³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle ^(A)according to the flesh, ⁴ for the ^(B)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ^[a]divinely powerful ^(C)for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying arguments and all ^(D)arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the ^(E)obedience of Christ,

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (A)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ^(B)that you are to no longer walk just as the ^[a]Gentiles also walk, in the ^(C)futility of their minds, ¹⁸ being ^(D)darkened in their understanding, ^[b](E)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(F)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(G)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(H)become callous, ^(I)have given themselves up to ^(J)indecent behavior ^[c]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(K)learn Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(L)have heard Him and have ^(M)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ^(N)rid yourselves of the ^(O)old ^[d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(P)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you are to be ^(Q)renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to ^(R)put on the ^(S)new ^[e]self, which ^[f](T)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(A)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[a]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Put On the New Self

3 Therefore, if you have been ^(A)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(B)seated at the right hand of God. ^2 [a](C)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.

¹⁰ and have ^(A)put on the new self, which is being ^[a](B)renewed to a true knowledge ^(C)according to the image of the One who ^(D)created it—

¹³ Therefore, ^[a](A)prepare your minds for action, ^[b](B)keep sober in spirit, set your ^(C)hope completely on the ^(D)grace to be brought to you at ^(E)the revelation of Jesus Christ.

^2 (A)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in ^(B)the knowledge of God and of Jesus ^[a]our Lord, ³ for His ^(C)divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true ^(D)knowledge of Him who ^(E)called us ^[b]by His own glory and ^[c]excellence. ⁴ Through ^[d]these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent ^(F)promises, so that by them you may become ^(G)partakers of the divine nature, having ^(H)escaped the ^(I)corruption that is in ^(J)the world on account of lust.

^14 (A)Therefore, ^(B)beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be ^(C)found ^(D)spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, ¹⁵ and regard the ^(E)patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also ^(F)our beloved brother Paul, ^(G)according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his letters, speaking in them of ^(H)these things, ^(I)in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and ^(J)unstable distort, as they do also ^(K)the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. ¹⁷ You therefore, ^(L)beloved, knowing this beforehand, ^(M)be on your guard so that you are not carried away by ^(N)the error of ^[a](O)unscrupulous people and ^(P)lose your own ^[b]firm commitment, ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and ^(Q)knowledge of our ^(R)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ^(S)To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.