will not come under the rule of the evil desires of the flesh. 5:17For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; because these are opposite the one to the other; so that you may not do the things which you have a mind to do. 5:18But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 5:19Now the works of the flesh are clear, which are these: evil desire, unclean things, wrong use of the senses, 5:20Worship of images, use of strange powers, hates, fighting, desire for what another has, angry feelings, attempts to get the better of others, divisions, false teachings, 5:21Envy, uncontrolled drinking and feasting, and such things: of which I give you word clearly, even as I did in the past, that they who do such things will have no part in the kingdom of God. 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, a quiet mind, kind acts, well-doing, faith, 5:23Gentle behaviour, control over desires: against such there is no law. 5:24And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires. 5:25If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided. 5:26Let us not be full of self-glory, making one another angry, having envy of one another.
6:1Brothers, if a man is taken in any wrongdoing, you who are of the Spirit will put such a one right in a spirit of love; keeping watch on yourself, for fear that you yourself may be tested. 6:2Take on yourselves one another's troubles, and so keep the law of Christ. 6:3For if a man has an idea that he is something when he is nothing, he is tricked by himself. 6:4But let every man make test of his work, and then will his cause for glory be in himself only, and not in his neighbour. 6:5Because every man is responsible for his part of the work. 6:6But let him who gets teaching in the word give a part in all good things to his teacher. 6:7Be not tricked; God is not made sport of: for whatever seed a man puts in, that will he get back as grain. 6:8Because he who puts in the seed of the flesh will of the flesh get the reward of death; but he who puts in the seed of the Spirit will of the Spirit get the reward of eternal life. 6:9And let us not get tired of well-doing; for at the right time we will get in the grain, if we do not give way to weariness. 6:10So then, as we have the chance, let us do good to all men, and specially to those who are of the family of the faith. 6:11See the size of the handwriting which I myself have made use of in writing to you. 6:12Those who have the desire to seem important in the flesh, put force on you to undergo circumcision; only that they may not be attacked because of the cross of Christ. 6:13Because even those who undergo circumcision do not themselves keep the law; but they would have you undergo circumcision, so that they may have glory in your flesh. 6:14But far be it from me to have glory in anything, but only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which this world has come to an end on the cross for me, and I for it. 6:15For having circumcision is nothing, and not having circumcision is nothing, but only a new order of existence. 6:16And on all who are guided by this rule be peace and mercy, and on the Israel of God. 6:17From this time on let no man be a trouble to me; because my body is marked with the marks of Jesus. 6:18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. So be it.
Ephesians
1:1Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the purpose of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and those who have faith in Christ Jesus: 1:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us every blessing of the Spirit in the heavens in Christ: 1:4Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love: 1:5As we were designed before by him for the position of sons to himself, through Jesus Christ, in the good pleasure of his purpose, 1:6To the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely gave to us in the Loved One: 1:7In whom we have salvation through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, through the wealth of his grace, 1:8Which he gave us in full measure in all wisdom and care; 1:9Having made clear to us the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands 1:10The ordering of the times when they are complete, so that all things might come to a head in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on the earth; in him, I say, 1:11In whom we have a heritage, being marked out from the first in his purpose who does all things in agreement with his designs; 1:12So that his glory might have praise through us who first had hope in Christ: 1:13In whom you, having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope, 1:14Which is the first-fruit of our heritage, till God gets back that which is his, to the praise of his glory. 1:15For this cause I, having had news of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and which you make clear to all the saints, 1:16Give praise without end for you, keeping you in mind in my prayers; 1:17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 1:18And that having the eyes of your heart full of light, you may have knowledge of what is the hope of his purpose, what is the wealth of the glory of his heritage in the saints, 1:19And how unlimited is his power to us who have faith, as is seen in the working of the strength of his power, 1:20By which he made Christ come back from the dead, and gave him a place at his right hand in heaven, 1:21Far over all rule and authority and power and every name which is named, not only in the present order, but in that which is to come: 1:22And he has put all things under his feet, and has made him to be head over all things to the church, 1:23Which is his body, the full measure of him in whom all things are made complete.
2:1And to you did he give life, when you were dead through your wrongdoing and sins, 2:2In which you were living in the past, after the ways of this present world, doing the pleasure of the lord of the power of the air, the spirit who is now working in those who go against the purpose of God; 2:3Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest. 2:4But God, being full of mercy, through the great love which he had for us, 2:5Even when we were dead through our sins, gave us life together with Christ (by grace you have salvation), 2:6So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus; 2:7That in the time to come he might make clear the full wealth of his grace in his mercy to us in Christ Jesus: 2:8Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God: 2:9Not by works, so that no man may take glory to himself. 2:10For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them. 2:11For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; 2:12That you were at that time without Christ, being cut off from any part in Israel's rights as a nation, having no part in God's agreement, having no hope, and without God in the world. 2:13But now in Christ Jesus you who at one time were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 2:14For he is our peace, who has made the two into one, and by whom the middle wall of division has been broken down, 2:15Having in his flesh put an end to that which made the division between us, even the law with its rules and orders, so that he might make in himself, of the two, one new man, so making peace; 2:16And that the two might come into agreement with God in one body through the cross, so putting an end to that division. 2:17And he came preaching peace to you who were far off, and to those who were near; 2:18Because through him the two of us are able to come near in one Spirit to the Father. 2:19So then you are no longer as those who have no part or place in the kingdom of God, but you are numbered among the saints, and of the family of God, 2:20Resting on the base of the Apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief keystone, 2:21In whom all the building, rightly joined together, comes to be a holy house of God in the Lord; 2:22In whom you, with the rest, are united together as a living-place of God in the Spirit.
3:1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, 3:2If that ordering of the grace of God has come to your knowledge, which was given to me for you, 3:3How by revelation the secret was made clear to me, as I said before in a short letter, 3:4By the reading of which you will be clear about my knowledge of the secret of Christ; 3:5Which in other generations was not given to the sons of men, but the revelation of it has now been made to his holy Apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 3:6Which is that the Gentiles have a part in the heritage, and in the same body, and in the same hope in Christ through the good news, 3:7Of which I was made a preacher, through that grace of God which was given to me in the measure of the working of his power. 3:8To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given, so that I might make clear to the Gentiles the good news of the unending wealth of Christ: 3:9And make all men see what is the ordering of the secret which from the first has been kept in God who made all things; 3:10So that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavens might be made clear through the church the wide-shining wisdom of God, 3:11Which is seen in his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord: 3:12By whom we come near to God without fear through faith in him. 3:13For this reason it is my prayer that you may not become feeble because of my troubles for you, which are your glory. 3:14For this cause I go down on my knees before the Father, 3:15From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 3:16That in the wealth of his glory he would make you strong with power through his Spirit in your hearts; 3:17So that Christ may have his place in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and based in love, 3:18May have strength to see with all the saints how wide and long and high and deep it is, 3:19And to have knowledge of the love of Christ which is outside all knowledge, so that you may be made complete as God himself is complete. 3:20Now to him who is able to do in full measure more than all our desires or thoughts, through the power which is working in us, 3:21To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. So be it.
4:1I then, the prisoner in the Lord, make this request from my heart, that you will see that your behaviour is a credit to the position which God's purpose has given you, 4:2With all gentle and quiet behaviour, taking whatever comes, putting up with one another in love; 4:3Taking care to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the yoke of peace. 4:4There is one body and one Spirit, even as you have been marked out by God in the one hope of his purpose for you; 4:5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. 4:7But to every one of us has grace been given in the measure of the giving of Christ. 4:8For this reason he says, He went up on high, taking his prisoners with him, and gave freely to men. 4:9(Now this, He went up, what is it but that he first went down into the lower parts of the earth? 4:10He who went down is the same who went up far over all the heavens so that he might make all things complete.) 4:11And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching; 4:12For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ: 4:13Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ: 4:14So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error; 4:15But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ; 4:16Through whom all the body, being rightly formed and united together, by the full working of every part, is increased to the building up of itself in love. 4:17This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit, 4:18Whose thoughts are dark, to whom the life of God is strange because they are without knowledge, and their hearts have been made hard; 4:19Who having no more power of feeling, have given themselves up to evil passions, to do all unclean things with overmuch desire. 4:20For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you; 4:21If in fact you gave ear to him, and were given teaching in him, even as what is true is made clear in Jesus: 4:22That you are to put away, in relation to your earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit; 4:23And be made new in the spirit of your mind, 4:24And put on the new man, to which God has given life, in righteousness and a true and holy way of living. 4:25And so, putting away false words, let everyone say what is true to his neighbour: for we are parts one of another. 4:26Be angry without doing wrong; let not the sun go down on your wrath; 4:27And do not give way to the Evil One. 4:28Let him who was a thief be so no longer, but let him do good work with his hands, so that he may have something to give to him who is in need. 4:29Let no evil talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for giving necessary teaching, and for grace to those who give ear. 4:30And do not give grief to the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were marked for the day of salvation. 4:31Let all bitter, sharp and angry feeling, and noise, and evil words, be put away from you, with all unkind acts; 4:32And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.
5:1Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children; 5:2And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell. 5:3But evil acts of the flesh and all unclean things, or desire for others' property, let it not even be named among you, as is right for saints; 5:4And let there be no low behaviour, or foolish talk, or words said in sport, which are not right, but in place of them the giving of praise. 5:5Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God. 5:6Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him. 5:7Have no part with such men; 5:8For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light 5:9(Because the fruit of the light is in all righteousness and in everything which is good and true), 5:10Testing by experience what is well-pleasing to the Lord; 5:11And have no company with the works of the dark, which give no fruit, but make their true quality clear; 5:12For the things which are done by them in secret it is shame even to put into words. 5:13But all things, when their true quality is seen, are made clear by the light: because everything which is made clear is light. 5:14For this reason he says, Be awake, you who are sleeping, and come up from among the dead, and Christ will be your light. 5:15Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise; 5:16Making good use of the time, because the days are evil. 5:17For this reason, then, do not be foolish, but be conscious of the Lord's pleasure. 5:18And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit; 5:19Joining with one another in holy songs of praise and of the Spirit, using your voice in songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 5:20Giving praise at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father; 5:21Letting yourselves be ruled by one another in the fear of Christ. 5:22Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as of the Lord. 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. 5:24And as the church is under Christ's authority, so let wives be under the rule of their husbands in all things. 5:25Husbands, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it; 5:26So that he might make it holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word, 5:27And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete. 5:28Even so it is right for husbands to have love for their wives as for their bodies. He who has love for his wife has love for himself: 5:29For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church; 5:30Because we are parts of his body. 5:31For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 5:32This is a great secret: but my words are about Christ and the church. 5:33But do you, everyone, have love for his wife, even as for himself; and let the wife see that she has respect for her husband.
6:1Children, do what is ordered by your fathers and mothers in the Lord: for this is right. 6:2Give honour to your father and mother (which is the first rule having a reward), 6:3So that all may be well for you, and your life may be long on the earth. 6:4And, you fathers, do not make your children angry: but give them training in the teaching and fear of the Lord. 6:5Servants, do what is ordered by those who are your natural masters, having respect and fear for them, with all your heart, as to Christ; 6:6Not only under your master's eye, as pleasers of men; but as servants of Christ, doing the pleasure of God from the heart; 6:7Doing your work readily, as to the Lord, and not to men: 6:8In the knowledge that for every good thing anyone does, he will have his reward from the Lord, If he is a servant or if he is free. 6:9And, you masters, do the same things to them, not making use of violent words: in the knowledge that their Master and yours is in heaven, and he has no respect for a man's position. 6:10Lastly, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his power. 6:11Take up God's instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One. 6:12For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens. 6:13For this reason take up all the arms of God, so that you may be able to be strong in the evil day, and, having done all, to keep your place. 6:14Take your place, then, having your body clothed with the true word, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness; 6:15Be ready with the good news of peace as shoes on your feet; 6:16And most of all, using faith as a cover to keep off all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. 6:17And take salvation for your head-dress and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 6:18With prayers and deep desires, making requests at all times in the Spirit, and keeping watch, with strong purpose, in prayer for all the saints, 6:19And for me, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make clear without fear the secret of the good news, 6:20For which I am a representative in chains, and that I may say without fear the things which it is right for me to say. 6:21But so that you may have knowledge of my business, and how I am, Tychicus, the well-loved brother and tested servant in the Lord, will give you news of all things: 6:22Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, so that you may have knowledge of our position, and that he may give comfort to your hearts. 6:23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:24Grace be with all those who have true love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians
1:1Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons of the church: 1:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:3I give praise to my God at every memory of you, 1:4And in all my prayers for you all, making my request with joy, 1:5Because of your help in giving the good news from the first day till now; 1:6For I am certain of this very thing, that he by whom the good work was started in you will make it complete till the day of Jesus Christ: 1:7So it is right for me to take thought for you all in this way, because I have you in my heart; for in my chains, and in my arguments before the judges in support of the good news, making clear that it is true, you all have your part with me in grace. 1:8For God is my witness, how my love goes out to you all in the loving mercies of Christ Jesus. 1:9And my prayer is that you may be increased more and more in knowledge and experience; 1:10So that you may give your approval to the best things; that you may be true and without wrongdoing till the day of Christ; 1:11Being full of the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 1:12Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences; 1:13So that it became clear through all the Praetorium, and to all the rest, that I was a prisoner on account of Christ; 1:14And most of the brothers in the Lord, taking heart because of my chains, are all the stronger to give the word of God without fear. 1:15Though some are preaching Christ out of envy and competition, others do it out of a good heart: 1:16These do it from love, conscious that I am responsible for the cause of the good news: 1:17But those are preaching Christ in a spirit of competition, not from their hearts, but with the purpose of giving me pain in my prison. 1:18What then? only that in every way, falsely or truly, the preaching of Christ goes on; and in this I am glad, and will be glad. 1:19For I am conscious that this will be for my salvation, through your prayer and the giving out of the stored wealth of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 1:20In the measure of my strong hope and belief that in nothing will I be put to shame, but that without fear, as at all times, so now will Christ have glory in my body, by life or by death. 1:21For to me life is Christ and death is profit. 1:22But if I go on living in the flesh--if this is the fruit of my work--then I do not see what decision to make. 1:23I am in a hard position between the two, having a desire to go away and be with Christ, which is very much better: 1:24Still, to go on in the flesh is more necessary because of you. 1:25And being certain of this, I am conscious that I will go on, yes, and go on with you all, for your growth and joy in the faith; 1:26So that your pride in me may be increased in Christ Jesus through my being present with you again. 1:27Only let your behaviour do credit to the good news of Christ, so that if I come and see you or if I am away from you, I may have news of you that you are strong in one spirit, working together with one soul for the faith of the good news; 1:28Having no fear of those who are against you; which is a clear sign of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God; 1:29Because to you it has been given in the cause of Christ not only to have faith in him, but to undergo pain on his account: 1:30Fighting the same fight which you saw in me, and now have word of in me.
2:1If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity, 2:2Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in harmony and of one mind; 2:3Doing nothing through envy or through pride, but with low thoughts of self let everyone take others to be better than himself; 2:4Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind the things of others. 2:5Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, 2:6To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God; 2:7But he made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men; 2:8And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross. 2:9For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name; 2:10So that at the name of Jesus every knee may be bent, of those in heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld, 2:11And that every tongue may give witness that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 2:12So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts; 2:13For it is God who is the cause of your desires and of your acts, for his good pleasure. 2:14Do all things without protests and arguments; 2:15So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 2:16Offering the word of life; so that I may have glory in you in the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was not without effect. 2:17And even if I am offered like a drink offering, giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy with you all: 2:18And in the same way do you be glad and have a part in my joy. 2:19But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you. 2:20For I have no man of like mind who will truly have care for you. 2:21For they all go after what is theirs, not after the things of Christ. 2:22But his quality is clear to you; how, as a child is to its father, so he was a help to me in the work of the good news. 2:23Him then I am hoping to send as quickly as possible, when I am able to see how things will go for me: 2:24But I have faith in the Lord that I myself will come before long. 2:25But it seemed to me necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who has taken part with me in the work and in the fight, and your servant, sent by you for help in my need; 2:26Because his heart was with you all, and he was greatly troubled because you had news that he was ill: 2:27For in fact he was ill almost to death: but God had mercy on him; and not only on him but on me, so that I might not have grief on grief. 2:28I have sent him, then, the more gladly, so that when you see him again, you may be happy and I may have the less sorrow. 2:29So take him to your hearts in the Lord with all joy, and give honour to such as he is: 2:30Because for the work of Christ he was near to death, putting his life in danger to make your care for me complete.
3:1For the rest, my brothers, be glad in the Lord. Writing the same things to you is no trouble to me, and for you it is safe. 3:2Be on the watch against dogs, against the workers of evil, against those of the circumcision: 3:3For we are the circumcision, who give worship to God and have glory in Jesus Christ, and have no faith in the flesh: 3:4Even though I myself might have faith in the flesh: if any other man has reason to have faith in the flesh, I have more: 3:5Being given circumcision on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in relation to the law, a Pharisee: 3:6In bitter hate I was cruel to the church; I kept all the righteousness of the law to the last detail. 3:7But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ. 3:8Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward, 3:9And be seen in him, not having my righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 3:10That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death; 3:11If in any way I may have the reward of life from the dead. 3:12Not as if I had even now got the reward or been made complete: but I go on in the hope that I may come to the knowledge of that for which I was made the servant of Christ Jesus. 3:13Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before, 3:14I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus. 3:15Then let us all, who have come to full growth, be of this mind: and if in anything you are of a different mind, even this will God make clear to you: 3:16Only, as far as we have got, let us be guided by the same rule. 3:17Brothers, take me as your example, and take note of those who are walking after the example we have given. 3:18For there are those, of whom I have given you word before, and do so now with sorrow, who are haters of the cross of Christ; 3:19Whose end is destruction, whose god is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, whose minds are fixed on the things of the earth. 3:20For our country is in heaven; from where the Saviour for whom we are waiting will come, even the Lord Jesus Christ: 3:21By whom this poor body of ours will be changed into the image of the body of his glory, in the measure of the working by which he is able to put all things under himself.
4:1So my brothers, well loved and very dear to me, my joy and crown, be strong in the Lord, my loved ones. 4:2I make request to Euodias and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 4:3And I make request to you, true helper in my work, to see to the needs of those women who took part with me in the good news, with Clement and the rest of my brother-workers whose names are in the book of life. 4:4Be glad in the Lord at all times: again I say, Be glad. 4:5Let your gentle behaviour be clear to all men. The Lord is near. 4:6Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God. 4:7And the peace of God, which is deeper than all knowledge, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 4:8For the rest, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things have honour, whatever things are upright, whatever things are holy, whatever things are beautiful, whatever things are of value, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, give thought to these things. 4:9The things which came to you by my teaching and preaching, and which you saw in me, these things do, and the God of peace will be with you. 4:10But I am very glad in the Lord that your care for me has come to life again; though you did in fact take thought for me, but you were not able to give effect to it. 4:11But I will not say anything about my needs, for I am able, wherever I am, to be dependent on myself. 4:12It is the same to me if I am looked down on or honoured; everywhere and in all things I have the secret of how to be full and how to go without food; how to have wealth and how to be in need. 4:13I am able to do all things through him who gives me strength. 4:14But you did well to have care for me in my need. 4:15And you have knowledge, Philippians, that when the good news first came to you, when I went away from Macedonia, no church took part with me in the business of giving to the saints, but you only; 4:16Because even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to me in my need. 4:17Not that I am looking for an offering, but for fruit which may be put to your credit. 4:18I have all things and more than enough: I am made full, having had from Epaphroditus the things which came from you, a perfume of a sweet smell, an offering well pleasing to God. 4:19And my God will give you all you have need of from the wealth of his glory in Christ Jesus. 4:20Now to God our Father be glory for ever and ever. So be it. 4:21Give words of love to every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their love. 4:22All the saints send their love to you, specially those who are of Caesar's house. 4:23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Colossians
1:1Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the purpose of God, and Timothy our brother, 1:2To the saints and true brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 1:3We give praise to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, making prayer for you at all times, 1:4After hearing of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have for all the saints, 1:5Through the hope which is in store for you in heaven; knowledge of which was given to you before in the true word of the good news, 1:6Which has come to you; and which in all the world is giving fruit and increase, as it has done in you from the day when it came to your ears and you had true knowledge of the grace of God; 1:7As it was given to you by Epaphras, our well-loved helper, who is a true servant of Christ for us, 1:8And who, himself, made clear to us your love in the Spirit. 1:9For this reason, we, from the day when we had word of it, keep on in prayer for you, that you may be full of the knowledge of his purpose, with all wisdom and experience of the Spirit, 1:10Living uprightly in the approval of the Lord, giving fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 1:11Full of strength in the measure of the great power of his glory, so that you may undergo all troubles with joy; 1:12Giving praise to the Father who has given us a part in the heritage of the saints in light; 1:13Who has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love; 1:14In whom we have our salvation, the forgiveness of sins: 1:15Who is the image of the unseen God coming into existence before all living things; 1:16For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers; all things were made by him and for him; 1:17He is before all things, and in him all things have being. 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: the starting point of all things, the first to come again from the dead; so that in all things he might have the chief place. 1:19For God in full measure was pleased to be in him; 1:20Through him uniting all things with himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven. 1:21And you, who in the past were cut off and at war with God in your minds through evil works, he has now made one 1:22In the body of his flesh through death, so that you might be holy and without sin and free from all evil before him: 1:23If you keep yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. 1:24Now I have joy in my pain because of you, and in my flesh I undergo whatever is still needed to make the sorrows of Christ complete, for the salvation of his body, the church; 1:25Of which I became a servant by the purpose of God which was given to me for you, to give effect to the word of God, 1:26The secret which has been kept from all times and generations, but has now been made clear to his saints, 1:27To whom God was pleased to give knowledge of the wealth of the glory of this secret among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 1:28Whom we are preaching; guiding and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that every man may be complete in Christ; 1:29And for this purpose I am working, using all my strength by the help of his power which is working in me strongly.
2:1For it is my desire to give you news of the great fight I am making for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh; 2:2So that their hearts may be comforted, and that being joined together in love, they may come to the full wealth of the certain knowledge of the secret of God, even Christ, 2:3In whom are all the secret stores of wisdom and knowledge. 2:4I say this so that you may not be turned away by any deceit of words. 2:5For though I am not present in the flesh, still I am with you in the spirit, seeing with joy your order, and your unchanging faith in Christ. 2:6As, then, you took Christ Jesus the Lord, so go on in him, 2:7Rooted and based together in him, strong in the faith which the teaching gave you, giving praise to God at all times. 2:8Take care that no one takes you away by force, through man's wisdom and deceit, going after the beliefs of men and the theories of the world, and not after Christ: 2:9For in him all the wealth of God's being has a living form, 2:10And you are complete in him, who is the head of all rule and authority: 2:11In whom you had a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 2:12Having been put to death with him in baptism, by which you came to life again with him, through faith in the working of God, who made him come back from the dead. 2:13And you, being dead through your sins and the evil condition of your flesh, to you, I say, he gave life together with him, and forgiveness of all our sins; 2:14Having put an end to the handwriting of the law which was against us, taking it out of the way by nailing it to his cross; 2:15Having made himself free from the rule of authorities and powers, he put them openly to shame, glorying over them in it. 2:16For this reason let no man be your judge in any question of food or drink or feast days or new moons or Sabbaths: 2:17For these are an image of the things which are to come; but the body is Christ's. 2:18Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind, 2:19And not joined to the Head, from whom all the body, being given strength and kept together through its joins and bands, has its growth with the increase of God. 2:20If you were made free, by your death with Christ, from the rules of the world, why do you put yourselves under the authority of orders 2:21Which say there may be no touching, tasting, or taking in your hands, 2:22(Rules which are all to come to an end with their use) after the orders and teaching of men? 2:23These things seem to have a sort of wisdom in self-ordered worship and making little of oneself, and being cruel to the body, not honouring it by giving it its natural use.
3:1If 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. 3:2Keep your mind on the higher things, not on the things of earth. 3:3For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God. 3:4At the coming of Christ who is our life, you will be seen with him in glory. 3:5Then 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; 3:6Because of which the wrath of God comes on those who go against his orders; 3:7Among whom you were living in the past, when you did such things. 3:8But now it is right for you to put away all these things; wrath, passion, bad feeling, curses, unclean talk; 3:9Do not make false statements to one another; because you have put away the old man with all his doings, 3:10And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his maker; 3:11Where 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. 3:12As 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; 3:13Being 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: 3:14And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together. 3:15And 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. 3:16Let 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. 3:17And 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. 3:18Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord. 3:19Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them. 3:20Children, do the orders of your fathers and mothers in all things, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 3:21Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken. 3:22Servants, 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: 3:23Whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men; 3:24Being certain that the Lord will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the Lord Christ. 3:25For the wrongdoer will have punishment for the wrong he has done, without respect for any man's position.
4:1Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven. 4:2Give yourselves to prayer at all times, keeping watch with praise; 4:3And making prayer for us, that God may give us an open door for the preaching of the word, the secret of Christ, for which I am now in chains; 4:4So that I may make it clear, as it is right for me to do. 4:5Be wise in your behaviour to those who are outside, making good use of the time. 4:6Let your talk be with grace, mixed with salt, so that you may be able to give an answer to everyone. 4:7Tychicus will give you news of all my business: he is a dear brother and true servant and helper in the word; 4:8And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may have news of how we are, and so that he may give your hearts comfort; 4:9And with him I have sent Onesimus, the true and well-loved brother, who is one of you. They will give you word of everything which is taking place here. 4:10Aristarchus, my brother-prisoner, sends his love to you, and Mark, a relation of Barnabas (about whom you have been given orders: if he comes to you, be kind to him), 4:11And Jesus, whose other name is Justus; these are of the circumcision: they are my only brother-workers for the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me. 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his love, ever taking thought for you in his prayers, that you may be complete and fully certain of all the purpose of God. 4:13For I give witness of him that he has undergone much trouble for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 4:14Luke, our well-loved medical friend, and Demas, send you their love. 4:15Give my love to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nymphas and the church in their house. 4:16And when this letter has been made public among you, let the same be done in the church of Laodicea; and see that you have the letter from Laodicea. 4:17Say to Archippus, See that you do the work which the Lord has given you to do. 4:18I, Paul, give you this word of love in my handwriting. Keep in memory that I am a prisoner. Grace be with you.