The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^[a](C)by the will of God,

To the ^[b](D)saints who are ^[c]at ^(E)Ephesus and ^(F)are faithful in ^(G)Christ Jesus: ^2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(J)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(K)He chose us in Him before ^(L)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(M)holy and blameless before ^[d]Him. ^(N)In love ^5 [e]He ^(O)predestined us to ^(P)adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, ^6 (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in ^(S)the Beloved. ^7 (T)In ^[f]Him we have ^(U)redemption ^(V)through His blood, the ^(W)forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to ^(X)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He ^[g]lavished on ^[h]us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He ^[i](Y)made known to us the mystery of His will, ^(Z)according to His good pleasure which He ^(AA)set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of ^(AB)the fullness of the times, ^(AC)to bring all things together in Christ, things ^[j]in the heavens and things on the earth. ^11 [k]In Him we also ^(AD)have obtained an inheritance, having been ^(AE)predestined ^(AF)according to the purpose of Him who works all things ^(AG)in accordance with the plan of His will, ¹² to the end that ^[l]we who were the first to hope in the ^[m]Christ would be ^(AH)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[n]Him, ^[o]you also, after listening to ^(AI)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[p]believed, you were ^(AJ)sealed in ^[q]Him with ^(AK)the Holy Spirit of the promise, ¹⁴ who is a ^(AL)first installment of ^(AM)our inheritance, in regard to the ^(AN)redemption of ^(AO)God’s own possession, ^(AP)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[r]your love for ^(AR)all the ^[s]saints, ^16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(AT)while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the ^(AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AV)the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of ^(AW)wisdom and of ^(AX)revelation in the ^[t]knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that ^(AY)the eyes of your heart ^[u]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the ^(AZ)hope of His ^(BA)calling, what are ^(BB)the riches of the glory of ^(BC)His inheritance in ^(BD)the ^[v]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the ^[w]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. ^(BE)These are in accordance with the working of the ^(BF)strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He ^(BG)raised Him from the dead and ^(BH)seated Him at His right hand in ^(BI)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(BK)name that is named, not only in ^(BL)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He ^(BM)put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him ^(BN)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(BO)body, the ^(BP)fullness of Him who ^(BQ)fills ^(BR)all in all.

Made Alive in Christ

2 And ^[x]you ^[y]were ^(BS)dead ^[z]in your offenses and sins, ² in which you ^(BT)previously walked according to the ^[aa]course of ^(BU)this world, according to ^(BV)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(BW)the ^[ab]sons of disobedience. ³ Among them ^[ac]we too all ^(BX)previously lived in ^(BY)the lusts of our flesh, ^[ad]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[ae]mind, and were ^(BZ)by nature ^(CA)children of wrath, ^(CB)just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(CC)rich in mercy, because of ^(CD)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(CE)dead ^[af]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together ^[ag]with Christ (^(CF)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(CG)raised us up with Him, and ^(CH)seated us with Him in ^(CI)the heavenly places in ^(CJ)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the ^[ah]boundless ^(CK)riches of His grace in ^(CL)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(CM)by grace you have been saved ^(CN)through faith; and ^[ai]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(CO)the gift of God; ^9 (CP)not a result of works, so that ^(CQ)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(CR)created in ^(CS)Christ Jesus for ^(CT)good works, which God ^(CU)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(CV)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(CW)previously ^(CX)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(CY)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(CZ)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[aj](DA)excluded from ^[ak]the people of Israel, and strangers to ^(DB)the covenants of the promise, having ^(DC)no hope and ^(DD)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(DE)Christ Jesus you who ^(DF)previously were ^(DG)far away ^[al]have ^(DH)been brought near ^[am](DI)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(DJ)our peace, ^(DK)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[an]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [ao]by ^(DL)abolishing ^[ap]in His flesh the hostility, which is ^(DM)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[aq](DN)make the two ^(DO)one new person, in this way establishing ^(DP)peace; ¹⁶ and that He might ^(DQ)reconcile them both in ^(DR)one body to God through the cross, ^[ar]by it having ^(DS)put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And ^(DT)He came and preached ^(DU)peace to you who were ^(DV)far away, and peace to those who were ^(DW)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(DX)our access in ^(DY)one Spirit to ^(DZ)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(EA)strangers and foreigners, but you are ^(EB)fellow citizens with the ^[as]saints, and are of ^(EC)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(ED)built on ^(EE)the foundation of ^(EF)the apostles and prophets, ^(EG)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(EH)cornerstone, ^21 (EI)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(EJ)a holy ^[at]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(EK)built together into a ^(EL)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(EM)the prisoner of ^(EN)Christ Jesus ^(EO)for the sake of you ^(EP)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(EQ)administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (ER)that ^(ES)by revelation there was ^(ET)made known to me ^(EU)the mystery, ^(EV)as I wrote before briefly. ^4 [au]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(EW)my insight ^[av]into the ^(EX)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to ^[aw]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(EY)apostles and prophets ^[ax]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(EZ)fellow heirs and ^(FA)fellow members of the body, and ^(FB)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(FC)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (FD)of which I was made a ^(FE)minister, according to the gift of ^(FF)God’s grace which was given to me ^(FG)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(FH)the very least of all ^[ay]saints, this grace was given, to ^(FI)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(FJ)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to ^[az]enlighten all people as to what the plan of the ^(FK)mystery is which for ages has been ^(FL)hidden in God, ^(FM)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the multifaceted ^(FN)wisdom of God might now be ^(FO)made known through the church to the ^(FP)rulers and the authorities in ^(FQ)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(FR)accordance with the ^[ba]eternal purpose which He ^[bb]carried out in ^(FS)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[bc](FT)confident ^(FU)access through faith ^[bd]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[be]you not ^(FV)to become discouraged about my tribulations ^(FW)in your behalf, ^[bf]since they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(FX)bend my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[bg]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to ^(FY)the riches of His glory, to be ^(FZ)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(GA)the inner ^[bh]self, ¹⁷ so that ^(GB)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(GC)rooted and ^(GD)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(GE)all the ^[bi]saints what is ^(GF)the width and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(GG)the love of Christ which ^(GH)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(GI)filled to all the ^(GJ)fullness of God.

^20 (GK)Now to Him who is ^(GL)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ^(GM)according to the power that works within us, ^21 (GN)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[bj]forever and ever. Amen.

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(GO)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(GP)urge you to ^(GQ)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(GR)calling with which you have been ^(GS)called, ² with all ^(GT)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ^(GU)in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ^(GV)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(GW)one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one ^(GX)hope of your calling; ^5 (GY)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(GZ)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(HA)to each one of us ^(HB)grace was given ^(HC)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[bk]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(HF)ascended,” what ^[bl]does it mean except that He also ^[bm]had descended into ^(HG)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(HH)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(HI)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He ^(HJ)gave ^(HK)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ^(HL)evangelists, some as ^[bn]pastors and ^(HM)teachers, ^12 (HN)for the equipping of the ^[bo]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(HO)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(HP)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[bp](HQ)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(HR)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[bq]which belongs to the ^(HS)fullness of Christ. ^14 [br]As a result, we are ^(HT)no longer to be children, ^(HU)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by ^(HV)craftiness ^[bs]in ^(HW)deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[bt]speaking the truth ^(HX)in love, ^[bu]we are to ^(HY)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(HZ)head, that is, Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(IA)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[bv]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[bw]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(IB)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (IC)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ^(ID)that you are to no longer walk just as the ^[bx]Gentiles also walk, in the ^(IE)futility of their minds, ¹⁸ being ^(IF)darkened in their understanding, ^[by](IG)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(IH)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(II)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(IJ)become callous, ^(IK)have given themselves up to ^(IL)indecent behavior ^[bz]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(IM)learn Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(IN)have heard Him and have ^(IO)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ^(IP)rid yourselves of the ^(IQ)old ^[ca]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(IR)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you are to be ^(IS)renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to ^(IT)put on the ^(IU)new ^[cb]self, which ^[cc](IV)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(IW)ridding yourselves of falsehood, ^(IX)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are ^(IY)parts of one another. ^26 (IZ)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(JA)give the devil ^[cd]an opportunity. ²⁸ The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ^(JB)he must labor, ^(JC)producing with his own hands what is good, ^(JD)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[ce](JE)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(JF)edification ^[cf]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (JG)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[cg]by whom you were ^(JH)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (JI)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[ch]clamor, and slander must be ^(JJ)removed from you, along with all ^(JK)malice. ^32 (JL)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ^(JM)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[ci]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(JN)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(JO)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(JP)loved ^[cj]you and ^(JQ)gave Himself up for us, an ^(JR)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[ck]as a ^(JS)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(JT)sexual immorality ^[cl]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^[cm]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(JU)filthiness ^[cn]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(JV)are not fitting, but rather ^(JW)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(JX)no sexually immoral or ^[co]impure or greedy person, which ^[cp]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(JY)of Christ and God.

^6 (JZ)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(KA)the wrath of God comes upon ^(KB)the ^[cq]sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become ^(KC)partners with them; ⁸ for ^(KD)you were once ^(KE)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(KF)children of light ⁹ (for ^(KG)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(KH)goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 [cr](KI)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (KJ)Do not participate in the useless ^(KK)deeds of ^(KL)darkness, but instead even ^(KM)expose them; ¹² for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible ^(KN)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[cs]it says,

¹⁵ So then, ^[ct]be careful how you ^(KR)walk, not ^(KS)as unwise people but as wise, ^16 [cu](KT)making the most of your time, because ^(KU)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(KV)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(KW)do not get drunk with wine, ^[cv]in which there is ^(KX)debauchery, but be ^(KY)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (KZ)speaking to ^[cw]one another in ^(LA)psalms and ^(LB)hymns and spiritual ^(LC)songs, ^(LD)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ^20 (LE)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(LF)God and Father; ^21 [cx](LG)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^[cy](LH)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

^22 (LI)Wives, ^(LJ)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(LK)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(LL)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(LM)head of the church, He Himself ^(LN)being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

^25 (LO)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(LP)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (LQ)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(LR)cleansed her by the ^(LS)washing of water with ^(LT)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(LU)present to Himself the church ^[cz]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(LV)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands also ought to ^(LW)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are ^(LX)parts of His ^(LY)body. ^31 (LZ)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to ^(MA)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(MB)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(MC)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (MD)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

^4 (ME)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(MF)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

^5 (MG)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[da]masters according to the flesh, with ^(MH)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(MI)as to Christ; ^6 (MJ)not ^[db]by way of ^[dc]eye-service, as ^(MK)people-pleasers, but as ^(ML)slaves of Christ, ^(MM)doing the will of God from the ^[dd]heart. ⁷ With goodwill ^[de]render service, ^(MN)as to the Lord, and not to people, ^8 (MO)knowing that ^(MP)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, ^(MQ)whether slave or free.

⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and ^(MR)give up threatening, knowing that ^(MS)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(MT)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(MU)be strong in the Lord and in ^(MV)the strength of His might. ^11 (MW)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(MX)schemes of the devil. ¹² For our ^(MY)struggle is not against ^[df](MZ)flesh and blood, but ^(NA)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(NB)world forces of this ^(NC)darkness, against the ^(ND)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(NE)the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up ^(NF)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(NG)resist on ^(NH)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, ^(NI)having belted your waist with truth, and having ^(NJ)put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having ^(NK)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; ^16 [dg]in addition to all, taking up the ^(NL)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(NM)flaming arrows of ^(NN)the evil one. ¹⁷ And take ^(NO)the helmet of salvation and the ^(NP)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(NQ)the word of God.

^18 [dh]With every ^(NR)prayer and request, ^[di](NS)pray at all times ^(NT)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^[dj](NU)be alert with all ^(NV)perseverance and every ^(NW)request for all the ^[dk]saints, ¹⁹ and ^(NX)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me ^(NY)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(NZ)boldness ^(OA)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ^(OB)ambassador ^(OC)in ^[dl]chains; that ^[dm]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(OD)boldly, ^(OE)as I ought to speak.

^21 (OF)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to ^[dn]what I am doing, ^(OG)Tychicus, ^(OH)the beloved brother and faithful ^[do]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ^22 [dp](OI)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^[dq]about us, and that he may ^(OJ)comfort your hearts.

^23 (OK)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and ^(OL)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^[dr]with incorruptible love.

Thanksgiving

1 ^(A)Paul and ^(B)Timothy, ^(C)bond-servants of ^(D)Christ Jesus,

To ^(E)all the ^[a](F)saints in Christ Jesus who are in ^(G)Philippi, ^[b]including the ^(H)overseers and ^(I)deacons: ^2 (J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (K)I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always offering prayer with joy in ^(L)my every prayer for you all, ⁵ in view of your ^[c](M)participation in the ^(N)gospel ^(O)from the first day until now. ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work ^[d]among you will complete it ^[e]by ^(P)the day of Christ Jesus. ^7 [f]For ^(Q)it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I ^(R)have you in my heart, since both in my ^[g](S)imprisonment and in the ^(T)defense and confirmation of the ^(U)gospel, you all are ^[h]partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For ^(V)God is my witness, how I long for you all with the ^[i]affection of ^(W)Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this I pray, that ^(X)your love may overflow still more and more in ^(Y)real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may ^[j](Z)discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for ^(AA)the day of Christ; ¹¹ having been filled with the ^(AB)fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel Is Preached

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances ^(AC)have turned out for the greater progress of the ^(AD)gospel, ¹³ so that my ^[k](AE)imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the ^[l]praetorian guard and to ^(AF)everyone else, ¹⁴ and that most of the brothers and sisters, ^[m]trusting in the Lord because of my ^[n](AG)imprisonment, have ^(AH)far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. ^15 (AI)Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even ^[o]from envy and strife, but some also ^[p]from goodwill; ¹⁶ the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the ^(AJ)gospel; ¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ ^(AK)out of selfish ambition ^[q]rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my ^[r](AL)imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.

But not only that, I also will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my ^[s]deliverance ^(AM)through your ^[t]prayers and the provision of ^(AN)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my ^(AO)eager expectation and ^(AP)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with ^(AQ)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be ^(AR)exalted in my body, ^(AS)whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

²¹ For to me, ^(AT)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ^22 [u]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean ^(AU)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know ^[v]which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the ^(AV)desire to depart and ^(AW)be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. ^25 (AX)Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy ^[w]in the faith, ²⁶ so that your ^(AY)pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner ^(AZ)worthy of the ^(BA)gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are ^(BB)standing firm in ^(BC)one spirit, with one ^[x]mind ^(BD)striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ and in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a ^(BE)sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and this too, from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(BF)it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(BG)suffer on His behalf, ³⁰ experiencing the same ^(BH)conflict which ^(BI)you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Be like Christ

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any ^(BJ)fellowship of the Spirit, if any ^[y](BK)affection and compassion, ^2 (BL)make my joy complete ^[z]by ^(BM)being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing ^[aa]from ^[ab](BN)selfishness or ^(BO)empty conceit, but with humility ^(BP)consider one another as more important than yourselves; ^4 (BQ)do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ^5 (BR)Have this attitude ^[ac]in yourselves which was also in ^(BS)Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, as He already ^(BT)existed in the ^(BU)form of God, ^(BV)did not consider equality with God something to be ^[ad]grasped, ⁷ but ^[ae](BW)emptied Himself by taking the form of a ^(BX)bond-servant and ^[af](BY)being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, ^(BZ)He humbled Himself by becoming ^(CA)obedient to the point of death: ^(CB)death ^[ag]on a cross. ^9 (CC)For this reason also God ^(CD)highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him ^(CE)the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(CF)every knee will bow, of ^(CG)those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is ^(CH)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² So then, my beloved, ^(CI)just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own ^(CJ)salvation with ^(CK)fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is ^(CL)God who is at work in you, both to ^[ah]desire and to work ^(CM)for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without ^(CN)complaining or arguments; ¹⁵ so that you will ^[ai]prove yourselves to be ^(CO)blameless and innocent, ^(CP)children of God above reproach in the midst of a ^(CQ)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you ^[aj](CR)appear as ^[ak]lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding firmly the word of life, so that on ^(CS)the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not ^(CT)run in vain nor ^(CU)labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being ^(CV)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(CW)the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ¹⁸ You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ But I hope, ^[al]in the Lord Jesus, to ^(CX)send ^(CY)Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. ²⁰ For I have no one else ^(CZ)of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all ^(DA)seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know ^(DB)of his proven character, that ^(DC)he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel ^(DD)like a child serving his father. ^23 (DE)Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; ²⁴ and ^(DF)I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly. ²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you ^(DG)Epaphroditus, my brother and ^(DH)fellow worker and ^(DI)fellow soldier, who is also your ^[am](DJ)messenger and ^(DK)minister to my need, ²⁶ because he was longing ^[an]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. ^29 (DL)Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and ^(DM)hold people like him in high regard, ³⁰ because he came close to death ^[ao](DN)for the work of Christ, risking his life to ^(DO)compensate ^[ap]for your absence in your service to me.

The Goal of Life

3 Finally, my brothers and sisters, ^(DP)rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.

² Beware of the ^(DQ)dogs, beware of the ^(DR)evil workers, beware of the ^[aq]false circumcision; ³ for ^(DS)we are the true ^[ar]circumcision, who ^(DT)worship in the Spirit of God and take ^(DU)pride in ^(DV)Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, ⁴ although ^(DW)I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: ^5 (DX)circumcised the eighth day, of the ^(DY)nation of Israel, of the ^(DZ)tribe of Benjamin, a ^(EA)Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, ^(EB)a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, ^(EC)a persecutor of the church; as to the ^(ED)righteousness which is in the Law, found ^(EE)blameless.

⁷ But ^(EF)whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss ^[as]in view of the surpassing value of ^[at](EG)knowing ^(EH)Christ Jesus my Lord, ^[au]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having ^(EI)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, ^(EJ)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may ^(EK)know Him and ^(EL)the power of His resurrection and ^[av](EM)the fellowship of His sufferings, being ^(EN)conformed to His death; ¹¹ if somehow I may ^(EO)attain to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already ^[aw](EP)grasped it all or have already ^(EQ)become perfect, but I press on if I may also ^(ER)take hold of that ^[ax]for which I ^(ES)was even taken hold of by ^(ET)Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: ^(EU)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I ^(EV)press on toward the goal for the prize of the ^(EW)upward call of God in ^(EX)Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore, all who are ^[ay](EY)mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a ^(EZ)different attitude, ^(FA)God will reveal that to you as well; ¹⁶ however, let’s keep ^[az](FB)living by that same standard to which we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, ^(FC)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the ^(FD)pattern you have in us. ¹⁸ For ^(FE)many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I ^(FF)weep, that they are the enemies of ^(FG)the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their ^[ba](FH)appetite, and whose ^(FI)glory is in their shame, who ^(FJ)have their minds on earthly things. ²⁰ For ^(FK)our ^[bb]citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly ^(FL)wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ who will ^(FM)transform the body of our lowly condition into ^(FN)conformity with ^[bc]His ^(FO)glorious body, ^(FP)by the exertion of the power that He has even to ^(FQ)subject all things to Himself.

Think of Excellence

4 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, ^[bd]whom I ^(FR)long to see, my joy and crown, ^(FS)stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to ^[be](FT)live in harmony in the Lord. ³ Indeed, true ^[bf]companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my ^(FU)fellow workers, whose ^(FV)names are in the book of life.

^4 (FW)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. ^(FX)The Lord is ^[bg]near. ^6 (FY)Do not ^[bh]be anxious about anything, but in everything by ^(FZ)prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(GA)the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[bi]comprehension, will ^(GB)guard your hearts and ^(GC)minds in ^(GD)Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(GE)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[bj]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen ^(GF)in me, practice these things, and ^(GG)the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last ^(GH)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[bk]from need, for I have learned to be ^[bl](GI)content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going ^(GJ)hungry, both of having abundance and ^(GK)suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[bm]through Him who ^(GL)strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to ^(GM)share with me in my difficulty.

¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[bn](GN)first preaching of the gospel, after I left ^(GO)Macedonia, no church ^(GP)shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; ¹⁶ for even in ^(GQ)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ^17 (GR)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the ^[bo]profit which increases to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[bp]amply supplied, having received from ^(GS)Epaphroditus ^[bq]what you have sent, ^[br](GT)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And ^(GU)my God will supply ^[bs]all your needs according to His ^(GV)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to ^(GW)our God and Father ^(GX)be the glory ^[bt]forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every ^[bu]saint in Christ Jesus. ^(GY)The brothers who are with me greet you. ^22 (GZ)All the ^[bv](HA)saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

^23 (HB)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ ^(HC)be with your spirit.