The God of Comfort

³ Praise^(A) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies^(B) and the God of all comfort.^{(C) 4} He comforts us in all our affliction,^[a] so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

⁵ It is not that we are competent in^[a] ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.^(A)

The Spirit versus the Flesh

¹⁶ I say then, walk by the Spirit^(A) and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires^(B) what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.^{(C) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious:^[a][b] sexual immorality,^(D) moral impurity,^(E) promiscuity,^{(F) 20} idolatry,^(G) sorcery,^(H) hatreds,^(I) strife,^(J) jealousy,^(K) outbursts of anger,^(L) selfish ambitions,^(M) dissensions,^(N) factions,^{(O) 21} envy,^[c](P) drunkenness, carousing,^(Q) and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(R)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit^(S) is love,^(T) joy,^(U) peace, patience,^(V) kindness,^(W) goodness, faith,^{[d] 23} gentleness,^(X) self-control.^(Y) Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus^(Z) have crucified the flesh^(AA) with its passions and desires.^(AB)

¹⁸ I pray that the perception of your mind^[a] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope^(A) of His calling,^(B) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power^(C) to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand^(D) in the heavens^(E)— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[b](F) not only in this age but also in the one to come.^{(G) 22} And He put everything under His feet^(H)[c] and appointed Him as head^(I) over everything for the church, ²³ which is His body,^(J) the fullness^(K) of the One who fills all things^(L) in every way.

Prayer for Spiritual Power

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(A) before the Father^{[a] 15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. ¹⁶ I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches^(B) of His glory,^(C) to be strengthened with power^(D) in the inner man^(E) through His Spirit, ¹⁷ and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,^{(F) 19} and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able^(G) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think^(H) according to the power^(I) that works in us— ²¹ to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^(J)

¹¹ And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling,^(A) and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith,^(B)

Benediction and Farewell

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep^(A)—with the blood of the everlasting covenant,^{(B) 21} equip^[a] you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever.^[b](C) Amen.

Growth in the Faith

³ His^[a] divine power^(A) has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge^(B) of Him who called^(C) us by^[b] His own glory and goodness. ⁴ By these He has given us very great and precious promises,^(D) so that through them you may share in the divine nature,^(E) escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.