Bible in 90 Days

²⁶ for in Christ Jesus ^(A)you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as ^(B)were baptized ^(C)into Christ have ^(D)put on Christ. ^28 (E)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[a] nor free, ^(F)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(G)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, ^(H)heirs according to promise.

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[b] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, ^(I)were enslaved to the elementary principles^[c] of the world. ⁴ But ^(J)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^(K)born ^(L)of woman, born ^(M)under the law, ^5 (N)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^(O)adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent ^(P)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then ^(Q)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you ^(R)did not know God, you ^(S)were enslaved to those that by nature ^(T)are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^(U)to be known by God, ^(V)how can you turn back again to ^(W)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ^10 (X)You observe days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I am afraid ^(Y)I may have labored over you in vain.

¹² Brothers,^{[d] (Z)}I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^(AA)You did me no wrong. ¹³ You know it was ^(AB)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^(AC)at first, ¹⁴ and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^(AD)as an angel of God, ^(AE)as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I then become your enemy by ^(AF)telling you the truth?^{[e] 17} They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸ It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^(AG)not only when I am present with you, ^19 (AH)my little children, ^(AI)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^(AJ)is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(AK)one by a slave woman and ^(AL)one by a free woman. ²³ But ^(AM)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^(AN)the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^(AO)covenants. ^(AP)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[f] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(AQ)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ Now you,^[g] brothers, ^(AS)like Isaac, ^(AT)are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^(AU)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AV)so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? ^(AW)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but ^(AX)of the free woman.

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(AY)freedom Christ has ^(AZ)set us free; ^(BA)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(BB)a yoke of ^(BC)slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(BD)if you accept circumcision, ^(BE)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(BF)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are ^(BG)severed from Christ, ^(BH)you who would be justified^[h] by the law; ^(BI)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(BJ)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(BK)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(BL)only faith working through love.

^7 (BM)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(BN)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(BO)him who calls you. ^9 (BP)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10 (BQ)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(BR)take no other view, and ^(BS)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[i] still preach^[j] circumcision, ^(BT)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(BU)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish ^(BV)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^(BW)Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^(BX)serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(BY)the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^(BZ)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(CA)bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, ^(CB)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(CC)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(CD)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^(CE)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(CF)led by the Spirit, ^(CG)you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now ^(CH)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(CI)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[k] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(CJ)those who do^[l] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(CK)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(CL)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(CM)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (CN)gentleness, ^(CO)self-control; ^(CP)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(CQ)have crucified the flesh with its ^(CR)passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(CS)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ^26 (CT)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^{[m] (CU)}if anyone is caught in any transgression, ^(CV)you who are spiritual should restore him in ^(CW)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ^2 (CX)Bear one another's burdens, and ^(CY)so fulfill ^(CZ)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(DA)if anyone thinks he is something, ^(DB)when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one ^(DC)test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For ^(DD)each will have to bear his own load.

^6 (DE)Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ^7 (DF)Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^(DG)whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For ^(DH)the one who sows to his own flesh ^(DI)will from the flesh reap corruption, but ^(DJ)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And ^(DK)let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^(DL)if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, ^(DM)as we have opportunity, let us ^(DN)do good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^(DO)of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you ^(DP)with my own hand. ^12 (DQ)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(DR)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(DS)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast ^(DT)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[n] the world ^(DU)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(DV)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^(DW)a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, ^(DX)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^(DY)the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

^18 (DZ)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(EA)with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(EB)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^(EC)by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and ^(ED)are faithful^[o] in Christ Jesus:

^2 (EE)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

^3 (EF)Blessed be ^(EG)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing ^(EH)in the heavenly places, ^4 (EI)even as he ^(EJ)chose us in him ^(EK)before the foundation of the world, that we should be ^(EL)holy and blameless before him. In love ^5 (EM)he predestined us^[p] for ^(EN)adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, ^(EO)according to the purpose of his will, ^6 (EP)to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in ^(EQ)the Beloved. ^7 (ER)In him we have ^(ES)redemption ^(ET)through his blood, ^(EU)the forgiveness of our trespasses, ^(EV)according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ^9 (EW)making known^[q] to us the mystery of his will, ^(EX)according to his purpose, which he ^(EY)set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for ^(EZ)the fullness of time, ^(FA)to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

¹¹ In him we have obtained ^(FB)an inheritance, ^(FC)having been predestined ^(FD)according to the purpose of him who works all things according to ^(FE)the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be ^(FF)to the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard ^(FG)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, ^(FH)were sealed with the ^(FI)promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is ^(FJ)the guarantee^[r] of our ^(FK)inheritance until ^(FL)we acquire ^(FM)possession of it,^{[s] (FN)}to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ^(FO)because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love^[t] toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I ^(FP)do not cease to give thanks for you, ^(FQ)remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that ^(FR)the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ^(FS)may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ^18 (FT)having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is ^(FU)the hope to which he has called you, what are ^(FV)the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, ^(FW)according to the working of ^(FX)his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ ^(FY)when he raised him from the dead and ^(FZ)seated him at his right hand ^(GA)in the heavenly places, ^21 (GB)far above ^(GC)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above ^(GD)every name that is named, not only in ^(GE)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And ^(GF)he put all things under his feet and gave him as ^(GG)head over all things to the church, ^23 (GH)which is his body, ^(GI)the fullness of him ^(GJ)who fills ^(GK)all in all.

By Grace Through Faith

2 ^(GL)And you were ^(GM)dead in the trespasses and sins ^2 (GN)in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following ^(GO)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in ^(GP)the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in ^(GQ)the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[u] and the mind, and ^(GR)were by nature ^(GS)children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^{[v] 4} But^[w] God, being ^(GT)rich in mercy, ^(GU)because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even ^(GV)when we were dead in our trespasses, ^(GW)made us alive together with Christ—^(GX)by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and ^(GY)seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable ^(GZ)riches of his grace in ^(HA)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(HB)by grace you have been saved ^(HC)through faith. And this is ^(HD)not your own doing; ^(HE)it is the gift of God, ^9 (HF)not a result of works, ^(HG)so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For ^(HH)we are his workmanship, ^(HI)created in Christ Jesus ^(HJ)for good works, ^(HK)which God prepared beforehand, ^(HL)that we should walk in them.

One in Christ

¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called ^(HM)the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember ^(HN)that you were at that time separated from Christ, ^(HO)alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to ^(HP)the covenants of promise, ^(HQ)having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were ^(HR)far off have been brought near ^(HS)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For ^(HT)he himself is our peace, ^(HU)who has made us both one and has broken down ^(HV)in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ^(HW)ordinances, that he might create in himself one ^(HX)new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(HY)reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and ^(HZ)preached peace to you who were ^(IA)far off and peace to those who were ^(IB)near. ¹⁸ For ^(IC)through him we both have ^(ID)access in ^(IE)one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(IF)strangers and aliens,^[x] but you are ^(IG)fellow citizens with the saints and ^(IH)members of the household of God, ^20 (II)built on the foundation of the ^(IJ)apostles and prophets, ^(IK)Christ Jesus himself being ^(IL)the cornerstone, ^21 (IM)in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into ^(IN)a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him ^(IO)you also are being built together ^(IP)into a dwelling place for God by^[y] the Spirit.

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(IQ)a prisoner of Christ Jesus ^(IR)on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of ^(IS)the stewardship of ^(IT)God's grace that was given to me for you, ^3 (IU)how the mystery was made known to me ^(IV)by revelation, ^(IW)as I have written briefly. ^4 (IX)When you read this, you can perceive my insight into ^(IY)the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is^[z] that the Gentiles are ^(IZ)fellow heirs, ^(JA)members of the same body, and ^(JB)partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

^7 (JC)Of this gospel I was made ^(JD)a minister according to the gift of ^(JE)God's grace, which was given me ^(JF)by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, ^(JG)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, ^(JH)to preach to the Gentiles the ^(JI)unsearchable ^(JJ)riches of Christ, ⁹ and ^(JK)to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery ^(JL)hidden for ages in^[aa] God, ^(JM)who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold ^(JN)wisdom of God ^(JO)might now be made known to ^(JP)the rulers and authorities ^(JQ)in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was ^(JR)according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have ^(JS)boldness and ^(JT)access with ^(JU)confidence through our ^(JV)faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering ^(JW)for you, ^(JX)which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^(JY)every family^[ab] in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to ^(JZ)the riches of his glory ^(KA)he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit ^(KB)in your inner being, ^17 (KC)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being ^(KD)rooted and ^(KE)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to ^(KF)comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and ^(KG)height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ ^(KH)that surpasses knowledge, that ^(KI)you may be filled with all ^(KJ)the fullness of God.

^20 (KK)Now to ^(KL)him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, ^(KM)according to the power at work within us, ^21 (KN)to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I therefore, ^(KO)a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to ^(KP)walk in a manner worthy of ^(KQ)the calling to which you have been called, ² with all ^(KR)humility and ^(KS)gentleness, with ^(KT)patience, ^(KU)bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in ^(KV)the bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(KW)one body and ^(KX)one Spirit—just as you were called to the one ^(KY)hope that belongs to your call— ^5 (KZ)one Lord, ^(LA)one faith, ^(LB)one baptism, ^6 (LC)one God and Father of all, ^(LD)who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But ^(LE)grace was given ^(LF)to each one of us ^(LG)according to the measure of Christ's gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

⁹ (^(LJ)In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into ^(LK)the lower regions, the earth?^{[ad] 10} He who descended is the one who also ^(LL)ascended ^(LM)far above all the heavens, that he might ^(LN)fill all things.) ¹¹ And ^(LO)he gave the ^(LP)apostles, the prophets, the ^(LQ)evangelists, the ^(LR)shepherds^[ae] and teachers,^{[af] 12 (LS)}to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for ^(LT)building up ^(LU)the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to ^(LV)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, ^(LW)to mature manhood,^[ag] to the measure of the stature of ^(LX)the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, ^(LY)tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in ^(LZ)deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, ^(MA)speaking the truth in love, we are to ^(MB)grow up in every way into him who is ^(MC)the head, into Christ, ^16 (MD)from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, ^(ME)when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The New Life

¹⁷ Now this I say and ^(MF)testify in the Lord, ^(MG)that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, ^(MH)in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They ^(MI)are darkened in their understanding, ^(MJ)alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to ^(MK)their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They ^(ML)have become callous and ^(MM)have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that is not the way you ^(MN)learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that ^(MO)you have heard about him and ^(MP)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to ^(MQ)put off ^(MR)your old self,^[ah] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through ^(MS)deceitful desires, ²³ and ^(MT)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on ^(MU)the new self, ^(MV)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you ^(MW)speak the truth with his neighbor, for ^(MX)we are members one of another. ^26 (MY)Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and ^(MZ)give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather ^(NA)let him labor, ^(NB)doing honest work with his own hands, so ^(NC)that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ^29 (ND)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give ^(NE)grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And ^(NF)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^(NG)by whom you were sealed for the day of ^(NH)redemption. ^31 (NI)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ^32 (NJ)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ^(NK)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

5 ^(NL)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And ^(NM)walk in love, ^(NN)as Christ loved us and ^(NO)gave himself up for us, a ^(NP)fragrant ^(NQ)offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But ^(NR)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^(NS)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be ^(NT)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^(NU)which are out of place, but instead ^(NV)let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you may be sure of this, that ^(NW)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^(NX)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ^6 (NY)Let no one ^(NZ)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(OA)the wrath of God comes upon ^(OB)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore ^(OC)do not become partners with them; ⁸ for ^(OD)at one time you were ^(OE)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^(OF)Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(OG)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and ^(OH)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (OI)Take no part in the ^(OJ)unfruitful ^(OK)works of darkness, but instead ^(OL)expose them. ¹² For ^(OM)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when ^(ON)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

^15 (OR)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ^16 (OS)making the best use of the time, because ^(OT)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^(OU)the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(OV)do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(OW)debauchery, but ^(OX)be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in ^(OY)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ^20 (OZ)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^(PA)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (PB)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

^22 (PC)Wives, ^(PD)submit to your own husbands, ^(PE)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(PF)the husband is the head of the wife even as ^(PG)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is ^(PH)himself its Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^(PI)in everything to their husbands.

^25 (PJ)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and ^(PK)gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ^(PL)the washing of water ^(PM)with the word, ²⁷ so ^(PN)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, ^(PO)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^{[ai] 28} In the same way ^(PP)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰ because ^(PQ)we are members of his body. ^31 (PR)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^(PS)the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, ^(PT)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(PU)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(PV)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (PW)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, ^(PX)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (PY)Bondservants,^[aj] obey your earthly masters^[ak] with fear and trembling, ^(PZ)with a sincere heart, ^(QA)as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as ^(QB)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ^8 (QC)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(QD)whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, ^(QE)and stop your threatening, knowing that ^(QF)he who is both their Master^[al] and yours is in heaven, and that ^(QG)there is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(QH)be strong in the Lord and in ^(QI)the strength of his might. ^11 (QJ)Put on ^(QK)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ^(QL)the schemes of the devil. ¹² For ^(QM)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(QN)the rulers, against the authorities, against ^(QO)the cosmic powers over ^(QP)this present darkness, against ^(QQ)the spiritual forces of evil ^(QR)in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore ^(QS)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^(QT)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(QU)having fastened on the belt of truth, and ^(QV)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, ^(QW)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up ^(QX)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all ^(QY)the flaming darts of ^(QZ)the evil one; ¹⁷ and take ^(RA)the helmet of salvation, and ^(RB)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying ^(RC)at all times ^(RD)in the Spirit, ^(RE)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^(RF)keep alert with all perseverance, making ^(RG)supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and ^(RH)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^(RI)boldly to proclaim ^(RJ)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I ^(RK)am an ambassador ^(RL)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

^21 (RM)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, ^(RN)Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may ^(RO)encourage your hearts.

^23 (RP)Peace be to the brothers,^[am] and ^(RQ)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who ^(RR)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, servants^[an] of Christ Jesus,

To all the ^(RS)saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the ^(RT)overseers^[ao] and ^(RU)deacons:^[ap]

^2 (RV)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

^3 (RW)I thank my God ^(RX)in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ^5 (RY)because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began ^(RZ)a good work in you ^(SA)will bring it to completion at ^(SB)the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you ^(SC)in my heart, for you are all ^(SD)partakers with me of grace,^[aq] both ^(SE)in my imprisonment and in ^(SF)the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For ^(SG)God is my witness, ^(SH)how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And it is my prayer that ^(SI)your love may abound more and more, ^(SJ)with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, ^(SK)and so be pure and blameless ^(SL)for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled ^(SM)with the fruit of righteousness that comes ^(SN)through Jesus Christ, ^(SO)to the glory and praise of God.

The Advance of the Gospel

¹² I want you to know, brothers,^[ar] that what has happened to me has really ^(SP)served to advance the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard^[as] and ^(SQ)to all the rest that ^(SR)my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴ And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold ^(SS)to speak the word^[at] without fear.

^15 (ST)Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. ¹⁶ The latter do it out of love, ^(SU)knowing that I am put here for ^(SV)the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former proclaim Christ ^(SW)out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that ^(SX)through your prayers and ^(SY)the help of ^(SZ)the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope ^(TA)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full ^(TB)courage now as always Christ ^(TC)will be honored in my body, ^(TD)whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me ^(TE)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ^23 (TF)I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is ^(TG)to depart and ^(TH)be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ^25 (TI)Convinced of this, ^(TJ)I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your ^(TK)progress and ^(TL)joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me ^(TM)you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only ^(TN)let your manner of life be ^(TO)worthy^[au] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you ^(TP)that you are standing firm in one spirit, with ^(TQ)one mind ^(TR)striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is ^(TS)a clear sign to them of their destruction, but ^(TT)of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For ^(TU)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^(TV)suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same ^(TW)conflict that ^(TX)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from ^(TY)love, any ^(TZ)participation in the Spirit, any ^(UA)affection and sympathy, ^2 (UB)complete my joy by being ^(UC)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from ^(UD)selfish ambition or ^(UE)conceit, but in ^(UF)humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you ^(UG)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ^5 (UH)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,^{[av] 6 (UI)}who, though he was in ^(UJ)the form of God, did not count equality with God ^(UK)a thing to be grasped,^{[aw] 7} but ^(UL)emptied himself, by taking the form of a ^(UM)servant,^{[ax] (UN)}being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by ^(UO)becoming obedient to the point of death, ^(UP)even death on a cross. ^9 (UQ)Therefore ^(UR)God has ^(US)highly exalted him and bestowed on him ^(UT)the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(UU)every knee should bow, ^(UV)in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and ^(UW)every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is ^(UX)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(UY)as you have always ^(UZ)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for ^(VA)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ^(VB)his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things ^(VC)without grumbling or ^(VD)disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, ^(VE)children of God ^(VF)without blemish ^(VG)in the midst of ^(VH)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine ^(VI)as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to ^(VJ)the word of life, so that in ^(VK)the day of Christ ^(VL)I may be proud that ^(VM)I did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷ Even if I am to be ^(VN)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(VO)the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus ^(VP)to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. ²⁰ For I have no one ^(VQ)like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all ^(VR)seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know Timothy's^{[ay] (VS)}proven worth, how ^(VT)as a son^[az] with a father ^(VU)he has served with me in the gospel. ²³ I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, ²⁴ and ^(VV)I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

²⁵ I have thought it necessary to send to you ^(VW)Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and ^(VX)fellow soldier, and your messenger and ^(VY)minister to my need, ²⁶ for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. ²⁹ So ^(VZ)receive him in the Lord with all joy, and ^(WA)honor such men, ³⁰ for he nearly died^{[ba] (WB)}for the work of Christ, risking his life ^(WC)to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3 Finally, my brothers,^{[bb] (WD)}rejoice in the Lord. ^(WE)To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

² Look out for ^(WF)the dogs, look out for ^(WG)the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For ^(WH)we are the circumcision, ^(WI)who worship ^(WJ)by the Spirit of God^[bc] and ^(WK)glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— ^4 (WL)though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ^5 (WM)circumcised on the eighth day, ^(WN)of the people of Israel, ^(WO)of the tribe of Benjamin, ^(WP)a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, ^(WQ)a Pharisee; ^6 (WR)as to zeal, ^(WS)a persecutor of the church; ^(WT)as to righteousness under the law,^[bd] blameless. ⁷ But ^(WU)whatever gain I had, ^(WV)I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of ^(WW)the surpassing worth of ^(WX)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ^(WY)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having ^(WZ)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^(XA)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ^10 (XB)that I may know him and ^(XC)the power of his resurrection, and ^(XD)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may ^(XE)attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already ^(XF)obtained this or ^(XG)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^(XH)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for ^(XI)the prize of the upward ^(XJ)call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are ^(XK)mature think this way, and if in anything ^(XL)you think otherwise, ^(XM)God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only ^(XN)let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers, ^(XO)join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk ^(XP)according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For ^(XQ)many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you ^(XR)even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ^19 (XS)Their end is destruction, ^(XT)their god is their belly, and ^(XU)they glory in their shame, with ^(XV)minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But ^(XW)our citizenship is in heaven, and ^(XX)from it we ^(XY)await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform ^(XZ)our lowly body ^(YA)to be like his glorious body, ^(YB)by the power that enables him even ^(YC)to subject all things to himself.

4 Therefore, my brothers,^[be] whom I love and ^(YD)long for, ^(YE)my joy and ^(YF)crown, ^(YG)stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

² I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to ^(YH)agree in the Lord. ³ Yes, I ask you also, true companion,^[bf] help these women, who have labored^[bg] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, ^(YI)whose names are in the book of life.

^4 (YJ)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness^[bh] be known to everyone. ^(YK)The Lord is at hand; ^6 (YL)do not be anxious about anything, ^(YM)but in everything by prayer and supplication ^(YN)with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(YO)the peace of God, ^(YP)which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned^[bi] and ^(YQ)received and heard and seen ^(YR)in me—practice these things, and ^(YS)the God of peace will be with you.

God's Provision

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length ^(YT)you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be ^(YU)content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and ^(YV)hunger, abundance and ^(YW)need. ¹³ I can do all things ^(YX)through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Yet it was kind of you ^(YY)to share^[bj] my trouble. ¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves know that ^(YZ)in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, ^(ZA)no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶ Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ^17 (ZB)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek ^(ZC)the fruit that increases to your credit.^{[bk] 18} I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, ^(ZD)having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ^(ZE)a fragrant offering, ^(ZF)a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God ^(ZG)will supply every need of yours ^(ZH)according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To ^(ZI)our God and Father be ^(ZJ)glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. ^(ZK)The brothers who are with me greet you. ^22 (ZL)All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

^23 (ZM)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(ZN)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^(ZO)by the will of God, and Timothy ^(ZP)our brother,

² To the ^(ZQ)saints and faithful brothers^[bl] in Christ at Colossae:

^(ZR)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

^3 (ZS)We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ since we heard of ^(ZT)your faith in Christ Jesus and of ^(ZU)the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵ because of ^(ZV)the hope ^(ZW)laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in ^(ZX)the word of the truth, the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, as indeed ^(ZY)in the whole world it is ^(ZZ)bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you ^(AAA)heard it and understood ^(AAB)the grace of God in truth, ⁷ just as you learned it from ^(AAC)Epaphras our beloved ^(AAD)fellow servant.^[bm] He is ^(AAE)a faithful minister of Christ on your^[bn] behalf ⁸ and has made known to us your ^(AAF)love in the Spirit.

⁹ And so, ^(AAG)from the day we heard, ^(AAH)we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that ^(AAI)you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all ^(AAJ)spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as ^(AAK)to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^(AAL)fully pleasing to him: ^(AAM)bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ^11 (AAN)being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for ^(AAO)all endurance and patience ^(AAP)with joy; ^12 (AAQ)giving thanks^[bo] to the Father, who has qualified you^[bp] to share in ^(AAR)the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He ^(AAS)has delivered us from ^(AAT)the domain of darkness and transferred us to ^(AAU)the kingdom of ^(AAV)his beloved Son, ^14 (AAW)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

^15 (AAX)He is the image of ^(AAY)the invisible God, ^(AAZ)the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[bq] him all things were created, ^(ABA)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(ABB)thrones or ^(ABC)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created ^(ABD)through him and for him. ¹⁷ And ^(ABE)he is before all things, and in him all things ^(ABF)hold together. ¹⁸ And ^(ABG)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(ABH)the beginning, ^(ABI)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For ^(ABJ)in him all the ^(ABK)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and ^(ABL)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, ^(ABM)making peace ^(ABN)by the blood of his cross.

^21 (ABO)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, ^(ABP)doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled ^(ABQ)in his body of flesh by his death, ^(ABR)in order to present you holy and blameless and ^(ABS)above reproach before him, ^23 (ABT)if indeed you continue in the faith, ^(ABU)stable and steadfast, not shifting from ^(ABV)the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed ^(ABW)in all creation^[br] under heaven, ^(ABX)and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now ^(ABY)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(ABZ)I am filling up ^(ACA)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions ^(ACB)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ^25 (ACC)of which I became a minister according to ^(ACD)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ^26 (ACE)the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ^27 (ACF)To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are ^(ACG)the riches of the glory of ^(ACH)this mystery, which is Christ in you, ^(ACI)the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that ^(ACJ)we may present everyone ^(ACK)mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this ^(ACL)I toil, ^(ACM)struggling ^(ACN)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know ^(ACO)how great a ^(ACP)struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ² that ^(ACQ)their hearts may be encouraged, being ^(ACR)knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of ^(ACS)God's mystery, which is Christ, ^3 (ACT)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I say this in order ^(ACU)that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For ^(ACV)though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your ^(ACW)good order and ^(ACX)the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

^6 (ACY)Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ^7 (ACZ)rooted and ^(ADA)built up in him and ^(ADB)established in the faith, just ^(ADC)as you were taught, abounding ^(ADD)in thanksgiving.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by ^(ADE)philosophy and ^(ADF)empty deceit, according to ^(ADG)human tradition, according to the ^(ADH)elemental spirits^[bs] of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For ^(ADI)in him the whole fullness of deity dwells ^(ADJ)bodily, ¹⁰ and ^(ADK)you have been filled in him, who is ^(ADL)the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also ^(ADM)you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by ^(ADN)putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ^12 (ADO)having been buried with him in baptism, in which ^(ADP)you were also raised with him through faith in ^(ADQ)the powerful working of God, ^(ADR)who raised him from the dead. ^13 (ADS)And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God ^(ADT)made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by ^(ADU)canceling ^(ADV)the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ^15 (ADW)He disarmed the rulers and authorities^[bt] and ^(ADX)put them to open shame, by ^(ADY)triumphing over them in him.^[bu]

Let No One Disqualify You

¹⁶ Therefore let no one ^(ADZ)pass judgment on you ^(AEA)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to ^(AEB)a festival or ^(AEC)a new moon or a Sabbath. ^17 (AED)These are a shadow of the things to come, but ^(AEE)the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one ^(AEF)disqualify you, ^(AEG)insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, ^(AEH)going on in detail about visions,^{[bv] (AEI)}puffed up without reason by ^(AEJ)his sensuous mind, ¹⁹ and ^(AEK)not ^(AEL)holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

²⁰ If with Christ ^(AEM)you died to the ^(AEN)elemental spirits of the world, ^(AEO)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ^21 (AEP)“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” ²² (^(AEQ)referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to ^(AER)human precepts and teachings? ²³ These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in ^(AES)promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are ^(AET)of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Put On the New Self

3 ^(AEU)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek ^(AEV)the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(AEW)seated at the right hand of God. ^2 (AEX)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For ^(AEY)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ ^(AEZ)who is your^[bw] life ^(AFA)appears, then you also will appear with him ^(AFB)in glory.

^5 (AFC)Put to death therefore ^(AFD)what is earthly in you:^{[bx] (AFE)}sexual immorality, impurity, ^(AFF)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(AFG)which is idolatry. ^6 (AFH)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^{[by] 7 (AFI)}In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now ^(AFJ)you must put them all away: ^(AFK)anger, wrath, malice, ^(AFL)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ^9 (AFM)Do not lie to one another, seeing that ^(AFN)you have put off ^(AFO)the old self^[bz] with its practices ¹⁰ and ^(AFP)have put on ^(AFQ)the new self, ^(AFR)which is being renewed in knowledge ^(AFS)after the image of ^(AFT)its creator. ^11 (AFU)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^[ca] free; but Christ is ^(AFV)all, and in all.

^12 (AFW)Put on then, as ^(AFX)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, ^(AFY)compassionate hearts, ^(AFZ)kindness, ^(AGA)humility, meekness, and patience, ^13 (AGB)bearing with one another and, ^(AGC)if one has a complaint against another, ^(AGD)forgiving each other; ^(AGE)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on ^(AGF)love, which ^(AGG)binds everything together in ^(AGH)perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let ^(AGI)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called ^(AGJ)in one body. And ^(AGK)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(AGL)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, ^(AGM)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ^(AGN)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And ^(AGO)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(AGP)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

^18 (AGQ)Wives, submit to your husbands, as ^(AGR)is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and ^(AGS)do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents ^(AGT)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey ^(AGU)in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[cb] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ^23 (AGV)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(AGW)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(AGX)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(AGY)You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants^[cc] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

^2 (AGZ)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it ^(AHA)with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may ^(AHB)open to us a door for the word, ^(AHC)to declare the mystery of Christ, ^(AHD)on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

^5 (AHE)Walk in wisdom toward ^(AHF)outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always ^(AHG)be gracious, ^(AHH)seasoned with salt, ^(AHI)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you ^(AHJ)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant^[cd] in the Lord. ⁸ I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, ⁹ and with him ^(AHK)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(AHL)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

^10 (AHM)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark ^(AHN)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—^(AHO)if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called ^(AHP)Justus. ^(AHQ)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and ^(AHR)they have been a comfort to me. ^12 (AHS)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^(AHT)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^(AHU)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. ^14 (AHV)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does ^(AHW)Demas. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers^[ce] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and ^(AHX)the church in her house. ¹⁶ And when ^(AHY)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(AHZ)Archippus, “See that you fulfill ^(AIA)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, ^(AIB)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(AIC)Remember ^(AID)my chains. ^(AIE)Grace be with you.