Book of Common Prayer

¹⁰ Use everything that God has given you so that you can fight against the tricks of the devil.

¹¹ We are not fighting against people of flesh and blood. But we are fighting against rulers and powers whom we cannot see. We are fighting against those who control the darkness of this world, and against bad spirits who have power in the air.

¹² So use everything that God has given you, that you can fight when the bad time comes. You will need to do everything you can do to stand!

¹³ So then, stand and hold on tight to the truth like you put on a belt. Do what is right. Wear it as a cover for your body.

¹⁴ You have the good news of peace. Wear that like shoes on your feet.

¹⁵ You believe in God. Take that and cover all of yourself with it. With that you can stop all the poison arrows of the devil.

¹⁶ You have been saved. Wear your salvation like you wear something on your head to protect yourself. And take with you the big knife or sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁷ Always talk to God in the Spirit. Talk to him about everything and ask him for what you need. Put your mind on what you are saying, asking God to help all his people.

¹⁸ And also, ask God to help me to talk without fear and tell people God's plan about the good news.

¹⁹ I am in prison with chains on because I speak the good news about Jesus Christ. Ask God to help me to tell the good news without fear as I should tell it.

²⁰ Tychicus will tell you all about me and what I am doing. He is a brother whom I love and a very good helper in the Lord's work.

¹⁶ `God loved the world so very, very much that he gave his only Son. Because he did that, everyone who believes in him will not lose his life, but will live for ever.

¹⁷ God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent him to save the world.

¹⁸ `Everyone who believes in the Son will not be judged. But everyone who does not believe in him is judged already, because he does not believe in the name of God's only Son.

¹⁹ Light came into the world. But people wanted to be in the dark because they did wrong things. They did not want the light. That is why they are judged.

²⁰ Everyone who does wrong things hates light. He does not come to the light because he is afraid people will see what he does and will say it is bad.

²¹ But everyone who does what is right comes to the light. He wants people to see that God helps him to do what is right.'