20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead(A) and seated him at his right hand(B) in the heavenly realms,(C)

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20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

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11 according to his eternal purpose(A) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

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But to each one of us(A) grace(B) has been given(C) as Christ apportioned it. This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives(D)
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b](E)

(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(F) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or God
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
  3. Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

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In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(A)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(B)
    did not consider equality with God(C) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(D)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(E)
    being made in human likeness.(F)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(G)
        even death on a cross!(H)

Therefore God exalted him(I) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(J)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(K)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(L)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(M)
    to the glory of God the Father.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(A) and brought us into the kingdom(B) of the Son he loves,(C) 14 in whom we have redemption,(D) the forgiveness of sins.(E)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image(F) of the invisible God,(G) the firstborn(H) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(I) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(J) all things have been created through him and for him.(K) 17 He is before all things,(L) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(M) of the body, the church;(N) he is the beginning and the firstborn(O) from among the dead,(P) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(Q) to have all his fullness(R) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(S) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(T) by making peace(U) through his blood,(V) shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(W) in your minds(X) because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(Y) you by Christ’s physical body(Z) through death to present you(AA) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(AB)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

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For in Christ all the fullness(A) of the Deity lives in bodily form,

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For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

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14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,(A) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.(B) 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,(C) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(D) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,(E) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel(F) and with the trumpet call of God,(G) and the dead in Christ will rise first.(H) 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left(I) will be caught up together with them in the clouds(J) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord(K) forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another(L) with these words.

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14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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For there is one God(A) and one mediator(B) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,(C) who gave himself as a ransom(D) for all people. This has now been witnessed to(E) at the proper time.(F)

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For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

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16 Beyond all question, the mystery(A) from which true godliness(B) springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,(C)
    was vindicated by the Spirit,[a]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,(D)
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

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13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(A) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(B) 14 who gave himself for us(C) to redeem us from all wickedness(D) and to purify(E) for himself a people that are his very own,(F) eager to do what is good.(G)

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13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke(A) to our ancestors through the prophets(B) at many times and in various ways,(C) but in these last days(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,(E) whom he appointed heir(F) of all things, and through whom(G) also he made the universe.(H) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory(I) and the exact representation of his being,(J) sustaining all things(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.(M)

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God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

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Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(A) who has ascended into heaven,[a](B) Jesus the Son of God,(C) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(D) 15 For we do not have a high priest(E) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(F)—yet he did not sin.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

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14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,(A) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”[a](B)

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless(C) 19 (for the law made nothing perfect),(D) and a better hope(E) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.(F)

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:(G)
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”[b](H)

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(I)

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.(J) 25 Therefore he is able to save(K) completely[c] those who come to God(L) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.(M)

26 Such a high priest(N) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,(O) exalted above the heavens.(P) 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices(Q) day after day, first for his own sins,(R) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all(S) when he offered himself.(T) 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;(U) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,(V) who has been made perfect(W) forever.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
  2. Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
  3. Hebrews 7:25 Or forever

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

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