¹⁸ I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.^(A)

¹² I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.^(A)

¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

¹² for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.

²⁵ Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and coworker and fellow soldier, your messenger^[a] and minister to my need,^{(A) 26} for he has been longing for^[b] all of you and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

² and walk in love, as Christ loved us^[a] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(A)

⁵ like living stones let yourselves be built^[a] into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^(A)

Thanksgiving

³ We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.^(A)

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.^{[a] 15} For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:^{(A) 16} to the one group a fragrance from death^[b] to death, to the other a fragrance from life^[c] to life. Who is qualified for these things?^(B)

The New Life in Christ

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.^(A)