Ephesians 1 - Philippians 1

New American Standard Bible

The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^[a](C)by the will of God,

To the ^[b](D)saints who are ^[c]at ^(E)Ephesus and ^(F)are faithful in ^(G)Christ Jesus: ^2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(J)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(K)He chose us in Him before ^(L)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(M)holy and blameless before ^[d]Him. ^(N)In love ^5 [e]He ^(O)predestined us to ^(P)adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, ^6 (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in ^(S)the Beloved. ^7 (T)In ^[f]Him we have ^(U)redemption ^(V)through His blood, the ^(W)forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to ^(X)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He ^[g]lavished on ^[h]us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He ^[i](Y)made known to us the mystery of His will, ^(Z)according to His good pleasure which He ^(AA)set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of ^(AB)the fullness of the times, ^(AC)to bring all things together in Christ, things ^[j]in the heavens and things on the earth. ^11 [k]In Him we also ^(AD)have obtained an inheritance, having been ^(AE)predestined ^(AF)according to the purpose of Him who works all things ^(AG)in accordance with the plan of His will, ¹² to the end that ^[l]we who were the first to hope in the ^[m]Christ would be ^(AH)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[n]Him, ^[o]you also, after listening to ^(AI)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[p]believed, you were ^(AJ)sealed in ^[q]Him with ^(AK)the Holy Spirit of the promise, ¹⁴ who is a ^(AL)first installment of ^(AM)our inheritance, in regard to the ^(AN)redemption of ^(AO)God’s own possession, ^(AP)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[r]your love for ^(AR)all the ^[s]saints, ^16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(AT)while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the ^(AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AV)the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of ^(AW)wisdom and of ^(AX)revelation in the ^[t]knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that ^(AY)the eyes of your heart ^[u]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the ^(AZ)hope of His ^(BA)calling, what are ^(BB)the riches of the glory of ^(BC)His inheritance in ^(BD)the ^[v]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the ^[w]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. ^(BE)These are in accordance with the working of the ^(BF)strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He ^(BG)raised Him from the dead and ^(BH)seated Him at His right hand in ^(BI)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(BK)name that is named, not only in ^(BL)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He ^(BM)put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him ^(BN)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(BO)body, the ^(BP)fullness of Him who ^(BQ)fills ^(BR)all in all.

Made Alive in Christ

2 And ^[x]you ^[y]were ^(BS)dead ^[z]in your offenses and sins, ² in which you ^(BT)previously walked according to the ^[aa]course of ^(BU)this world, according to ^(BV)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(BW)the ^[ab]sons of disobedience. ³ Among them ^[ac]we too all ^(BX)previously lived in ^(BY)the lusts of our flesh, ^[ad]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[ae]mind, and were ^(BZ)by nature ^(CA)children of wrath, ^(CB)just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(CC)rich in mercy, because of ^(CD)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(CE)dead ^[af]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together ^[ag]with Christ (^(CF)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(CG)raised us up with Him, and ^(CH)seated us with Him in ^(CI)the heavenly places in ^(CJ)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the ^[ah]boundless ^(CK)riches of His grace in ^(CL)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(CM)by grace you have been saved ^(CN)through faith; and ^[ai]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(CO)the gift of God; ^9 (CP)not a result of works, so that ^(CQ)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(CR)created in ^(CS)Christ Jesus for ^(CT)good works, which God ^(CU)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(CV)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(CW)previously ^(CX)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(CY)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(CZ)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[aj](DA)excluded from ^[ak]the people of Israel, and strangers to ^(DB)the covenants of the promise, having ^(DC)no hope and ^(DD)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(DE)Christ Jesus you who ^(DF)previously were ^(DG)far away ^[al]have ^(DH)been brought near ^[am](DI)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(DJ)our peace, ^(DK)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[an]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [ao]by ^(DL)abolishing ^[ap]in His flesh the hostility, which is ^(DM)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[aq](DN)make the two ^(DO)one new person, in this way establishing ^(DP)peace; ¹⁶ and that He might ^(DQ)reconcile them both in ^(DR)one body to God through the cross, ^[ar]by it having ^(DS)put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And ^(DT)He came and preached ^(DU)peace to you who were ^(DV)far away, and peace to those who were ^(DW)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(DX)our access in ^(DY)one Spirit to ^(DZ)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(EA)strangers and foreigners, but you are ^(EB)fellow citizens with the ^[as]saints, and are of ^(EC)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(ED)built on ^(EE)the foundation of ^(EF)the apostles and prophets, ^(EG)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(EH)cornerstone, ^21 (EI)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(EJ)a holy ^[at]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(EK)built together into a ^(EL)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(EM)the prisoner of ^(EN)Christ Jesus ^(EO)for the sake of you ^(EP)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(EQ)administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (ER)that ^(ES)by revelation there was ^(ET)made known to me ^(EU)the mystery, ^(EV)as I wrote before briefly. ^4 [au]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(EW)my insight ^[av]into the ^(EX)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to ^[aw]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(EY)apostles and prophets ^[ax]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(EZ)fellow heirs and ^(FA)fellow members of the body, and ^(FB)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(FC)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (FD)of which I was made a ^(FE)minister, according to the gift of ^(FF)God’s grace which was given to me ^(FG)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(FH)the very least of all ^[ay]saints, this grace was given, to ^(FI)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(FJ)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to ^[az]enlighten all people as to what the plan of the ^(FK)mystery is which for ages has been ^(FL)hidden in God, ^(FM)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the multifaceted ^(FN)wisdom of God might now be ^(FO)made known through the church to the ^(FP)rulers and the authorities in ^(FQ)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(FR)accordance with the ^[ba]eternal purpose which He ^[bb]carried out in ^(FS)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[bc](FT)confident ^(FU)access through faith ^[bd]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[be]you not ^(FV)to become discouraged about my tribulations ^(FW)in your behalf, ^[bf]since they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(FX)bend my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[bg]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to ^(FY)the riches of His glory, to be ^(FZ)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(GA)the inner ^[bh]self, ¹⁷ so that ^(GB)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(GC)rooted and ^(GD)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(GE)all the ^[bi]saints what is ^(GF)the width and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(GG)the love of Christ which ^(GH)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(GI)filled to all the ^(GJ)fullness of God.

^20 (GK)Now to Him who is ^(GL)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ^(GM)according to the power that works within us, ^21 (GN)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[bj]forever and ever. Amen.

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(GO)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(GP)urge you to ^(GQ)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(GR)calling with which you have been ^(GS)called, ² with all ^(GT)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ^(GU)in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ^(GV)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(GW)one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one ^(GX)hope of your calling; ^5 (GY)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(GZ)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(HA)to each one of us ^(HB)grace was given ^(HC)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[bk]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(HF)ascended,” what ^[bl]does it mean except that He also ^[bm]had descended into ^(HG)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(HH)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(HI)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He ^(HJ)gave ^(HK)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ^(HL)evangelists, some as ^[bn]pastors and ^(HM)teachers, ^12 (HN)for the equipping of the ^[bo]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(HO)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(HP)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[bp](HQ)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(HR)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[bq]which belongs to the ^(HS)fullness of Christ. ^14 [br]As a result, we are ^(HT)no longer to be children, ^(HU)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by ^(HV)craftiness ^[bs]in ^(HW)deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[bt]speaking the truth ^(HX)in love, ^[bu]we are to ^(HY)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(HZ)head, that is, Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(IA)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[bv]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[bw]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(IB)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (IC)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ^(ID)that you are to no longer walk just as the ^[bx]Gentiles also walk, in the ^(IE)futility of their minds, ¹⁸ being ^(IF)darkened in their understanding, ^[by](IG)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(IH)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(II)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(IJ)become callous, ^(IK)have given themselves up to ^(IL)indecent behavior ^[bz]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(IM)learn Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(IN)have heard Him and have ^(IO)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ^(IP)rid yourselves of the ^(IQ)old ^[ca]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(IR)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you are to be ^(IS)renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to ^(IT)put on the ^(IU)new ^[cb]self, which ^[cc](IV)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(IW)ridding yourselves of falsehood, ^(IX)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are ^(IY)parts of one another. ^26 (IZ)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(JA)give the devil ^[cd]an opportunity. ²⁸ The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ^(JB)he must labor, ^(JC)producing with his own hands what is good, ^(JD)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[ce](JE)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(JF)edification ^[cf]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (JG)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[cg]by whom you were ^(JH)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (JI)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[ch]clamor, and slander must be ^(JJ)removed from you, along with all ^(JK)malice. ^32 (JL)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ^(JM)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[ci]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(JN)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(JO)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(JP)loved ^[cj]you and ^(JQ)gave Himself up for us, an ^(JR)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[ck]as a ^(JS)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(JT)sexual immorality ^[cl]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^[cm]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(JU)filthiness ^[cn]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(JV)are not fitting, but rather ^(JW)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(JX)no sexually immoral or ^[co]impure or greedy person, which ^[cp]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(JY)of Christ and God.

^6 (JZ)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(KA)the wrath of God comes upon ^(KB)the ^[cq]sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become ^(KC)partners with them; ⁸ for ^(KD)you were once ^(KE)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(KF)children of light ⁹ (for ^(KG)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(KH)goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 [cr](KI)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (KJ)Do not participate in the useless ^(KK)deeds of ^(KL)darkness, but instead even ^(KM)expose them; ¹² for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible ^(KN)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[cs]it says,

¹⁵ So then, ^[ct]be careful how you ^(KR)walk, not ^(KS)as unwise people but as wise, ^16 [cu](KT)making the most of your time, because ^(KU)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(KV)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(KW)do not get drunk with wine, ^[cv]in which there is ^(KX)debauchery, but be ^(KY)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (KZ)speaking to ^[cw]one another in ^(LA)psalms and ^(LB)hymns and spiritual ^(LC)songs, ^(LD)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ^20 (LE)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(LF)God and Father; ^21 [cx](LG)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^[cy](LH)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

^22 (LI)Wives, ^(LJ)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(LK)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(LL)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(LM)head of the church, He Himself ^(LN)being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

^25 (LO)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(LP)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (LQ)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(LR)cleansed her by the ^(LS)washing of water with ^(LT)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(LU)present to Himself the church ^[cz]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(LV)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands also ought to ^(LW)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are ^(LX)parts of His ^(LY)body. ^31 (LZ)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to ^(MA)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(MB)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(MC)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (MD)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

^4 (ME)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(MF)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

^5 (MG)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[da]masters according to the flesh, with ^(MH)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(MI)as to Christ; ^6 (MJ)not ^[db]by way of ^[dc]eye-service, as ^(MK)people-pleasers, but as ^(ML)slaves of Christ, ^(MM)doing the will of God from the ^[dd]heart. ⁷ With goodwill ^[de]render service, ^(MN)as to the Lord, and not to people, ^8 (MO)knowing that ^(MP)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, ^(MQ)whether slave or free.

⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and ^(MR)give up threatening, knowing that ^(MS)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(MT)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(MU)be strong in the Lord and in ^(MV)the strength of His might. ^11 (MW)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(MX)schemes of the devil. ¹² For our ^(MY)struggle is not against ^[df](MZ)flesh and blood, but ^(NA)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(NB)world forces of this ^(NC)darkness, against the ^(ND)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(NE)the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up ^(NF)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(NG)resist on ^(NH)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, ^(NI)having belted your waist with truth, and having ^(NJ)put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having ^(NK)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; ^16 [dg]in addition to all, taking up the ^(NL)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(NM)flaming arrows of ^(NN)the evil one. ¹⁷ And take ^(NO)the helmet of salvation and the ^(NP)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(NQ)the word of God.

^18 [dh]With every ^(NR)prayer and request, ^[di](NS)pray at all times ^(NT)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^[dj](NU)be alert with all ^(NV)perseverance and every ^(NW)request for all the ^[dk]saints, ¹⁹ and ^(NX)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me ^(NY)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(NZ)boldness ^(OA)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ^(OB)ambassador ^(OC)in ^[dl]chains; that ^[dm]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(OD)boldly, ^(OE)as I ought to speak.

^21 (OF)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to ^[dn]what I am doing, ^(OG)Tychicus, ^(OH)the beloved brother and faithful ^[do]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ^22 [dp](OI)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^[dq]about us, and that he may ^(OJ)comfort your hearts.

^23 (OK)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and ^(OL)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^[dr]with incorruptible love.

Thanksgiving

1 ^(OM)Paul and ^(ON)Timothy, ^(OO)bond-servants of ^(OP)Christ Jesus,

To ^(OQ)all the ^[ds](OR)saints in Christ Jesus who are in ^(OS)Philippi, ^[dt]including the ^(OT)overseers and ^(OU)deacons: ^2 (OV)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (OW)I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always offering prayer with joy in ^(OX)my every prayer for you all, ⁵ in view of your ^[du](OY)participation in the ^(OZ)gospel ^(PA)from the first day until now. ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work ^[dv]among you will complete it ^[dw]by ^(PB)the day of Christ Jesus. ^7 [dx]For ^(PC)it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I ^(PD)have you in my heart, since both in my ^[dy](PE)imprisonment and in the ^(PF)defense and confirmation of the ^(PG)gospel, you all are ^[dz]partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For ^(PH)God is my witness, how I long for you all with the ^[ea]affection of ^(PI)Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this I pray, that ^(PJ)your love may overflow still more and more in ^(PK)real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may ^[eb](PL)discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for ^(PM)the day of Christ; ¹¹ having been filled with the ^(PN)fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel Is Preached

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances ^(PO)have turned out for the greater progress of the ^(PP)gospel, ¹³ so that my ^[ec](PQ)imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the ^[ed]praetorian guard and to ^(PR)everyone else, ¹⁴ and that most of the brothers and sisters, ^[ee]trusting in the Lord because of my ^[ef](PS)imprisonment, have ^(PT)far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. ^15 (PU)Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even ^[eg]from envy and strife, but some also ^[eh]from goodwill; ¹⁶ the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the ^(PV)gospel; ¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ ^(PW)out of selfish ambition ^[ei]rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my ^[ej](PX)imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.

But not only that, I also will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my ^[ek]deliverance ^(PY)through your ^[el]prayers and the provision of ^(PZ)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my ^(QA)eager expectation and ^(QB)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with ^(QC)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be ^(QD)exalted in my body, ^(QE)whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

²¹ For to me, ^(QF)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ^22 [em]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean ^(QG)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know ^[en]which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the ^(QH)desire to depart and ^(QI)be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. ^25 (QJ)Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy ^[eo]in the faith, ²⁶ so that your ^(QK)pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner ^(QL)worthy of the ^(QM)gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are ^(QN)standing firm in ^(QO)one spirit, with one ^[ep]mind ^(QP)striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ and in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a ^(QQ)sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and this too, from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(QR)it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(QS)suffer on His behalf, ³⁰ experiencing the same ^(QT)conflict which ^(QU)you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.