Unity in Christ

¹¹ So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”^(A) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(B) 12} At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise,^(C) without hope^(D) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(E) of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both groups one^(F) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, ¹⁵ he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create^(G) in himself one^(H) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body^(I) through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.^{[a] 17} He came and proclaimed the good news^(J) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(K) 18} For through him we both have access^(L) in one Spirit to the Father.^(M)

¹⁸ Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.^{(A) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(B) to himself,^(C) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(D) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,^(E) “Be reconciled to God.”

Restoring a Brother

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you,^[a] go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.^{(A) 16} But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony^[b] of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.^{[c](B) 17} If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church.^[d](C) If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.^{(D) 18} Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound^[e] in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed^[f] in heaven.^{(E) 19} Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you^[g] pray for, it will be done for you^[h] by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

²¹ Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. ²² But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death,^(F) to present you holy, faultless,^(G) and blameless before him^(H)— ²³ if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith^(I) and are not shifted away from the hope^(J) of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation^(K) under heaven,^(L) and I, Paul,^(M) have become a servant of it.

Living Letters

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^{(A) 3} You show that you are Christ’s letter,^(B) delivered^[a] by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God^(C)—not on tablets of stone^(D) but on tablets of human hearts.^[b](E)

Paul’s Competence

⁴ Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵ It is not that we are competent in^[c] ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.^{(F) 6} He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant,^(G) not of the letter,^(H) but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.