Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Paul’s Commission To Preach the Mystery^[a]

Chapter 3

The Mystery Made Known. ¹ This is the reason why I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—^{[b] 2} For you surely must have heard of the mystery of God’s grace that was entrusted to me on your behalf, ³ and how the mystery was made known to me by a revelation, as I have briefly written. ⁴ Reading this, you will be able to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.

⁵ It was not disclosed to human beings in previous generations, but now it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, ⁶ namely that the Gentiles have become coheirs, members of the same body, and sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Mission to the Gentiles. ⁷ I became its minister by God’s grace bestowed on me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ ⁹ and to enlighten all concerning the administration of the mystery that had been kept hidden throughout the ages in God, the creator of all things.

¹⁰ In this way, the wisdom of God in its infinite variety might be made known through the Church to the principalities and powers in the heavens. ¹¹ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have free access to God in boldness and confidence because of our faith in him. ¹³ Therefore, I beg you not to lose heart over my sufferings for you. Truly, they are your glory.

¹⁴ Prayer for a Deeper Faith. This is the reason why I kneel in prayer before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[c] in heaven and on earth takes its name. ¹⁶ I ask that from the riches of his glory he may grant through his Spirit that you be strengthened with power in your inner being ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that, rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ you may have the power to comprehend with all the saints its breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and know Christ’s love even though it is beyond knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

New Life in the Church

For Christians in General^[d]

Chapter 4

Christian Unity and Maturity.^{[e] 1} Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I implore you to behave in a manner worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in a spirit of love. ³ Make every possible effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, as well as one hope to which you have been called by your vocation, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But each of us was given grace according to the measure in which Christ allotted it. ⁸ Therefore, it is written,

⁹ Now the word “ascended” implies that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth. ¹⁰ The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.

¹¹ It was he who established some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,^{[f] 12} to equip the saints for the work of ministry in building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until all of us attain to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to full maturity, as measured by the full stature of Christ.

¹⁴ In this way, we will no longer be like children, tossed back and forth by the waves and swept along by every new wind of teaching, emanating from human cunning and craftiness and leading people into error. ¹⁵ Rather, professing truth and love, we will in all things grow into him who is the head, Christ. ¹⁶ From him, the entire body, joined and held together by every ligament, continues to grow and to build itself up in love, as each part performs its particular function.

¹⁷ The Newness of the Christian Life. Therefore, I declare and attest in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have abandoned themselves to vice, committing every kind of impurity in growing excess.

²⁰ That is not how you learned Christ. ²¹ Clearly, you were told about him and were taught what the truth is in Jesus. ²² You were taught to cast aside the old self of your former way of life that had been corrupted by its captivating desires. ²³ You are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to clothe yourselves with the new self created in God’s image, in the way of uprightness and holiness that belong to the truth.

²⁵ A Life Based on Love. Therefore, cease your lying and speak the truth to each other, for we are all members of one another. ²⁶ If you are angry, do not sin. Do not let the sun set on your anger, ²⁷ and do not give the devil an opening. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must no longer do so; rather, let him labor, performing some honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹ Let no foul word ever pass your lips. Say only what is useful for edification, so that your words may benefit your listeners. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal for the day of redemption. ³¹ Remove all forms of bitterness and wrath and anger and shouting and slander, as well as all malice from your lives. ³² Rather, be kind to one another and compassionate, and forgive one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.