Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,^(A) my joy and crown, stand firm^(B) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

² I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind^(C) in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,^(D) whose names are in the book of life.^(E)

Final Exhortations

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!^{(F) 5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.^{(G) 6} Do not be anxious about anything,^(H) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.^{(I) 7} And the peace of God,^(J) which transcends all understanding,^(K) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.^(L) And the God of peace^(M) will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.^(N) Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content^(O) whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,^(P) whether living in plenty or in want.^{(Q) 13} I can do all this through him who gives me strength.^(R)

¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share^(S) in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days^(T) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,^(U) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;^{(V) 16} for even when I was in Thessalonica,^(W) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.^{(X) 17} Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.^{(Y) 18} I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(Z) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(AA) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs^(AB) according to the riches of his glory^(AC) in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ To our God and Father^(AD) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(AE)

Final Greetings

²¹ Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me^(AF) send greetings. ²² All God’s people^(AG) here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ^(AH) be with your spirit.^(AI) Amen.^[a]

1 Paul, an apostle^(AJ) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(AK) and Timothy^(AL) our brother,

² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters^[b] in Christ:

Grace^(AM) and peace to you from God our Father.^[c](AN)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We always thank God,^(AO) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love^(AP) you have for all God’s people^(AQ)— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope^(AR) stored up for you in heaven^(AS) and about which you have already heard in the true message^(AT) of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit^(AU) and growing throughout the whole world^(AV)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras,^(AW) our dear fellow servant,^[d] who is a faithful minister^(AX) of Christ on our^[e] behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.^(AY)

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you,^(AZ) we have not stopped praying for you.^(BA) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will^(BB) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^{[f](BC) 10} so that you may live a life worthy^(BD) of the Lord and please him^(BE) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,^{(BF) 11} being strengthened with all power^(BG) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,^{(BH) 12} and giving joyful thanks to the Father,^(BI) who has qualified you^[g] to share in the inheritance^(BJ) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.^{(BK) 13} For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness^(BL) and brought us into the kingdom^(BM) of the Son he loves,^{(BN) 14} in whom we have redemption,^(BO) the forgiveness of sins.^(BP)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(BQ) of the invisible God,^(BR) the firstborn^(BS) over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(BT) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(BU) all things have been created through him and for him.^{(BV) 17} He is before all things,^(BW) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(BX) of the body, the church;^(BY) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(BZ) from among the dead,^(CA) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased^(CB) to have all his fullness^(CC) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(CD) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(CE) by making peace^(CF) through his blood,^(CG) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(CH) in your minds^(CI) because of^[h] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(CJ) you by Christ’s physical body^(CK) through death to present you^(CL) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(CM)— ²³ if you continue^(CN) in your faith, established^(CO) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(CP) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(CQ) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(CR)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(CS) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(CT) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^{(CU) 25} I have become its servant^(CV) by the commission God gave me^(CW) to present to you the word of God^(CX) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(CY) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(CZ) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(DA) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(DB) the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(DC) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(DD) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(DE) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(DF) contend^(DG) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(DH)