Philippians 1 - Colossians 4

New American Standard Bible

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.

Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

1 ^(HD)Paul, ^(HE)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^[bw](HF)by the will of God, and ^(HG)Timothy ^[bx]our brother,

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

^3 (HJ)We ^[bz]give thanks to God, ^(HK)the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ^4 (HL)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the ^(HM)love which you have ^[ca]for ^(HN)all the ^[cb]saints; ⁵ because of the ^(HO)hope ^(HP)reserved for you in ^[cc]heaven, of which you previously ^(HQ)heard in the word of truth, ^[cd]the gospel ⁶ which has come to you, just as ^[ce](HR)in all the world also it is bearing ^(HS)fruit and ^[cf]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you ^(HT)heard it and ^[cg]understood the grace of God in truth; ⁷ just as you learned it from ^(HU)Epaphras, our ^(HV)beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, ⁸ and he also informed us of your ^(HW)love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this reason we also, ^(HX)since the day we heard about it, ^(HY)have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the ^[ch](HZ)knowledge of His will in all spiritual ^(IA)wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you will ^(IB)walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^[ci](IC)to please Him in all respects, ^(ID)bearing fruit in every good work and ^[cj]increasing in the ^[ck]knowledge of God; ^11 (IE)strengthened with all power, according to ^[cl]His glorious might, ^[cm]for the attaining of all perseverance and ^[cn]patience; ^(IF)joyously ¹² giving thanks to ^(IG)the Father, who has qualified us ^[co]to share in ^(IH)the inheritance of the ^[cp]saints in ^(II)light.

The Incomparable Christ

^13 [cq]For He rescued us from the ^[cr](IJ)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of ^[cs](IK)His beloved Son, ^14 (IL)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

^15 [ct]He is the ^(IM)image of the ^(IN)invisible God, the ^(IO)firstborn of all creation: ¹⁶ for ^[cu](IP)by Him all things were created, ^(IQ)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(IR)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—^(IS)all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[cv](IT)is before all things, and in Him all things ^[cw]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also the ^(IU)head of ^(IV)the body, the church; and He is ^(IW)the beginning, ^(IX)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[cx]it was ^(IY)the Father’s good pleasure for all ^(IZ)the ^[cy]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to ^(JA)reconcile all things to Himself, ^(JB)whether things on earth or things in ^[cz]heaven, having made ^(JC)peace through ^(JD)the blood of His cross.

²¹ And although you were ^(JE)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now ^(JF)reconciled you in His ^(JG)body of flesh through death, in order to ^(JH)present you before Him ^(JI)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ²³ if indeed you continue in ^[da]the faith firmly ^(JJ)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the ^(JK)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed ^(JL)in all creation under heaven, ^(JM)and of which I, Paul, ^[db]was made a ^[dc](JN)minister.

^24 (JO)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(JP)I am supplementing what is lacking ^[dd]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of ^(JQ)His body, which is the church. ^25 (JR)I ^[de]was made a minister of this church according to the ^(JS)commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might ^[df]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, ²⁶ that is, ^(JT)the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His ^[dg]saints, ²⁷ to whom ^(JU)God willed to make known what ^(JV)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is ^(JW)Christ in you, the ^(JX)hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, ^(JY)admonishing every person and teaching every person ^[dh]with all ^(JZ)wisdom, so that we may ^(KA)present every person ^[di](KB)complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose I also ^(KC)labor, ^(KD)striving ^(KE)according to His ^[dj]power which ^[dk]works mightily within me.

You Are Built Up in Christ

2 For I want you to know how great a ^(KF)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at ^(KG)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^[dl]personally seen my face, ² that their ^(KH)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(KI)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all ^(KJ)the wealth ^[dm]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(KK)true knowledge of ^(KL)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all ^(KM)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ^4 (KN)I say this so that no one will deceive you with ^(KO)persuasive arguments. ⁵ For even though I am ^(KP)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[dn]to see ^[do]your ^(KQ)orderly manner and the ^(KR)stability of your faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore, as you have received ^(KS)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^[dp](KT)walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly ^(KU)rooted and now being ^(KV)built up in Him and ^(KW)established ^[dq]in ^[dr]your faith, just as you ^(KX)were instructed, and overflowing ^[ds]with gratitude.

^8 (KY)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through ^(KZ)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the ^(LA)elementary principles of the world, ^[dt]rather than in accordance with Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the ^(LB)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been ^(LC)made ^[du]complete, and ^(LD)He is the head ^[dv]over every ^(LE)ruler and authority; ¹¹ and in Him ^(LF)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of ^(LG)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been ^(LH)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also ^(LI)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who ^(LJ)raised Him from the dead. ¹³ And ^[dw]when you were ^(LK)dead ^[dx]in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He ^(LL)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, ¹⁴ having canceled ^(LM)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and ^(LN)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ When He had ^[dy](LO)disarmed the ^(LP)rulers and authorities, He ^(LQ)made a public display of them, having ^(LR)triumphed over them through ^[dz]Him.

¹⁶ Therefore, no one is to ^[ea](LS)act as your judge in regard to ^(LT)food and ^(LU)drink, or in respect to a ^(LV)festival or a ^(LW)new moon, or a ^(LX)Sabbath ^[eb]day— ¹⁷ things which are only a ^(LY)shadow of what is to come; but the ^[ec]substance ^[ed]belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Take care that no one keeps ^[ee](LZ)defrauding you of your prize by ^(MA)delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, ^[ef]taking his stand on visions he has seen, ^[eg](MB)inflated without cause by his ^(MC)fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding firmly to ^(MD)the head, from whom ^(ME)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ^[eh]ligaments, grows with a growth ^[ei]which is from God.

^20 (MF)If you have died with Christ ^[ej]to the ^(MG)elementary principles of the world, ^(MH)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to ^(MI)decrees, such as, ²¹ “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” ²² (which all refer ^(MJ)to things destined to perish ^[ek]with use)—in accordance with the ^(MK)commandments and teachings of man? ²³ These are matters which do have the ^[el]appearance of wisdom in ^[em](ML)self-made religion and humility and ^(MM)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against ^(MN)fleshly indulgence.

Put On the New Self

3 Therefore, if you have been ^(MO)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(MP)seated at the right hand of God. ^2 [en](MQ)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have ^(MR)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, ^(MS)who is our life, is revealed, ^(MT)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

^5 (MU)Therefore, ^[eo]treat ^(MV)the parts of your earthly body as dead to ^(MW)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which ^[ep]amounts to idolatry. ⁶ For it is because of these things that ^(MX)the wrath of God is coming ^[eq]upon the ^[er]sons of disobedience, ⁷ and ^(MY)in them you also once walked, when you were living ^[es]in them. ⁸ But now you also, ^(MZ)rid yourselves of all of them: ^(NA)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and ^(NB)obscene speech from your mouth. ^9 [et](NC)Do not lie to one another, since you ^(ND)stripped off the old ^[eu]self with its evil practices, ¹⁰ and have ^(NE)put on the new self, which is being ^[ev](NF)renewed to a true knowledge ^(NG)according to the image of the One who ^(NH)created it— ¹¹ a renewal in which ^(NI)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, ^(NJ)circumcised and uncircumcised, ^[ew](NK)barbarian, ^[ex]Scythian, ^(NL)slave, and free, but ^(NM)Christ is all, and in all.

¹² So, as those who have been ^(NN)chosen of God, holy and beloved, ^(NO)put on a ^(NP)heart of compassion, kindness, ^(NQ)humility, gentleness, and ^[ey](NR)patience; ^13 (NS)bearing with one another, and ^(NT)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; ^(NU)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. ¹⁴ In addition to all these things put on love, which is ^[ez](NV)the perfect bond of ^(NW)unity. ¹⁵ Let ^(NX)the peace of Christ, to which you were ^[fa]indeed called in ^(NY)one body, ^[fb]rule in your hearts; and ^[fc]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(NZ)the word of ^[fd]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[fe]with all wisdom ^(OA)teaching and admonishing ^[ff]one another ^(OB)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, ^(OC)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ^17 (OD)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(OE)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Family Relations

^18 (OF)Wives, ^(OG)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ^19 (OH)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. ^20 (OI)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing ^[fg]to the Lord. ^21 (OJ)Fathers, do not ^[fh]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

^22 [fi](OK)Slaves, obey those who are your ^[fj]human masters in everything, ^(OL)not with ^[fk]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, do your work ^[fl]heartily, ^(OM)as for the Lord and not for people, ^24 (ON)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward ^[fm]of ^(OO)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you ^(OP)serve. ²⁵ For ^(OQ)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and ^[fn](OR)that without partiality.

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

^2 (OT)Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; ³ praying at the same time ^(OU)for us as well, that God will open up to us a ^(OV)door for ^(OW)the word, so that we may proclaim ^(OX)the mystery of Christ, for which I have also ^(OY)been imprisoned; ⁴ that I may make it clear ^(OZ)in the way that I ought to proclaim it.

^5 [fo](PA)Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward ^(PB)outsiders, ^[fp](PC)making the most of the opportunity. ^6 (PD)Your speech must always be ^[fq]with grace, as though seasoned with ^(PE)salt, so that you will know how you should ^(PF)respond to each person.

^7 (PG)As to all my affairs, ^(PH)Tychicus, our ^(PI)beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. ^8 (PJ)For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may ^(PK)encourage your hearts; ^9 [fr]and with him is ^(PL)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(PM)beloved brother, ^(PN)who is one of your own. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

^10 (PO)Aristarchus, my ^(PP)fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also ^(PQ)Barnabas’ cousin Mark (about whom you received ^[fs]instructions; ^(PR)if he comes to you, welcome him); ¹¹ and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only ^(PS)fellow workers for the kingdom of God ^(PT)who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. ^12 (PU)Epaphras, ^(PV)who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always ^(PW)striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may ^[ft]stand ^[fu](PX)mature and ^[fv]fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I testify for him that he has ^[fw]a deep concern for you and for those who are in ^(PY)Laodicea and Hierapolis. ^14 (PZ)Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and ^(QA)Demas does also. ¹⁵ Greet the brothers and sisters who are in ^(QB)Laodicea and also ^[fx]Nympha and ^(QC)the church that is in ^[fy]her house. ^16 (QD)When ^[fz]this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, ^(QE)read ^[ga]my letter that is coming from ^(QF)Laodicea. ¹⁷ Tell ^(QG)Archippus, “See to the ^(QH)ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may ^[gb]fulfill it.”

^18 [gc]I, Paul, ^(QI)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(QJ)Remember my ^[gd](QK)imprisonment. ^(QL)Grace be with you.