Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ Be fellow-imitators of me, brothers, and be watching the ones walking in this manner, just as you have us as a pattern.

For There Are Many Enemies of The Cross. They Focus On Earthly Things

¹⁸ For many walk as to whom I was often saying to you, and now even weeping say, they are the enemies of the cross of Christ— ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their stomach and glory is in their shame— the ones thinking^[a] the earthly things.

And Our Citizenship Is In Heaven

²⁰ For our place-of-citizenship is in the heavens, from where also we are eagerly-awaiting the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ Who will transform the body of our lowliness^[b] so as to be similar-in-form^[c] to the body of His glory, according-to the working that enables Him also to subject all things to Himself.

So My Beloved, Stand Firm In This Manner

4 So then, my beloved and yearned-for brothers, my joy and crown, be standing-firm in this manner in the Lord, beloved.

Help My Fellow-Workers To Think The Same Thing

² I exhort Euodia and I exhort Syntyche to be thinking the same^[d] thing in the Lord. ³ Yes, I ask you also, genuine comrade^[e], be helping these women who contended-together^[f] with me in connection with the good-news, along-with both Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Be Rejoicing In The Lord, Kind To All, And Praying To God

⁴ Be rejoicing in the Lord always; again I will say, be rejoicing. ⁵ Let your kindness^[g] be known to all people. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious-about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgivings, let your requests be made-known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God surpassing all understanding will guard^[h] your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When Jesus Is Baptized, The Spirit Descends Upon Him And His Father Expresses His Pleasure

¹³ Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John that He might be baptized by him. ¹⁴ But John was preventing Him, saying, “I have a need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?” ¹⁵ But having responded, Jesus said to him, “Permit it at this time. For it is fitting^[a] for us to fulfill all righteousness in this manner”. Then he permits Him. ¹⁶ And having been baptized, Jesus immediately ascended^[b] from^[c] the water. And behold— the heavens were opened to Him, and he^[d] saw the Spirit of God descending as-if ^[e] a dove, and coming upon Him. ¹⁷ And behold— a voice from the heavens saying, “This is My beloved Son with Whom I was^[f] well-pleased”.