¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit^(A) when you heard the word of truth,^(B) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment^(C) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[a] would give you the Spirit^[b](D) of wisdom and revelation^(E) in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope^(F) of his calling,^(G) what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power^(H) toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand^(I) in the heavens^(J)— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[c](K) not only in this age but also in the one to come.^{(L) 22} And he subjected everything under his feet^[d](M) and appointed him^[e] as head^(N) over everything for the church,

Prayer for Spiritual Power

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(A) before the Father^{[a] 15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. ¹⁶ I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches^(B) of his glory,^(C) to be strengthened with power^(D) in your inner being^(E) through his Spirit, ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,^{(F) 19} and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(G) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think^(H) according to the power^(I) that works in us— ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^(J)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,^{[a] 4} always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day^(A) until now.^{(B) 6} I am sure of this, that he who started a good work^(C) in you^[b] will carry it on to completion^(D) until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ Indeed, it is right^(E) for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,^[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment^(F) and in the defense^(G) and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness,^(H) how deeply I miss all of you^(I) with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And I pray this: that your love^(J) will keep on growing^(K) in knowledge and every kind of discernment,^{(L) 10} so that you may approve the things that are superior^(M) and may be pure^(N) and blameless^(O) in the day of Christ,^{(P) 11} filled with the fruit^(Q) of righteousness^(R) that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory^(S) and praise of God.

Thanksgiving

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints ⁵ because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth,^(A) the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. It is bearing fruit^(B) and growing all over the world,^(C) just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate^(D) God’s grace.^{[a](E) 7} You learned this from Epaphras,^(F) our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ^(G) on your^[b] behalf, ⁸ and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.^(H)

Prayer for Spiritual Growth

⁹ For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking^(I) that you may be filled with the knowledge^(J) of his will^(K) in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,^{[c] 10} so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work^(L) and growing in the knowledge of God,^{(M) 11} being strengthened^(N) with all power,^(O) according to his glorious^(P) might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you^[d] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.^(Q)

Thanksgiving

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience^(A) as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.^(B)

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love^(A) for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective^(B) through knowing every good thing^(C) that is in us^[a] for the glory of Christ.