Galatians 3:26 - Colossians 4:18

New American Standard Bible

²⁶ For you are all ^(A)sons and daughters of God through faith in ^(B)Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were ^(C)baptized into Christ have ^(D)clothed yourselves with Christ. ^28 (E)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is ^[a]neither male nor female; for ^(F)you are all one in ^(G)Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ^(H)you ^[b]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ^[c]descendants, heirs according to ^(I)promise.

Sonship in Christ

4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a ^[d]child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is ^[e]owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and ^[f]managers until the ^[g]date set by the father. ³ So we too, when we were children, were held ^(J)in bondage under the ^[h](K)elementary principles of the world. ⁴ But when ^(L)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, ^(M)born of a woman, born ^(N)under ^[i]the Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^[j]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(O)sons and daughters. ⁶ Because you are sons, ^(P)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “^(Q)Abba! ^[k]Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(R)if a son, then an heir ^[l]through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(S)when you did not know God, you were ^(T)slaves to ^(U)those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^(V)known by God, ^(W)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^[m](X)elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You ^(Y)meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^[n]over you in vain.

¹² I beg of you, ^(Z)brothers and sisters, ^(AA)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; ¹³ but you know that it was because of a ^[o]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^[p]first time; ¹⁴ and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my ^[q]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but ^(AB)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is ^[r]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy ^(AC)by ^[s]telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not ^[t]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. ¹⁸ But it is good always to be eagerly sought ^[u]in a commendable way, and ^(AD)not only when I am present with you. ^19 (AE)My children, with whom ^(AF)I am again in labor until ^(AG)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for ^(AH)I am at a loss about you!

Slave and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^(AI)listen to the Law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(AJ)one by the slave woman and ^(AK)one by the free woman. ²³ But ^(AL)the son by the slave woman ^[v]was born according to the flesh, and ^(AM)the son by the free woman through the promise. ^24 [w](AN)This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from ^(AO)Mount Sinai giving birth to children ^[x]who are to be ^(AP)slaves; ^[y]she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. ²⁶ But ^(AQ)the Jerusalem above is free; ^[z]she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ And you, brothers and sisters, ^(AS)like Isaac, are ^(AT)children of promise. ²⁹ But as at that time ^(AU)the son who was born according to the flesh ^(AV)persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AW)so it is even now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say?

³¹ So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.

Follow the Spirit

5 ^(AZ)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^(BA)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^(BB)yoke of slavery.

² Look! I, ^(BC)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves ^(BD)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I ^(BE)testify again to every man who has himself ^(BF)circumcised, that he is obligated to ^(BG)keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who ^[aa]are seeking to be justified by the ^[ab]Law; you have ^(BH)fallen from grace. ⁵ For we, ^[ac]through the Spirit, ^[ad]by faith, are ^(BI)waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in ^(BJ)Christ Jesus ^(BK)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^(BL)faith working through love.

⁷ You were ^(BM)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from ^(BN)Him who calls you. ^9 (BO)A little ^[ae]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ^10 (BP)I have confidence ^[af]in you in the Lord, that you ^(BQ)will adopt no other view; but the one who is ^(BR)disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. ¹¹ But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^(BS)persecuted? Then ^(BT)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. ¹² I wish that ^(BU)those who are troubling you would even ^[ag](BV)emasculate themselves.

¹³ For you were called to ^(BW)freedom, brothers and sisters; ^(BX)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but ^(BY)serve one another through love. ¹⁴ For ^(BZ)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^(CA)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(CB)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, ^(CC)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^(CD)the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(CE)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^(CF)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(CG)led by the Spirit, ^(CH)you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^(CI)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(CJ)witchcraft, hostilities, ^(CK)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(CL)selfish ambition, dissensions, ^(CM)factions, ²¹ envy, ^(CN)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^(CO)inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(CP)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(CQ)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, ^(CR)self-control; against such things ^(CS)there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[ah]belong to ^(CT)Christ Jesus ^(CU)crucified the flesh with its passions and ^(CV)desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow ^(CW)the Spirit as well. ²⁶ Let’s not become ^(CX)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 ^(CY)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are ^(CZ)spiritual are to ^(DA)restore such a person ^(DB)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ^2 (DC)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill ^(DD)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(DE)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must ^(DF)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for ^(DG)boasting, but ^[ai]to himself alone, and not ^[aj]to another. ⁵ For ^(DH)each one will bear his own load.

^6 (DI)The one who is taught ^(DJ)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. ^7 (DK)Do not be deceived, ^(DL)God is not mocked; for ^(DM)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. ^8 (DN)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap ^(DO)destruction from the flesh, but ^(DP)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ^9 (DQ)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we ^(DR)do not become weary. ¹⁰ So then, ^[ak](DS)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the ^(DT)household of ^(DU)the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you ^(DV)with my own hand! ¹² All who want ^(DW)to make a good showing in the flesh try to ^(DX)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they ^(DY)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who ^[al]are circumcised do not even ^(DZ)keep ^[am]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may ^(EA)boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But ^(EB)[an]far be it from me to boast, ^(EC)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(ED)through ^[ao]which the world has been crucified to me, and ^(EE)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(EF)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a ^(EG)new ^[ap]creation. ¹⁶ And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the ^(EH)Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the ^[aq](EI)marks of Jesus.

^18 (EJ)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(EK)with your spirit, ^(EL)brothers and sisters. Amen.

The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, ^(EM)an apostle of ^(EN)Christ Jesus ^[ar](EO)by the will of God,

To the ^[as](EP)saints who are ^[at]at ^(EQ)Ephesus and ^(ER)are faithful in ^(ES)Christ Jesus: ^2 (ET)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (EU)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(EV)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(EW)He chose us in Him before ^(EX)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(EY)holy and blameless before ^[au]Him. ^(EZ)In love ^5 [av]He ^(FA)predestined us to ^(FB)adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(FC)according to the good pleasure of His will, ^6 (FD)to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in ^(FE)the Beloved. ^7 (FF)In ^[aw]Him we have ^(FG)redemption ^(FH)through His blood, the ^(FI)forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to ^(FJ)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He ^[ax]lavished on ^[ay]us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He ^[az](FK)made known to us the mystery of His will, ^(FL)according to His good pleasure which He ^(FM)set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of ^(FN)the fullness of the times, ^(FO)to bring all things together in Christ, things ^[ba]in the heavens and things on the earth. ^11 [bb]In Him we also ^(FP)have obtained an inheritance, having been ^(FQ)predestined ^(FR)according to the purpose of Him who works all things ^(FS)in accordance with the plan of His will, ¹² to the end that ^[bc]we who were the first to hope in the ^[bd]Christ would be ^(FT)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[be]Him, ^[bf]you also, after listening to ^(FU)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[bg]believed, you were ^(FV)sealed in ^[bh]Him with ^(FW)the Holy Spirit of the promise, ¹⁴ who is a ^(FX)first installment of ^(FY)our inheritance, in regard to the ^(FZ)redemption of ^(GA)God’s own possession, ^(GB)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(GC)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[bi]your love for ^(GD)all the ^[bj]saints, ^16 (GE)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(GF)while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the ^(GG)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(GH)the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of ^(GI)wisdom and of ^(GJ)revelation in the ^[bk]knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that ^(GK)the eyes of your heart ^[bl]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the ^(GL)hope of His ^(GM)calling, what are ^(GN)the riches of the glory of ^(GO)His inheritance in ^(GP)the ^[bm]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the ^[bn]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. ^(GQ)These are in accordance with the working of the ^(GR)strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He ^(GS)raised Him from the dead and ^(GT)seated Him at His right hand in ^(GU)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(GV)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(GW)name that is named, not only in ^(GX)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He ^(GY)put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him ^(GZ)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(HA)body, the ^(HB)fullness of Him who ^(HC)fills ^(HD)all in all.

Made Alive in Christ

2 And ^[bo]you ^[bp]were ^(HE)dead ^[bq]in your offenses and sins, ² in which you ^(HF)previously walked according to the ^[br]course of ^(HG)this world, according to ^(HH)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(HI)the ^[bs]sons of disobedience. ³ Among them ^[bt]we too all ^(HJ)previously lived in ^(HK)the lusts of our flesh, ^[bu]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[bv]mind, and were ^(HL)by nature ^(HM)children of wrath, ^(HN)just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(HO)rich in mercy, because of ^(HP)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(HQ)dead ^[bw]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together ^[bx]with Christ (^(HR)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(HS)raised us up with Him, and ^(HT)seated us with Him in ^(HU)the heavenly places in ^(HV)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the ^[by]boundless ^(HW)riches of His grace in ^(HX)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(HY)by grace you have been saved ^(HZ)through faith; and ^[bz]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(IA)the gift of God; ^9 (IB)not a result of works, so that ^(IC)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(ID)created in ^(IE)Christ Jesus for ^(IF)good works, which God ^(IG)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(IH)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(II)previously ^(IJ)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(IK)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(IL)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[ca](IM)excluded from ^[cb]the people of Israel, and strangers to ^(IN)the covenants of the promise, having ^(IO)no hope and ^(IP)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(IQ)Christ Jesus you who ^(IR)previously were ^(IS)far away ^[cc]have ^(IT)been brought near ^[cd](IU)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(IV)our peace, ^(IW)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[ce]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [cf]by ^(IX)abolishing ^[cg]in His flesh the hostility, which is ^(IY)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[ch](IZ)make the two ^(JA)one new person, in this way establishing ^(JB)peace; ¹⁶ and that He might ^(JC)reconcile them both in ^(JD)one body to God through the cross, ^[ci]by it having ^(JE)put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And ^(JF)He came and preached ^(JG)peace to you who were ^(JH)far away, and peace to those who were ^(JI)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(JJ)our access in ^(JK)one Spirit to ^(JL)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(JM)strangers and foreigners, but you are ^(JN)fellow citizens with the ^[cj]saints, and are of ^(JO)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(JP)built on ^(JQ)the foundation of ^(JR)the apostles and prophets, ^(JS)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(JT)cornerstone, ^21 (JU)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(JV)a holy ^[ck]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(JW)built together into a ^(JX)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(JY)the prisoner of ^(JZ)Christ Jesus ^(KA)for the sake of you ^(KB)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(KC)administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (KD)that ^(KE)by revelation there was ^(KF)made known to me ^(KG)the mystery, ^(KH)as I wrote before briefly. ^4 [cl]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(KI)my insight ^[cm]into the ^(KJ)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to ^[cn]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(KK)apostles and prophets ^[co]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(KL)fellow heirs and ^(KM)fellow members of the body, and ^(KN)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(KO)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (KP)of which I was made a ^(KQ)minister, according to the gift of ^(KR)God’s grace which was given to me ^(KS)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(KT)the very least of all ^[cp]saints, this grace was given, to ^(KU)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(KV)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to ^[cq]enlighten all people as to what the plan of the ^(KW)mystery is which for ages has been ^(KX)hidden in God, ^(KY)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the multifaceted ^(KZ)wisdom of God might now be ^(LA)made known through the church to the ^(LB)rulers and the authorities in ^(LC)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(LD)accordance with the ^[cr]eternal purpose which He ^[cs]carried out in ^(LE)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[ct](LF)confident ^(LG)access through faith ^[cu]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[cv]you not ^(LH)to become discouraged about my tribulations ^(LI)in your behalf, ^[cw]since they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(LJ)bend my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[cx]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to ^(LK)the riches of His glory, to be ^(LL)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(LM)the inner ^[cy]self, ¹⁷ so that ^(LN)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(LO)rooted and ^(LP)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(LQ)all the ^[cz]saints what is ^(LR)the width and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(LS)the love of Christ which ^(LT)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(LU)filled to all the ^(LV)fullness of God.

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

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(MA)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(MB)urge you to ^(MC)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(MD)calling with which you have been ^(ME)called, ² with all ^(MF)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ^(MG)in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ^(MH)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(MI)one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one ^(MJ)hope of your calling; ^5 (MK)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(ML)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(MM)to each one of us ^(MN)grace was given ^(MO)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[db]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(MR)ascended,” what ^[dc]does it mean except that He also ^[dd]had descended into ^(MS)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(MT)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(MU)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He ^(MV)gave ^(MW)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ^(MX)evangelists, some as ^[de]pastors and ^(MY)teachers, ^12 (MZ)for the equipping of the ^[df]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(NA)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(NB)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[dg](NC)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(ND)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[dh]which belongs to the ^(NE)fullness of Christ. ^14 [di]As a result, we are ^(NF)no longer to be children, ^(NG)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by ^(NH)craftiness ^[dj]in ^(NI)deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[dk]speaking the truth ^(NJ)in love, ^[dl]we are to ^(NK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(NL)head, that is, Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(NM)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[dm]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[dn]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(NN)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (NO)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ^(NP)that you are to no longer walk just as the ^[do]Gentiles also walk, in the ^(NQ)futility of their minds, ¹⁸ being ^(NR)darkened in their understanding, ^[dp](NS)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(NT)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(NU)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(NV)become callous, ^(NW)have given themselves up to ^(NX)indecent behavior ^[dq]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(NY)learn Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(NZ)have heard Him and have ^(OA)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ^(OB)rid yourselves of the ^(OC)old ^[dr]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(OD)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you are to be ^(OE)renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to ^(OF)put on the ^(OG)new ^[ds]self, which ^[dt](OH)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(OI)ridding yourselves of falsehood, ^(OJ)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are ^(OK)parts of one another. ^26 (OL)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(OM)give the devil ^[du]an opportunity. ²⁸ The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ^(ON)he must labor, ^(OO)producing with his own hands what is good, ^(OP)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[dv](OQ)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(OR)edification ^[dw]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (OS)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[dx]by whom you were ^(OT)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (OU)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[dy]clamor, and slander must be ^(OV)removed from you, along with all ^(OW)malice. ^32 (OX)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ^(OY)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[dz]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(OZ)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(PA)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(PB)loved ^[ea]you and ^(PC)gave Himself up for us, an ^(PD)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[eb]as a ^(PE)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(PF)sexual immorality ^[ec]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^[ed]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(PG)filthiness ^[ee]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(PH)are not fitting, but rather ^(PI)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(PJ)no sexually immoral or ^[ef]impure or greedy person, which ^[eg]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(PK)of Christ and God.

^6 (PL)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(PM)the wrath of God comes upon ^(PN)the ^[eh]sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become ^(PO)partners with them; ⁸ for ^(PP)you were once ^(PQ)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(PR)children of light ⁹ (for ^(PS)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(PT)goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 [ei](PU)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (PV)Do not participate in the useless ^(PW)deeds of ^(PX)darkness, but instead even ^(PY)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 ^(PZ)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[ej]it says,

¹⁵ So then, ^[ek]be careful how you ^(QD)walk, not ^(QE)as unwise people but as wise, ^16 [el](QF)making the most of your time, because ^(QG)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(QH)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(QI)do not get drunk with wine, ^[em]in which there is ^(QJ)debauchery, but be ^(QK)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (QL)speaking to ^[en]one another in ^(QM)psalms and ^(QN)hymns and spiritual ^(QO)songs, ^(QP)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ^20 (QQ)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(QR)God and Father; ^21 [eo](QS)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^[ep](QT)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

^22 (QU)Wives, ^(QV)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(QW)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(QX)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(QY)head of the church, He Himself ^(QZ)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 (RA)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(RB)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (RC)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(RD)cleansed her by the ^(RE)washing of water with ^(RF)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(RG)present to Himself the church ^[eq]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(RH)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands also ought to ^(RI)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 ^(RJ)parts of His ^(RK)body. ^31 (RL)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 ^(RM)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(RN)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(RO)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (RP)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 (RQ)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(RR)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

^5 (RS)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[er]masters according to the flesh, with ^(RT)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(RU)as to Christ; ^6 (RV)not ^[es]by way of ^[et]eye-service, as ^(RW)people-pleasers, but as ^(RX)slaves of Christ, ^(RY)doing the will of God from the ^[eu]heart. ⁷ With goodwill ^[ev]render service, ^(RZ)as to the Lord, and not to people, ^8 (SA)knowing that ^(SB)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, ^(SC)whether slave or free.

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

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(SG)be strong in the Lord and in ^(SH)the strength of His might. ^11 (SI)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(SJ)schemes of the devil. ¹² For our ^(SK)struggle is not against ^[ew](SL)flesh and blood, but ^(SM)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(SN)world forces of this ^(SO)darkness, against the ^(SP)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(SQ)the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up ^(SR)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(SS)resist on ^(ST)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, ^(SU)having belted your waist with truth, and having ^(SV)put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having ^(SW)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; ^16 [ex]in addition to all, taking up the ^(SX)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(SY)flaming arrows of ^(SZ)the evil one. ¹⁷ And take ^(TA)the helmet of salvation and the ^(TB)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(TC)the word of God.

^18 [ey]With every ^(TD)prayer and request, ^[ez](TE)pray at all times ^(TF)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^[fa](TG)be alert with all ^(TH)perseverance and every ^(TI)request for all the ^[fb]saints, ¹⁹ and ^(TJ)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me ^(TK)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(TL)boldness ^(TM)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ^(TN)ambassador ^(TO)in ^[fc]chains; that ^[fd]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(TP)boldly, ^(TQ)as I ought to speak.

^21 (TR)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to ^[fe]what I am doing, ^(TS)Tychicus, ^(TT)the beloved brother and faithful ^[ff]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ^22 [fg](TU)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^[fh]about us, and that he may ^(TV)comfort your hearts.

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

Thanksgiving

1 ^(TY)Paul and ^(TZ)Timothy, ^(UA)bond-servants of ^(UB)Christ Jesus,

To ^(UC)all the ^[fj](UD)saints in Christ Jesus who are in ^(UE)Philippi, ^[fk]including the ^(UF)overseers and ^(UG)deacons: ^2 (UH)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (UI)I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always offering prayer with joy in ^(UJ)my every prayer for you all, ⁵ in view of your ^[fl](UK)participation in the ^(UL)gospel ^(UM)from the first day until now. ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work ^[fm]among you will complete it ^[fn]by ^(UN)the day of Christ Jesus. ^7 [fo]For ^(UO)it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I ^(UP)have you in my heart, since both in my ^[fp](UQ)imprisonment and in the ^(UR)defense and confirmation of the ^(US)gospel, you all are ^[fq]partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For ^(UT)God is my witness, how I long for you all with the ^[fr]affection of ^(UU)Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this I pray, that ^(UV)your love may overflow still more and more in ^(UW)real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may ^[fs](UX)discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for ^(UY)the day of Christ; ¹¹ having been filled with the ^(UZ)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 ^(VA)have turned out for the greater progress of the ^(VB)gospel, ¹³ so that my ^[ft](VC)imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the ^[fu]praetorian guard and to ^(VD)everyone else, ¹⁴ and that most of the brothers and sisters, ^[fv]trusting in the Lord because of my ^[fw](VE)imprisonment, have ^(VF)far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. ^15 (VG)Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even ^[fx]from envy and strife, but some also ^[fy]from goodwill; ¹⁶ the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the ^(VH)gospel; ¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ ^(VI)out of selfish ambition ^[fz]rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my ^[ga](VJ)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 ^[gb]deliverance ^(VK)through your ^[gc]prayers and the provision of ^(VL)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my ^(VM)eager expectation and ^(VN)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with ^(VO)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be ^(VP)exalted in my body, ^(VQ)whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

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

²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner ^(VX)worthy of the ^(VY)gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are ^(VZ)standing firm in ^(WA)one spirit, with one ^[gg]mind ^(WB)striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ and in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a ^(WC)sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and this too, from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(WD)it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(WE)suffer on His behalf, ³⁰ experiencing the same ^(WF)conflict which ^(WG)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 ^(WH)fellowship of the Spirit, if any ^[gh](WI)affection and compassion, ^2 (WJ)make my joy complete ^[gi]by ^(WK)being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing ^[gj]from ^[gk](WL)selfishness or ^(WM)empty conceit, but with humility ^(WN)consider one another as more important than yourselves; ^4 (WO)do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ^5 (WP)Have this attitude ^[gl]in yourselves which was also in ^(WQ)Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, as He already ^(WR)existed in the ^(WS)form of God, ^(WT)did not consider equality with God something to be ^[gm]grasped, ⁷ but ^[gn](WU)emptied Himself by taking the form of a ^(WV)bond-servant and ^[go](WW)being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, ^(WX)He humbled Himself by becoming ^(WY)obedient to the point of death: ^(WZ)death ^[gp]on a cross. ^9 (XA)For this reason also God ^(XB)highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him ^(XC)the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(XD)every knee will bow, of ^(XE)those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is ^(XF)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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

¹⁴ Do all things without ^(XL)complaining or arguments; ¹⁵ so that you will ^[gr]prove yourselves to be ^(XM)blameless and innocent, ^(XN)children of God above reproach in the midst of a ^(XO)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you ^[gs](XP)appear as ^[gt]lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding firmly the word of life, so that on ^(XQ)the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not ^(XR)run in vain nor ^(XS)labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being ^(XT)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(XU)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, ^[gu]in the Lord Jesus, to ^(XV)send ^(XW)Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. ²⁰ For I have no one else ^(XX)of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all ^(XY)seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know ^(XZ)of his proven character, that ^(YA)he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel ^(YB)like a child serving his father. ^23 (YC)Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; ²⁴ and ^(YD)I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly. ²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you ^(YE)Epaphroditus, my brother and ^(YF)fellow worker and ^(YG)fellow soldier, who is also your ^[gv](YH)messenger and ^(YI)minister to my need, ²⁶ because he was longing ^[gw]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 (YJ)Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and ^(YK)hold people like him in high regard, ³⁰ because he came close to death ^[gx](YL)for the work of Christ, risking his life to ^(YM)compensate ^[gy]for your absence in your service to me.

The Goal of Life

3 Finally, my brothers and sisters, ^(YN)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 ^(YO)dogs, beware of the ^(YP)evil workers, beware of the ^[gz]false circumcision; ³ for ^(YQ)we are the true ^[ha]circumcision, who ^(YR)worship in the Spirit of God and take ^(YS)pride in ^(YT)Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, ⁴ although ^(YU)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 (YV)circumcised the eighth day, of the ^(YW)nation of Israel, of the ^(YX)tribe of Benjamin, a ^(YY)Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, ^(YZ)a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, ^(ZA)a persecutor of the church; as to the ^(ZB)righteousness which is in the Law, found ^(ZC)blameless.

⁷ But ^(ZD)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 ^[hb]in view of the surpassing value of ^[hc](ZE)knowing ^(ZF)Christ Jesus my Lord, ^[hd]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 ^(ZG)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, ^(ZH)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may ^(ZI)know Him and ^(ZJ)the power of His resurrection and ^[he](ZK)the fellowship of His sufferings, being ^(ZL)conformed to His death; ¹¹ if somehow I may ^(ZM)attain to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already ^[hf](ZN)grasped it all or have already ^(ZO)become perfect, but I press on if I may also ^(ZP)take hold of that ^[hg]for which I ^(ZQ)was even taken hold of by ^(ZR)Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: ^(ZS)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I ^(ZT)press on toward the goal for the prize of the ^(ZU)upward call of God in ^(ZV)Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore, all who are ^[hh](ZW)mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a ^(ZX)different attitude, ^(ZY)God will reveal that to you as well; ¹⁶ however, let’s keep ^[hi](ZZ)living by that same standard to which we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, ^(AAA)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the ^(AAB)pattern you have in us. ¹⁸ For ^(AAC)many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I ^(AAD)weep, that they are the enemies of ^(AAE)the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their ^[hj](AAF)appetite, and whose ^(AAG)glory is in their shame, who ^(AAH)have their minds on earthly things. ²⁰ For ^(AAI)our ^[hk]citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly ^(AAJ)wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ who will ^(AAK)transform the body of our lowly condition into ^(AAL)conformity with ^[hl]His ^(AAM)glorious body, ^(AAN)by the exertion of the power that He has even to ^(AAO)subject all things to Himself.

Think of Excellence

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

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to ^[hn](AAR)live in harmony in the Lord. ³ Indeed, true ^[ho]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 ^(AAS)fellow workers, whose ^(AAT)names are in the book of life.

^4 (AAU)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. ^(AAV)The Lord is ^[hp]near. ^6 (AAW)Do not ^[hq]be anxious about anything, but in everything by ^(AAX)prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(AAY)the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[hr]comprehension, will ^(AAZ)guard your hearts and ^(ABA)minds in ^(ABB)Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(ABC)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[hs]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 ^(ABD)in me, practice these things, and ^(ABE)the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last ^(ABF)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[ht]from need, for I have learned to be ^[hu](ABG)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 ^(ABH)hungry, both of having abundance and ^(ABI)suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[hv]through Him who ^(ABJ)strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to ^(ABK)share with me in my difficulty.

¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[hw](ABL)first preaching of the gospel, after I left ^(ABM)Macedonia, no church ^(ABN)shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; ¹⁶ for even in ^(ABO)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ^17 (ABP)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the ^[hx]profit which increases to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[hy]amply supplied, having received from ^(ABQ)Epaphroditus ^[hz]what you have sent, ^[ia](ABR)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And ^(ABS)my God will supply ^[ib]all your needs according to His ^(ABT)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to ^(ABU)our God and Father ^(ABV)be the glory ^[ic]forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every ^[id]saint in Christ Jesus. ^(ABW)The brothers who are with me greet you. ^22 (ABX)All the ^[ie](ABY)saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

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

Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

1 ^(ACB)Paul, ^(ACC)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^[if](ACD)by the will of God, and ^(ACE)Timothy ^[ig]our brother,

² To the ^[ih](ACF)saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: ^(ACG)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

^3 (ACH)We ^[ii]give thanks to God, ^(ACI)the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ^4 (ACJ)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the ^(ACK)love which you have ^[ij]for ^(ACL)all the ^[ik]saints; ⁵ because of the ^(ACM)hope ^(ACN)reserved for you in ^[il]heaven, of which you previously ^(ACO)heard in the word of truth, ^[im]the gospel ⁶ which has come to you, just as ^[in](ACP)in all the world also it is bearing ^(ACQ)fruit and ^[io]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you ^(ACR)heard it and ^[ip]understood the grace of God in truth; ⁷ just as you learned it from ^(ACS)Epaphras, our ^(ACT)beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, ⁸ and he also informed us of your ^(ACU)love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this reason we also, ^(ACV)since the day we heard about it, ^(ACW)have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the ^[iq](ACX)knowledge of His will in all spiritual ^(ACY)wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you will ^(ACZ)walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^[ir](ADA)to please Him in all respects, ^(ADB)bearing fruit in every good work and ^[is]increasing in the ^[it]knowledge of God; ^11 (ADC)strengthened with all power, according to ^[iu]His glorious might, ^[iv]for the attaining of all perseverance and ^[iw]patience; ^(ADD)joyously ¹² giving thanks to ^(ADE)the Father, who has qualified us ^[ix]to share in ^(ADF)the inheritance of the ^[iy]saints in ^(ADG)light.

The Incomparable Christ

^13 [iz]For He rescued us from the ^[ja](ADH)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of ^[jb](ADI)His beloved Son, ^14 (ADJ)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

^15 [jc]He is the ^(ADK)image of the ^(ADL)invisible God, the ^(ADM)firstborn of all creation: ¹⁶ for ^[jd](ADN)by Him all things were created, ^(ADO)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(ADP)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—^(ADQ)all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[je](ADR)is before all things, and in Him all things ^[jf]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also the ^(ADS)head of ^(ADT)the body, the church; and He is ^(ADU)the beginning, ^(ADV)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[jg]it was ^(ADW)the Father’s good pleasure for all ^(ADX)the ^[jh]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to ^(ADY)reconcile all things to Himself, ^(ADZ)whether things on earth or things in ^[ji]heaven, having made ^(AEA)peace through ^(AEB)the blood of His cross.

²¹ And although you were ^(AEC)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now ^(AED)reconciled you in His ^(AEE)body of flesh through death, in order to ^(AEF)present you before Him ^(AEG)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ²³ if indeed you continue in ^[jj]the faith firmly ^(AEH)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the ^(AEI)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed ^(AEJ)in all creation under heaven, ^(AEK)and of which I, Paul, ^[jk]was made a ^[jl](AEL)minister.

^24 (AEM)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(AEN)I am supplementing what is lacking ^[jm]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of ^(AEO)His body, which is the church. ^25 (AEP)I ^[jn]was made a minister of this church according to the ^(AEQ)commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might ^[jo]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, ²⁶ that is, ^(AER)the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His ^[jp]saints, ²⁷ to whom ^(AES)God willed to make known what ^(AET)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is ^(AEU)Christ in you, the ^(AEV)hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, ^(AEW)admonishing every person and teaching every person ^[jq]with all ^(AEX)wisdom, so that we may ^(AEY)present every person ^[jr](AEZ)complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose I also ^(AFA)labor, ^(AFB)striving ^(AFC)according to His ^[js]power which ^[jt]works mightily within me.

You Are Built Up in Christ

2 For I want you to know how great a ^(AFD)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at ^(AFE)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^[ju]personally seen my face, ² that their ^(AFF)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(AFG)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all ^(AFH)the wealth ^[jv]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(AFI)true knowledge of ^(AFJ)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all ^(AFK)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ^4 (AFL)I say this so that no one will deceive you with ^(AFM)persuasive arguments. ⁵ For even though I am ^(AFN)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[jw]to see ^[jx]your ^(AFO)orderly manner and the ^(AFP)stability of your faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore, as you have received ^(AFQ)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^[jy](AFR)walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly ^(AFS)rooted and now being ^(AFT)built up in Him and ^(AFU)established ^[jz]in ^[ka]your faith, just as you ^(AFV)were instructed, and overflowing ^[kb]with gratitude.

^8 (AFW)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through ^(AFX)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the ^(AFY)elementary principles of the world, ^[kc]rather than in accordance with Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the ^(AFZ)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been ^(AGA)made ^[kd]complete, and ^(AGB)He is the head ^[ke]over every ^(AGC)ruler and authority; ¹¹ and in Him ^(AGD)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of ^(AGE)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been ^(AGF)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also ^(AGG)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who ^(AGH)raised Him from the dead. ¹³ And ^[kf]when you were ^(AGI)dead ^[kg]in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He ^(AGJ)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, ¹⁴ having canceled ^(AGK)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and ^(AGL)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ When He had ^[kh](AGM)disarmed the ^(AGN)rulers and authorities, He ^(AGO)made a public display of them, having ^(AGP)triumphed over them through ^[ki]Him.

¹⁶ Therefore, no one is to ^[kj](AGQ)act as your judge in regard to ^(AGR)food and ^(AGS)drink, or in respect to a ^(AGT)festival or a ^(AGU)new moon, or a ^(AGV)Sabbath ^[kk]day— ¹⁷ things which are only a ^(AGW)shadow of what is to come; but the ^[kl]substance ^[km]belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Take care that no one keeps ^[kn](AGX)defrauding you of your prize by ^(AGY)delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, ^[ko]taking his stand on visions he has seen, ^[kp](AGZ)inflated without cause by his ^(AHA)fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding firmly to ^(AHB)the head, from whom ^(AHC)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ^[kq]ligaments, grows with a growth ^[kr]which is from God.

^20 (AHD)If you have died with Christ ^[ks]to the ^(AHE)elementary principles of the world, ^(AHF)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to ^(AHG)decrees, such as, ²¹ “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” ²² (which all refer ^(AHH)to things destined to perish ^[kt]with use)—in accordance with the ^(AHI)commandments and teachings of man? ²³ These are matters which do have the ^[ku]appearance of wisdom in ^[kv](AHJ)self-made religion and humility and ^(AHK)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against ^(AHL)fleshly indulgence.

Put On the New Self

3 Therefore, if you have been ^(AHM)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(AHN)seated at the right hand of God. ^2 [kw](AHO)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have ^(AHP)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, ^(AHQ)who is our life, is revealed, ^(AHR)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

^5 (AHS)Therefore, ^[kx]treat ^(AHT)the parts of your earthly body as dead to ^(AHU)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which ^[ky]amounts to idolatry. ⁶ For it is because of these things that ^(AHV)the wrath of God is coming ^[kz]upon the ^[la]sons of disobedience, ⁷ and ^(AHW)in them you also once walked, when you were living ^[lb]in them. ⁸ But now you also, ^(AHX)rid yourselves of all of them: ^(AHY)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and ^(AHZ)obscene speech from your mouth. ^9 [lc](AIA)Do not lie to one another, since you ^(AIB)stripped off the old ^[ld]self with its evil practices, ¹⁰ and have ^(AIC)put on the new self, which is being ^[le](AID)renewed to a true knowledge ^(AIE)according to the image of the One who ^(AIF)created it— ¹¹ a renewal in which ^(AIG)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, ^(AIH)circumcised and uncircumcised, ^[lf](AII)barbarian, ^[lg]Scythian, ^(AIJ)slave, and free, but ^(AIK)Christ is all, and in all.

¹² So, as those who have been ^(AIL)chosen of God, holy and beloved, ^(AIM)put on a ^(AIN)heart of compassion, kindness, ^(AIO)humility, gentleness, and ^[lh](AIP)patience; ^13 (AIQ)bearing with one another, and ^(AIR)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; ^(AIS)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. ¹⁴ In addition to all these things put on love, which is ^[li](AIT)the perfect bond of ^(AIU)unity. ¹⁵ Let ^(AIV)the peace of Christ, to which you were ^[lj]indeed called in ^(AIW)one body, ^[lk]rule in your hearts; and ^[ll]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(AIX)the word of ^[lm]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[ln]with all wisdom ^(AIY)teaching and admonishing ^[lo]one another ^(AIZ)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, ^(AJA)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ^17 (AJB)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(AJC)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Family Relations

^18 (AJD)Wives, ^(AJE)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ^19 (AJF)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. ^20 (AJG)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing ^[lp]to the Lord. ^21 (AJH)Fathers, do not ^[lq]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

^{22 [lr](AJI)}Slaves, obey those who are your ^[ls]human masters in everything, ^(AJJ)not with ^[lt]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, do your work ^[lu]heartily, ^(AJK)as for the Lord and not for people, ^24 (AJL)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward ^[lv]of ^(AJM)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you ^(AJN)serve. ²⁵ For ^(AJO)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and ^[lw](AJP)that without partiality.

4 Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, ^(AJQ)knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

^2 (AJR)Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; ³ praying at the same time ^(AJS)for us as well, that God will open up to us a ^(AJT)door for ^(AJU)the word, so that we may proclaim ^(AJV)the mystery of Christ, for which I have also ^(AJW)been imprisoned; ⁴ that I may make it clear ^(AJX)in the way that I ought to proclaim it.

^5 [lx](AJY)Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward ^(AJZ)outsiders, ^[ly](AKA)making the most of the opportunity. ^6 (AKB)Your speech must always be ^[lz]with grace, as though seasoned with ^(AKC)salt, so that you will know how you should ^(AKD)respond to each person.

^7 (AKE)As to all my affairs, ^(AKF)Tychicus, our ^(AKG)beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. ^8 (AKH)For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may ^(AKI)encourage your hearts; ^9 [ma]and with him is ^(AKJ)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(AKK)beloved brother, ^(AKL)who is one of your own. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

^10 (AKM)Aristarchus, my ^(AKN)fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also ^(AKO)Barnabas’ cousin Mark (about whom you received ^[mb]instructions; ^(AKP)if he comes to you, welcome him); ¹¹ and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only ^(AKQ)fellow workers for the kingdom of God ^(AKR)who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. ^12 (AKS)Epaphras, ^(AKT)who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always ^(AKU)striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may ^[mc]stand ^[md](AKV)mature and ^[me]fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I testify for him that he has ^[mf]a deep concern for you and for those who are in ^(AKW)Laodicea and Hierapolis. ^14 (AKX)Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and ^(AKY)Demas does also. ¹⁵ Greet the brothers and sisters who are in ^(AKZ)Laodicea and also ^[mg]Nympha and ^(ALA)the church that is in ^[mh]her house. ^16 (ALB)When ^[mi]this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, ^(ALC)read ^[mj]my letter that is coming from ^(ALD)Laodicea. ¹⁷ Tell ^(ALE)Archippus, “See to the ^(ALF)ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may ^[mk]fulfill it.”

^18 [ml]I, Paul, ^(ALG)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(ALH)Remember my ^[mm](ALI)imprisonment. ^(ALJ)Grace be with you.