Add parallel Print Page Options

I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

The Message to the Church in Laodicea

14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning[a] of God’s new creation:

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 3:14 Or the ruler, or the source.

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.”

Read full chapter

11 It said, “Write in a book[a] everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1:11 Or on a scroll.

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)

Read full chapter

Paul’s Work for the Church

24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

Read full chapter

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,

Read full chapter

You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters[a] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:15 Greek brothers.

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.

Read full chapter

For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter