Be like Christ

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any ^(A)fellowship of the Spirit, if any ^[a](B)affection and compassion, ^2 (C)make my joy complete ^[b]by ^(D)being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing ^[c]from ^[d](E)selfishness or ^(F)empty conceit, but with humility ^(G)consider one another as more important than yourselves; ^4 (H)do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ^5 (I)Have this attitude ^[e]in yourselves which was also in ^(J)Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, as He already ^(K)existed in the ^(L)form of God, ^(M)did not consider equality with God something to be ^[f]grasped, ⁷ but ^[g](N)emptied Himself by taking the form of a ^(O)bond-servant and ^[h](P)being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, ^(Q)He humbled Himself by becoming ^(R)obedient to the point of death: ^(S)death ^[i]on a cross. ^9 (T)For this reason also God ^(U)highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him ^(V)the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(W)every knee will bow, of ^(X)those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is ^(Y)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² So then, my beloved, ^(Z)just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own ^(AA)salvation with ^(AB)fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is ^(AC)God who is at work in you, both to ^[j]desire and to work ^(AD)for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without ^(AE)complaining or arguments; ¹⁵ so that you will ^[k]prove yourselves to be ^(AF)blameless and innocent, ^(AG)children of God above reproach in the midst of a ^(AH)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you ^[l](AI)appear as ^[m]lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding firmly the word of life, so that on ^(AJ)the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not ^(AK)run in vain nor ^(AL)labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being ^(AM)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(AN)the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ¹⁸ You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ But I hope, ^[n]in the Lord Jesus, to ^(AO)send ^(AP)Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. ²⁰ For I have no one else ^(AQ)of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all ^(AR)seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know ^(AS)of his proven character, that ^(AT)he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel ^(AU)like a child serving his father. ^23 (AV)Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; ²⁴ and ^(AW)I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly. ²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you ^(AX)Epaphroditus, my brother and ^(AY)fellow worker and ^(AZ)fellow soldier, who is also your ^[o](BA)messenger and ^(BB)minister to my need, ²⁶ because he was longing ^[p]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. ^29 (BC)Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and ^(BD)hold people like him in high regard, ³⁰ because he came close to death ^[q](BE)for the work of Christ, risking his life to ^(BF)compensate ^[r]for your absence in your service to me.

The Goal of Life

3 Finally, my brothers and sisters, ^(BG)rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.

² Beware of the ^(BH)dogs, beware of the ^(BI)evil workers, beware of the ^[s]false circumcision; ³ for ^(BJ)we are the true ^[t]circumcision, who ^(BK)worship in the Spirit of God and take ^(BL)pride in ^(BM)Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, ⁴ although ^(BN)I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: ^5 (BO)circumcised the eighth day, of the ^(BP)nation of Israel, of the ^(BQ)tribe of Benjamin, a ^(BR)Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, ^(BS)a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, ^(BT)a persecutor of the church; as to the ^(BU)righteousness which is in the Law, found ^(BV)blameless.

⁷ But ^(BW)whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss ^[u]in view of the surpassing value of ^[v](BX)knowing ^(BY)Christ Jesus my Lord, ^[w]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having ^(BZ)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, ^(CA)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may ^(CB)know Him and ^(CC)the power of His resurrection and ^[x](CD)the fellowship of His sufferings, being ^(CE)conformed to His death; ¹¹ if somehow I may ^(CF)attain to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already ^[y](CG)grasped it all or have already ^(CH)become perfect, but I press on if I may also ^(CI)take hold of that ^[z]for which I ^(CJ)was even taken hold of by ^(CK)Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: ^(CL)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I ^(CM)press on toward the goal for the prize of the ^(CN)upward call of God in ^(CO)Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore, all who are ^[aa](CP)mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a ^(CQ)different attitude, ^(CR)God will reveal that to you as well; ¹⁶ however, let’s keep ^[ab](CS)living by that same standard to which we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, ^(CT)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the ^(CU)pattern you have in us. ¹⁸ For ^(CV)many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I ^(CW)weep, that they are the enemies of ^(CX)the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their ^[ac](CY)appetite, and whose ^(CZ)glory is in their shame, who ^(DA)have their minds on earthly things. ²⁰ For ^(DB)our ^[ad]citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly ^(DC)wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ who will ^(DD)transform the body of our lowly condition into ^(DE)conformity with ^[ae]His ^(DF)glorious body, ^(DG)by the exertion of the power that He has even to ^(DH)subject all things to Himself.

Think of Excellence

4 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, ^[af]whom I ^(DI)long to see, my joy and crown, ^(DJ)stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to ^[ag](DK)live in harmony in the Lord. ³ Indeed, true ^[ah]companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my ^(DL)fellow workers, whose ^(DM)names are in the book of life.

^4 (DN)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. ^(DO)The Lord is ^[ai]near. ^6 (DP)Do not ^[aj]be anxious about anything, but in everything by ^(DQ)prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(DR)the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[ak]comprehension, will ^(DS)guard your hearts and ^(DT)minds in ^(DU)Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(DV)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[al]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen ^(DW)in me, practice these things, and ^(DX)the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last ^(DY)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[am]from need, for I have learned to be ^[an](DZ)content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going ^(EA)hungry, both of having abundance and ^(EB)suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[ao]through Him who ^(EC)strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to ^(ED)share with me in my difficulty.

¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[ap](EE)first preaching of the gospel, after I left ^(EF)Macedonia, no church ^(EG)shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; ¹⁶ for even in ^(EH)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ^17 (EI)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the ^[aq]profit which increases to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[ar]amply supplied, having received from ^(EJ)Epaphroditus ^[as]what you have sent, ^[at](EK)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And ^(EL)my God will supply ^[au]all your needs according to His ^(EM)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to ^(EN)our God and Father ^(EO)be the glory ^[av]forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every ^[aw]saint in Christ Jesus. ^(EP)The brothers who are with me greet you. ^22 (EQ)All the ^[ax](ER)saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

^23 (ES)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ ^(ET)be with your spirit.

Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

1 ^(A)Paul, ^(B)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^[a](C)by the will of God, and ^(D)Timothy ^[b]our brother,

² To the ^[c](E)saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: ^(F)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

^3 (G)We ^[d]give thanks to God, ^(H)the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ^4 (I)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the ^(J)love which you have ^[e]for ^(K)all the ^[f]saints; ⁵ because of the ^(L)hope ^(M)reserved for you in ^[g]heaven, of which you previously ^(N)heard in the word of truth, ^[h]the gospel ⁶ which has come to you, just as ^[i](O)in all the world also it is bearing ^(P)fruit and ^[j]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you ^(Q)heard it and ^[k]understood the grace of God in truth; ⁷ just as you learned it from ^(R)Epaphras, our ^(S)beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, ⁸ and he also informed us of your ^(T)love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this reason we also, ^(U)since the day we heard about it, ^(V)have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the ^[l](W)knowledge of His will in all spiritual ^(X)wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you will ^(Y)walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^[m](Z)to please Him in all respects, ^(AA)bearing fruit in every good work and ^[n]increasing in the ^[o]knowledge of God; ^11 (AB)strengthened with all power, according to ^[p]His glorious might, ^[q]for the attaining of all perseverance and ^[r]patience; ^(AC)joyously ¹² giving thanks to ^(AD)the Father, who has qualified us ^[s]to share in ^(AE)the inheritance of the ^[t]saints in ^(AF)light.

The Incomparable Christ

^13 [u]For He rescued us from the ^[v](AG)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of ^[w](AH)His beloved Son, ^14 (AI)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

^15 [x]He is the ^(AJ)image of the ^(AK)invisible God, the ^(AL)firstborn of all creation: ¹⁶ for ^[y](AM)by Him all things were created, ^(AN)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(AO)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—^(AP)all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[z](AQ)is before all things, and in Him all things ^[aa]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also the ^(AR)head of ^(AS)the body, the church; and He is ^(AT)the beginning, ^(AU)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[ab]it was ^(AV)the Father’s good pleasure for all ^(AW)the ^[ac]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to ^(AX)reconcile all things to Himself, ^(AY)whether things on earth or things in ^[ad]heaven, having made ^(AZ)peace through ^(BA)the blood of His cross.

²¹ And although you were ^(BB)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now ^(BC)reconciled you in His ^(BD)body of flesh through death, in order to ^(BE)present you before Him ^(BF)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ²³ if indeed you continue in ^[ae]the faith firmly ^(BG)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the ^(BH)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed ^(BI)in all creation under heaven, ^(BJ)and of which I, Paul, ^[af]was made a ^[ag](BK)minister.

^24 (BL)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(BM)I am supplementing what is lacking ^[ah]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of ^(BN)His body, which is the church. ^25 (BO)I ^[ai]was made a minister of this church according to the ^(BP)commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might ^[aj]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, ²⁶ that is, ^(BQ)the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His ^[ak]saints, ²⁷ to whom ^(BR)God willed to make known what ^(BS)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is ^(BT)Christ in you, the ^(BU)hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, ^(BV)admonishing every person and teaching every person ^[al]with all ^(BW)wisdom, so that we may ^(BX)present every person ^[am](BY)complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose I also ^(BZ)labor, ^(CA)striving ^(CB)according to His ^[an]power which ^[ao]works mightily within me.

You Are Built Up in Christ

2 For I want you to know how great a ^(CC)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at ^(CD)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^[ap]personally seen my face, ² that their ^(CE)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(CF)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all ^(CG)the wealth ^[aq]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(CH)true knowledge of ^(CI)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all ^(CJ)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ^4 (CK)I say this so that no one will deceive you with ^(CL)persuasive arguments. ⁵ For even though I am ^(CM)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[ar]to see ^[as]your ^(CN)orderly manner and the ^(CO)stability of your faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore, as you have received ^(CP)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^[at](CQ)walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly ^(CR)rooted and now being ^(CS)built up in Him and ^(CT)established ^[au]in ^[av]your faith, just as you ^(CU)were instructed, and overflowing ^[aw]with gratitude.

^8 (CV)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through ^(CW)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the ^(CX)elementary principles of the world, ^[ax]rather than in accordance with Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the ^(CY)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been ^(CZ)made ^[ay]complete, and ^(DA)He is the head ^[az]over every ^(DB)ruler and authority; ¹¹ and in Him ^(DC)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of ^(DD)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been ^(DE)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also ^(DF)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who ^(DG)raised Him from the dead. ¹³ And ^[ba]when you were ^(DH)dead ^[bb]in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He ^(DI)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, ¹⁴ having canceled ^(DJ)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and ^(DK)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ When He had ^[bc](DL)disarmed the ^(DM)rulers and authorities, He ^(DN)made a public display of them, having ^(DO)triumphed over them through ^[bd]Him.

¹⁶ Therefore, no one is to ^[be](DP)act as your judge in regard to ^(DQ)food and ^(DR)drink, or in respect to a ^(DS)festival or a ^(DT)new moon, or a ^(DU)Sabbath ^[bf]day— ¹⁷ things which are only a ^(DV)shadow of what is to come; but the ^[bg]substance ^[bh]belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Take care that no one keeps ^[bi](DW)defrauding you of your prize by ^(DX)delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, ^[bj]taking his stand on visions he has seen, ^[bk](DY)inflated without cause by his ^(DZ)fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding firmly to ^(EA)the head, from whom ^(EB)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ^[bl]ligaments, grows with a growth ^[bm]which is from God.

^20 (EC)If you have died with Christ ^[bn]to the ^(ED)elementary principles of the world, ^(EE)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to ^(EF)decrees, such as, ²¹ “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” ²² (which all refer ^(EG)to things destined to perish ^[bo]with use)—in accordance with the ^(EH)commandments and teachings of man? ²³ These are matters which do have the ^[bp]appearance of wisdom in ^[bq](EI)self-made religion and humility and ^(EJ)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against ^(EK)fleshly indulgence.