2 For I want you to know ^(A)how great a ^(B)struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

²⁹ For this ^(A)I toil, ^(B)struggling ^(C)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

³⁰ engaged in the same ^(A)conflict that ^(B)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

^12 (A)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^(B)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^(C)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

To the Church in Laodicea

¹⁴ “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the ^(A)Amen, ^(B)the faithful and true witness, ^(C)the beginning of God's creation.

¹⁵ “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. ^(D)Would that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. ^17 (E)For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, ^(F)blind, and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you ^(G)to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and ^(H)white garments so that you may clothe yourself and ^(I)the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, ^(J)so that you may see. ^19 (K)Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and ^(L)knock. ^(M)If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, ^(N)I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. ^21 (O)The one who conquers, ^(P)I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as ^(Q)I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. ^22 (R)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

¹¹ saying, ^(A)“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now ^(A)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(B)I am filling up ^(C)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions ^(D)for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

³⁸ being sorrowful most of all because of ^(A)the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And ^(B)they accompanied him to the ship.

^8 (A)Though you have not seen him, you love him. ^(B)Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,