Not Philosophy but Christ

For I want you to know what a great (A)conflict[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:1 struggle

I want you to know how hard I am contending(A) for you and for those at Laodicea,(B) and for all who have not met me personally.

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29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me (A)mightily.

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29 To this end I strenuously(A) contend(B) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.(C)

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30 since you are going through the same struggle(A) you saw(B) I had, and now hear(C) that I still have.

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12 (A)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always (B)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand (C)perfect and [a]complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great [b]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:12 NU fully assured
  2. Colossians 4:13 NU concern

12 Epaphras,(A) who is one of you(B) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(C) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(D) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(E) and Hierapolis.

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The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the [a]angel of the church [b]of the Laodiceans write,

(A)‘These things says the Amen, (B)the Faithful and True Witness, (C)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (D)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [c]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (E)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you (F)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and (G)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 (H)As many as I love, I rebuke and (I)chasten.[d] Therefore be [e]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, (J)I stand at the door and knock. (K)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (L)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes (M)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 (N)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
  2. Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
  3. Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
  4. Revelation 3:19 discipline
  5. Revelation 3:19 eager

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea(A) write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,(B) the ruler of God’s creation.(C) 15 I know your deeds,(D) that you are neither cold nor hot.(E) I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(F) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(G) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(H) so you can become rich; and white clothes(I) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(J) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.(K) So be earnest and repent.(L) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door(M) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(N) I will come in(O) and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious,(P) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(Q) just as I was victorious(R) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear(S) what the Spirit says to the churches.”

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11 saying, [a]“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches [b]which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and,
  2. Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit which are in Asia

11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see(A) and send it to the seven churches:(B) to Ephesus,(C) Smyrna,(D) Pergamum,(E) Thyatira,(F) Sardis,(G) Philadelphia(H) and Laodicea.”(I)

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Sacrificial Service for Christ

24 (A)I now rejoice in my sufferings (B)for you, and fill up in my flesh (C)what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for (D)the sake of His body, which is the church,

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Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice(A) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(B) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(C)

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38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

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38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(A) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(B)

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(A)whom having not [a]seen you love. (B)Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 1:8 M known

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(A) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

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But [a]even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at (A)Philippi, as you know, we were (B)bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 NU, M omit even

We had previously suffered(A) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,(B) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.(C)

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15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and [a]Nymphas and (A)the church that is in [b]his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

16 Now when (B)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:15 NU Nympha
  2. Colossians 4:15 NU her

15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(A) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(B)

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(C) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

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For (A)though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing [a]to see (B)your good order and the (C)steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:5 Lit. and seeing

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit(A) and delight to see how disciplined(B) you are and how firm(C) your faith in Christ(D) is.

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19 (A)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

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19 My dear children,(A) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(B)

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