⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

²⁷ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,^(A) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.

⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(A) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(B) to Christ.

²¹ but test them all;^(A) hold on to what is good,^{(B) 22} reject every kind of evil.

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power^(A) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him^(B) who called us^(C) by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(D) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(E) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(F)