Bible in 90 Days

²⁶ For you are all ^(A)sons of God through faith in ^(B)Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were ^(C)baptized into Christ have ^(D)clothed yourselves with Christ. ^28 (E)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is ^[a]neither male nor female; for ^(F)you are all one in ^(G)Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ^(H)you ^[b]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ^[c]descendants, heirs according to ^(I)promise.

Sonship in Christ

4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a ^[d]child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is ^[e]owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and ^[f]managers until the date set by the father. ³ So also we, while we were children, were held ^(J)in bondage under the ^[g](K)elemental things of the world. ⁴ But when ^(L)the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, ^(M)born of a woman, born ^(N)under ^[h]the Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^[i]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(O)sons. ⁶ Because you are sons, ^(P)God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “^(Q)Abba! Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(R)if a son, then an heir ^[j]through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(S)when you did not know God, you were ^(T)slaves to ^(U)those which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^(V)known by God, ^(W)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^[k](X)elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You ^(Y)observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^[l]over you in vain.

¹² I beg of you, ^(Z)brethren, ^(AA)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; ¹³ but you know that it was because of a ^[m]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^[n]first time; ¹⁴ and that which was a ^[o]trial to you in my ^[p]bodily condition you did not despise or ^[q]loathe, but ^(AB)you received me as an angel of God, as ^(AC)Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is ^[r]that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy ^(AD)by ^[s]telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. ¹⁸ But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable ^[t]manner, and ^(AE)not only when I am present with you. ^19 (AF)My children, with whom ^(AG)I am again in labor until ^(AH)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for ^(AI)I am perplexed about you.

Bond and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^(AJ)listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(AK)one by the bondwoman and ^(AL)one by the free woman. ²³ But ^(AM)the son by the bondwoman ^[u]was born according to the flesh, and ^(AN)the son by the free woman through the promise. ^24 [v](AO)This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from ^(AP)Mount Sinai bearing children ^[w]who are to be ^(AQ)slaves; ^[x]she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(AR)the Jerusalem above is free; ^[y]she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ And you brethren, ^(AT)like Isaac, are ^(AU)children of promise. ²⁹ But as at that time ^(AV)he who was born according to the flesh ^(AW)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AX)so it is now also. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say?

³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, ^[z]but of the free woman.

Walk by the Spirit

5 ^[aa](BA)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^(BB)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^(BC)yoke of slavery.

² Behold I, ^(BD)Paul, say to you that if you receive ^(BE)circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I ^(BF)testify again to every man who receives ^(BG)circumcision, that he is under obligation to ^(BH)keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who ^[ab]are seeking to be justified by law; you have ^(BI)fallen from grace. ⁵ For we ^[ac]through the Spirit, ^[ad]by faith, are ^(BJ)waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in ^(BK)Christ Jesus ^(BL)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^(BM)faith working through love.

⁷ You were ^(BN)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from ^(BO)Him who calls you. ^9 (BP)A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ^10 (BQ)I have confidence ^[ae]in you in the Lord that you ^(BR)will adopt no other view; but the one who is ^(BS)disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. ¹¹ But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^(BT)persecuted? Then ^(BU)the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. ¹² I wish that ^(BV)those who are troubling you would even ^[af](BW)mutilate themselves.

¹³ For you were called to ^(BX)freedom, brethren; ^(BY)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^(BZ)serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(CA)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^(CB)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(CC)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, ^(CD)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^(CE)the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(CF)the flesh ^[ag]sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^(CG)so that you may not do the things that you ^[ah]please. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(CH)led by the Spirit, ^(CI)you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[ai](CJ)immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(CK)sorcery, enmities, ^(CL)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(CM)disputes, dissensions, ^[aj](CN)factions, ²¹ envying, ^(CO)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^(CP)inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(CQ)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(CR)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, ^(CS)self-control; against such things ^(CT)there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[ak]belong to ^(CU)Christ Jesus have ^(CV)crucified the flesh with its passions and ^(CW)desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also ^[al]walk ^(CX)by the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become ^(CY)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 ^(CZ)Brethren, even if ^[am]anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are ^(DA)spiritual, ^(DB)restore such a one ^(DC)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. ^2 (DD)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill ^(DE)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(DF)if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must ^(DG)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for ^(DH)boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. ⁵ For ^(DI)each one will bear his own load.

^6 (DJ)The one who is taught ^(DK)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. ^7 (DL)Do not be deceived, ^(DM)God is not mocked; for ^(DN)whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. ^8 (DO)For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap ^(DP)corruption, but ^(DQ)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ^9 (DR)Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we ^(DS)do not grow weary. ¹⁰ So then, ^[an](DT)while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the ^(DU)household of ^(DV)the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I ^[ao]am writing to you ^(DW)with my own hand. ¹² Those who desire ^(DX)to make a good showing in the flesh try to ^(DY)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they ^(DZ)will not be persecuted ^[ap]for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who ^[aq]are circumcised do not even ^(EA)keep ^[ar]the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may ^(EB)boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But ^(EC)may it never be that I would boast, ^(ED)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(EE)through ^[as]which the world has been crucified to me, and ^(EF)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(EG)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a ^(EH)new ^[at]creation. ¹⁶ And those who will ^[au]walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the ^(EI)Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the ^(EJ)brand-marks of Jesus.

^18 (EK)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(EL)with your spirit, ^(EM)brethren. Amen.

The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, ^(EN)an apostle of ^(EO)Christ Jesus ^[av](EP)by the will of God,

To the ^[aw](EQ)saints who are ^[ax]at ^(ER)Ephesus and ^(ES)who are faithful in ^(ET)Christ Jesus: ^2 (EU)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (EV)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(EW)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(EX)He chose us in Him before ^(EY)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(EZ)holy and blameless before ^[ay]Him. ^(FA)In love ^5 [az]He ^(FB)predestined us to ^(FC)adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(FD)according to the ^[ba]kind intention of His will, ^6 (FE)to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in ^(FF)the Beloved. ^7 (FG)In ^[bb]Him we have ^(FH)redemption ^(FI)through His blood, the ^(FJ)forgiveness of our trespasses, according to ^(FK)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He ^[bc]lavished on ^[bd]us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He ^[be](FL)made known to us the mystery of His will, ^(FM)according to His ^[bf]kind intention which He ^(FN)purposed in Him ¹⁰ with a view to an administration ^[bg]suitable to ^(FO)the fullness of the times, that is, ^(FP)the summing up of all things in Christ, things ^[bh]in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him ^11 [bi]also we ^[bj](FQ)have obtained an inheritance, having been ^(FR)predestined ^(FS)according to His purpose who works all things ^(FT)after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in ^[bk]Christ would be ^(FU)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[bl]Him, you also, after listening to ^(FV)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[bm]believed, you were ^(FW)sealed in ^[bn]Him with ^(FX)the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is ^[bo](FY)given as a pledge of ^(FZ)our inheritance, with a view to the ^(GA)redemption of ^(GB)God’s own possession, ^(GC)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(GD)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[bp]your love for ^(GE)all the ^[bq]saints, ^16 (GF)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(GG)while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the ^(GH)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(GI)the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of ^(GJ)wisdom and of ^(GK)revelation in the ^[br]knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that ^(GL)the eyes of your heart ^[bs]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the ^(GM)hope of His ^(GN)calling, what are ^(GO)the riches of the glory of ^(GP)His inheritance in ^(GQ)the ^[bt]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. ^(GR)These are in accordance with the working of the ^(GS)strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He ^(GT)raised Him from the dead and ^(GU)seated Him at His right hand in ^(GV)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(GW)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(GX)name that is named, not only in ^(GY)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He ^(GZ)put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as ^(HA)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(HB)body, the ^(HC)fullness of Him who ^(HD)fills ^(HE)all in all.

Made Alive in Christ

2 And you ^[bu]were ^(HF)dead ^[bv]in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you ^(HG)formerly walked according to the ^[bw]course of ^(HH)this world, according to ^(HI)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(HJ)the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all ^(HK)formerly lived in ^(HL)the lusts of our flesh, ^[bx]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[by]mind, and were ^(HM)by nature ^(HN)children of wrath, ^(HO)even as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(HP)rich in mercy, because of ^(HQ)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(HR)dead ^[bz]in our transgressions, made us alive together ^[ca]with Christ (^(HS)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(HT)raised us up with Him, and ^(HU)seated us with Him in ^(HV)the heavenly places in ^(HW)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing ^(HX)riches of His grace in ^(HY)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(HZ)by grace you have been saved ^(IA)through faith; and ^[cb]that not of yourselves, it is ^(IB)the gift of God; ^9 (IC)not as a result of works, so that ^(ID)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(IE)created in ^(IF)Christ Jesus for ^(IG)good works, which God ^(IH)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(II)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(IJ)formerly ^(IK)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(IL)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(IM)Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[cc](IN)excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to ^(IO)the covenants of promise, having ^(IP)no hope and ^(IQ)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(IR)Christ Jesus you who ^(IS)formerly were ^(IT)far off ^[cd]have ^(IU)been brought near ^[ce](IV)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(IW)our peace, ^(IX)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[cf]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [cg]by ^(IY)abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is ^(IZ)the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[ch](JA)make the two into ^(JB)one new man, thus establishing ^(JC)peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(JD)reconcile them both in ^(JE)one body to God through the cross, ^[ci]by it having ^(JF)put to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And ^(JG)He came and preached ^(JH)peace to you who were ^(JI)far away, and peace to those who were ^(JJ)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(JK)our access in ^(JL)one Spirit to ^(JM)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(JN)strangers and aliens, but you are ^(JO)fellow citizens with the ^[cj]saints, and are of ^(JP)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(JQ)built on ^(JR)the foundation of ^(JS)the apostles and prophets, ^(JT)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(JU)corner stone, ^21 (JV)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(JW)a holy ^[ck]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(JX)built together into a ^(JY)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(JZ)the prisoner of ^(KA)Christ Jesus ^(KB)for the sake of you ^(KC)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(KD)stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (KE)that ^(KF)by revelation there was ^(KG)made known to me ^(KH)the mystery, ^(KI)as I wrote before in brief. ^4 [cl]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(KJ)my insight ^[cm]into the ^(KK)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(KL)apostles and prophets ^[cn]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(KM)fellow heirs and ^(KN)fellow members of the body, and ^(KO)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(KP)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (KQ)of which I was made a ^(KR)minister, according to the gift of ^(KS)God’s grace which was given to me ^(KT)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(KU)the very least of all ^[co]saints, this grace was given, to ^(KV)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(KW)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to ^[cp]bring to light what is the administration of the ^(KX)mystery which for ages has been ^(KY)hidden in God ^(KZ)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the manifold ^(LA)wisdom of God might now be ^(LB)made known through the church to the ^(LC)rulers and the authorities in ^(LD)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(LE)accordance with the ^[cq]eternal purpose which He ^[cr]carried out in ^(LF)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[cs](LG)confident ^(LH)access through faith ^[ct]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[cu]you not ^(LI)to lose heart at my tribulations ^(LJ)on your behalf, ^[cv]for they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(LK)bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[cw]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to ^(LL)the riches of His glory, to be ^(LM)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(LN)the inner man, ¹⁷ so that ^(LO)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(LP)rooted and ^(LQ)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(LR)all the ^[cx]saints what is ^(LS)the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(LT)the love of Christ which ^(LU)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(LV)filled up to all the ^(LW)fullness of God.

^20 (LX)Now to Him who is ^(LY)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ^(LZ)according to the power that works within us, ^21 (MA)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[cy]forever and ever. Amen.

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(MB)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(MC)implore you to ^(MD)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(ME)calling with which you have been ^(MF)called, ² with all ^(MG)humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another ^(MH)in love, ³ being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the ^(MI)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(MJ)one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one ^(MK)hope of your calling; ^5 (ML)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(MM)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(MN)to each one of us ^(MO)grace was given ^(MP)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[cz]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(MS)ascended,” what ^[da]does it mean except that He also ^[db]had descended into ^(MT)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(MU)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(MV)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He ^(MW)gave ^(MX)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as ^(MY)evangelists, and some as pastors and ^(MZ)teachers, ^12 (NA)for the equipping of the ^[dc]saints for the work of service, to the building up of ^(NB)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(NC)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[dd](ND)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(NE)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[de]which belongs to the ^(NF)fullness of Christ. ^14 [df]As a result, we are ^(NG)no longer to be children, ^(NH)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by ^(NI)craftiness ^[dg]in ^(NJ)deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[dh]speaking the truth ^(NK)in love, ^[di]we are to ^(NL)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(NM)head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(NN)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[dj]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[dk]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(NO)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (NP)So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, ^(NQ)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the ^(NR)futility of their mind, ¹⁸ being ^(NS)darkened in their understanding, ^[dl](NT)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(NU)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(NV)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(NW)become callous, ^(NX)have given themselves over to ^(NY)sensuality ^[dm]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(NZ)learn ^[dn]Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(OA)have heard Him and have ^(OB)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former manner of life, you ^(OC)lay aside the ^(OD)old ^[do]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(OE)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you be ^(OF)renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and ^(OG)put on the ^(OH)new ^[dp]self, which ^[dq](OI)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(OJ)laying aside falsehood, ^(OK)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are ^(OL)members of one another. ^26 (OM)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(ON)give the devil ^[dr]an opportunity. ²⁸ He who steals must steal no longer; but rather ^(OO)he must labor, ^(OP)performing with his own hands what is good, ^(OQ)so that he will have something to share with ^[ds]one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[dt](OR)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for ^(OS)edification ^[du]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (OT)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[dv]by whom you were ^(OU)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (OV)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be ^(OW)put away from you, along with all ^(OX)malice. ^32 (OY)Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, ^(OZ)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[dw]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(PA)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(PB)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(PC)loved ^[dx]you and ^(PD)gave Himself up for us, an ^(PE)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[dy]as a ^(PF)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(PG)immorality ^[dz]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among ^[ea]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(PH)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which ^(PI)are not fitting, but rather ^(PJ)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(PK)no ^[eb]immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(PL)of Christ and God.

^6 (PM)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(PN)the wrath of God comes upon ^(PO)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be ^(PP)partakers with them; ⁸ for ^(PQ)you were formerly ^(PR)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as ^(PS)children of Light ⁹ (for ^(PT)the fruit of the Light consists in all ^(PU)goodness and righteousness and truth), ^10 [ec](PV)trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (PW)Do not participate in the unfruitful ^(PX)deeds of ^(PY)darkness, but instead even ^[ed](PZ)expose them; ¹² for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible ^(QA)when they are ^[ee]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[ef]it says,

¹⁵ Therefore ^[eg]be careful how you ^(QE)walk, not ^(QF)as unwise men but as wise, ^16 [eh](QG)making the most of your time, because ^(QH)the days are evil. ¹⁷ So then do not be foolish, but ^(QI)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(QJ)do not get drunk with wine, ^[ei]for that is ^(QK)dissipation, but be ^(QL)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (QM)speaking to ^[ej]one another in ^(QN)psalms and ^(QO)hymns and spiritual ^(QP)songs, ^(QQ)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ^20 (QR)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to ^[ek](QS)God, even the Father; ^21 [el](QT)and be subject to one another in the ^[em](QU)fear of Christ.

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

^22 (QV)Wives, ^(QW)be subject to your own husbands, ^(QX)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(QY)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(QZ)head of the church, He Himself ^(RA)being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

^25 (RB)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(RC)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (RD)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(RE)cleansed her by the ^(RF)washing of water with ^(RG)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(RH)present to Himself the church ^[en]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(RI)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands ought also to ^(RJ)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are ^(RK)members of His ^(RL)body. ^31 (RM)For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to ^(RN)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^[eo](RO)respects her husband.

Family Relationships

6 ^(RP)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (RQ)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

^4 (RR)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(RS)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

^5 (RT)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[ep]masters according to the flesh, with ^(RU)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(RV)as to Christ; ^6 (RW)not ^[eq]by way of eyeservice, as ^(RX)men-pleasers, but as ^(RY)slaves of Christ, ^(RZ)doing the will of God from the ^[er]heart. ⁷ With good will ^[es]render service, ^(SA)as to the Lord, and not to men, ^8 (SB)knowing that ^(SC)whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(SD)whether slave or free.

⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and ^(SE)give up threatening, knowing that ^(SF)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(SG)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(SH)be strong in the Lord and in ^(SI)the strength of His might. ^11 (SJ)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(SK)schemes of the devil. ¹² For our ^(SL)struggle is not against ^[et](SM)flesh and blood, but ^(SN)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(SO)world forces of this ^(SP)darkness, against the ^(SQ)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(SR)the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up ^(SS)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(ST)resist in ^(SU)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, ^(SV)having girded your loins with truth, and having ^(SW)put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having ^(SX)shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ^16 [eu]in addition to all, taking up the ^(SY)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(SZ)flaming arrows of ^(TA)the evil one. ¹⁷ And take ^(TB)the helmet of salvation, and the ^(TC)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(TD)the word of God.

^18 [ev]With all ^(TE)prayer and petition ^[ew](TF)pray at all times ^(TG)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^[ex](TH)be on the alert with all ^(TI)perseverance and ^(TJ)petition for all the saints, ¹⁹ and ^(TK)pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me ^(TL)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(TM)boldness ^(TN)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ^(TO)ambassador ^(TP)in ^[ey]chains; that ^[ez]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(TQ)boldly, ^(TR)as I ought to speak.

^21 (TS)But that you also may know about my circumstances, ^[fa]how I am doing, ^(TT)Tychicus, ^(TU)the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ^22 [fb](TV)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^[fc]about us, and that he may ^(TW)comfort your hearts.

^23 (TX)Peace be to the brethren, and ^(TY)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^[fd]with incorruptible love.

Thanksgiving

1 ^(TZ)Paul and ^(UA)Timothy, ^(UB)bond-servants of ^(UC)Christ Jesus,

To ^(UD)all the ^[fe](UE)saints in Christ Jesus who are in ^(UF)Philippi, ^[ff]including the ^(UG)overseers and ^(UH)deacons: ^2 (UI)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (UJ)I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always offering prayer with joy in ^(UK)my every prayer for you all, ⁵ in view of your ^[fg](UL)participation in the ^(UM)gospel ^(UN)from the first day until now. ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until ^(UO)the day of Christ Jesus. ^7 [fh]For ^(UP)it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I ^(UQ)have you in my heart, since both in my ^[fi](UR)imprisonment and in the ^(US)defense and confirmation of the ^(UT)gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For ^(UU)God is my witness, how I long for you all with the ^[fj]affection of ^(UV)Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this I pray, that ^(UW)your love may abound still more and more in ^(UX)real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may ^[fk](UY)approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless ^[fl]until ^(UZ)the day of Christ; ¹¹ having been filled with the ^(VA)fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel Is Preached

¹² Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances ^(VB)have turned out for the greater progress of the ^(VC)gospel, ¹³ so that my ^[fm](VD)imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole ^[fn]praetorian guard and to ^(VE)everyone else, ¹⁴ and that most of the ^[fo]brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my ^[fp](VF)imprisonment, have ^(VG)far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. ^15 (VH)Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even ^[fq]from envy and strife, but some also ^[fr]from good will; ¹⁶ the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the ^(VI)gospel; ¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ ^(VJ)out of selfish ambition ^[fs]rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my ^[ft](VK)imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my ^[fu]deliverance ^(VL)through your ^[fv]prayers and the provision of ^(VM)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my ^(VN)earnest expectation and ^(VO)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with ^(VP)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be ^(VQ)exalted in my body, ^(VR)whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

²¹ For to me, ^(VS)to live is Christ and to die is gain. ^22 [fw]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean ^(VT)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know ^[fx]which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the ^(VU)desire to depart and ^(VV)be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. ^25 (VW)Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy ^[fy]in the faith, ²⁶ so that your ^(VX)proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner ^(VY)worthy of the ^(VZ)gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are ^(WA)standing firm in ^(WB)one spirit, with one ^[fz]mind ^(WC)striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a ^(WD)sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(WE)it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(WF)suffer for His sake, ³⁰ experiencing the same ^(WG)conflict which ^(WH)you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Be Like Christ

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any ^(WI)fellowship of the Spirit, if any ^[ga](WJ)affection and compassion, ^2 (WK)make my joy complete ^[gb]by ^(WL)being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing ^[gc]from ^[gd](WM)selfishness or ^(WN)empty conceit, but with humility of mind ^(WO)regard one another as more important than yourselves; ^4 (WP)do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ^5 (WQ)Have this attitude ^[ge]in yourselves which was also in ^(WR)Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He ^(WS)existed in the ^(WT)form of God, ^(WU)did not regard equality with God a thing to be ^[gf]grasped, ⁷ but ^[gg](WV)emptied Himself, taking the form of a ^(WW)bond-servant, and ^(WX)being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, ^(WY)He humbled Himself by becoming ^(WZ)obedient to the point of death, even ^(XA)death ^[gh]on a cross. ^9 (XB)For this reason also, God ^(XC)highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him ^(XD)the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(XE)every knee will bow, of ^(XF)those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is ^(XG)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² So then, my beloved, ^(XH)just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your ^(XI)salvation with ^(XJ)fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is ^(XK)God who is at work in you, both to will and to work ^(XL)for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without ^(XM)grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will ^[gi]prove yourselves to be ^(XN)blameless and innocent, ^(XO)children of God above reproach in the midst of a ^(XP)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you ^[gj](XQ)appear as ^[gk]lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding ^[gl]fast the word of life, so that in ^(XR)the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not ^(XS)run in vain nor ^(XT)toil in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being ^(XU)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(XV)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 ^[gm]in the Lord Jesus to ^(XW)send ^(XX)Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. ²⁰ For I have no one else ^(XY)of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all ^(XZ)seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know ^(YA)of his proven worth, that ^(YB)he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel ^(YC)like a child serving his father. ^23 (YD)Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; ²⁴ and ^(YE)I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. ²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you ^(YF)Epaphroditus, my brother and ^(YG)fellow worker and ^(YH)fellow soldier, who is also your ^[gn](YI)messenger and ^(YJ)minister to my need; ²⁶ because he was longing ^[go]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 on him only 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 (YK)Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and ^(YL)hold men like him in high regard; ³⁰ because he came close to death ^[gp](YM)for the work of Christ, risking his life to ^(YN)complete ^[gq]what was deficient in your service to me.

The Goal of Life

3 Finally, my brethren, ^(YO)rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

² Beware of the ^(YP)dogs, beware of the ^(YQ)evil workers, beware of the ^[gr]false circumcision; ³ for ^(YR)we are the true ^[gs]circumcision, who ^(YS)worship in the Spirit of God and ^(YT)glory in ^(YU)Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, ⁴ although ^(YV)I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: ^5 (YW)circumcised the eighth day, of the ^(YX)nation of Israel, of the ^(YY)tribe of Benjamin, a ^(YZ)Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, ^(ZA)a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, ^(ZB)a persecutor of the church; as to the ^(ZC)righteousness which is in the Law, found ^(ZD)blameless.

⁷ But ^(ZE)whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss ^[gt]in view of the surpassing value of ^[gu](ZF)knowing ^(ZG)Christ Jesus my Lord, ^[gv]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having ^(ZH)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, ^(ZI)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may ^(ZJ)know Him and ^(ZK)the power of His resurrection and ^[gw](ZL)the fellowship of His sufferings, being ^(ZM)conformed to His death; ^11 [gx]in order that I may ^(ZN)attain to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already ^(ZO)obtained it or have already ^(ZP)become perfect, but I press on ^[gy]so that I may ^(ZQ)lay hold of that ^[gz]for which also I ^(ZR)was laid hold of by ^(ZS)Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: ^(ZT)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I ^(ZU)press on toward the goal for the prize of the ^(ZV)upward call of God in ^(ZW)Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as are ^[ha](ZX)perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a ^(ZY)different attitude, ^(ZZ)God will reveal that also to you; ¹⁶ however, let us keep ^[hb](AAA)living by that same standard to which we have attained.

¹⁷ Brethren, ^(AAB)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the ^(AAC)pattern you have in us. ¹⁸ For ^(AAD)many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even ^(AAE)weeping, that they are enemies of ^(AAF)the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their ^[hc](AAG)appetite, and whose ^(AAH)glory is in their shame, who ^(AAI)set their minds on earthly things. ²⁰ For ^(AAJ)our ^[hd]citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly ^(AAK)wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ who will ^(AAL)transform ^[he]the body of our humble state into ^(AAM)conformity with ^[hf]the ^(AAN)body of His glory, ^(AAO)by the exertion of the power that He has even to ^(AAP)subject all things to Himself.

Think of Excellence

4 Therefore, my beloved brethren ^[hg]whom I ^(AAQ)long to see, my joy and crown, in this way ^(AAR)stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to ^[hh](AAS)live in harmony in the Lord. ³ Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my ^(AAT)fellow workers, whose ^(AAU)names are in the book of life.

^4 (AAV)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. ^(AAW)The Lord is ^[hi]near. ^6 (AAX)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by ^(AAY)prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(AAZ)the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[hj]comprehension, will ^(ABA)guard your hearts and your ^(ABB)minds in ^(ABC)Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, ^(ABD)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[hk]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, ^[hl]dwell on these things. ⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen ^(ABE)in me, practice these things, and ^(ABF)the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last ^(ABG)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[hm]from want, for I have learned to be ^[hn](ABH)content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going ^(ABI)hungry, both of having abundance and ^(ABJ)suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[ho]through Him who ^(ABK)strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to ^(ABL)share with me in my affliction.

¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[hp](ABM)first preaching of the gospel, after I left ^(ABN)Macedonia, no church ^(ABO)shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; ¹⁶ for even in ^(ABP)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ^17 (ABQ)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the ^[hq]profit which increases to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[hr]amply supplied, having received from ^(ABR)Epaphroditus ^[hs]what you have sent, ^[ht](ABS)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And ^(ABT)my God will supply ^[hu]all your needs according to His ^(ABU)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to ^(ABV)our God and Father ^(ABW)be the glory ^[hv]forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every ^[hw]saint in Christ Jesus. ^(ABX)The brethren who are with me greet you. ^22 (ABY)All the ^[hx](ABZ)saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

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

Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

1 ^(ACC)Paul, ^(ACD)an apostle of Jesus Christ ^[hy](ACE)by the will of God, and ^(ACF)Timothy ^[hz]our brother,

² To the ^[ia](ACG)saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: ^(ACH)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

^3 (ACI)We give thanks to God, ^(ACJ)the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ^4 (ACK)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the ^(ACL)love which you have ^[ib]for ^(ACM)all the ^[ic]saints; ⁵ because of the ^(ACN)hope ^(ACO)laid up for you in ^[id]heaven, of which you previously ^(ACP)heard in the word of truth, ^[ie]the gospel ⁶ which has come to you, just as ^[if](ACQ)in all the world also it is constantly bearing ^(ACR)fruit and ^[ig]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you ^(ACS)heard of it and ^[ih]understood the grace of God in truth; ⁷ just as you learned it from ^(ACT)Epaphras, our ^(ACU)beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, ⁸ and he also informed us of your ^(ACV)love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this reason also, ^(ACW)since the day we heard of it, ^(ACX)we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the ^[ii](ACY)knowledge of His will in all spiritual ^(ACZ)wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you will ^(ADA)walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^[ij](ADB)to please Him in all respects, ^(ADC)bearing fruit in every good work and ^[ik]increasing in the ^[il]knowledge of God; ^11 (ADD)strengthened with all power, according to ^[im]His glorious might, ^[in]for the attaining of all steadfastness and ^[io]patience; ^(ADE)joyously ¹² giving thanks to ^(ADF)the Father, who has qualified us ^[ip]to share in ^(ADG)the inheritance of the ^[iq]saints in ^(ADH)Light.

The Incomparable Christ

^13 [ir]For He rescued us from the ^[is](ADI)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of ^[it](ADJ)His beloved Son, ^14 (ADK)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

^15 [iu]He is the ^(ADL)image of the ^(ADM)invisible God, the ^(ADN)firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For ^[iv](ADO)by Him all things were created, ^(ADP)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(ADQ)thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—^(ADR)all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[iw](ADS)is before all things, and in Him all things ^[ix]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also ^(ADT)head of ^(ADU)the body, the church; and He is ^(ADV)the beginning, ^(ADW)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[iy]it was ^(ADX)the Father’s good pleasure for all ^(ADY)the ^[iz]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to ^(ADZ)reconcile all things to Himself, having made ^(AEA)peace through ^(AEB)the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, ^(AEC)whether things on earth or things in ^[ja]heaven.

²¹ And although you were ^(AED)formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now ^(AEE)reconciled you in His fleshly ^(AEF)body through death, in order to ^(AEG)present you before Him ^(AEH)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ²³ if indeed you continue in ^[jb]the faith firmly ^(AEI)established and steadfast, and not moved away from the ^(AEJ)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed ^(AEK)in all creation under heaven, ^(AEL)and of which I, Paul, ^[jc]was made a ^[jd](AEM)minister.

^24 (AEN)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(AEO)I ^[je]do my share on behalf of ^(AEP)His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking ^[jf]in Christ’s afflictions. ^25 (AEQ)Of this church I ^[jg]was made a minister according to the ^(AER)stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might ^[jh]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, ²⁶ that is, ^(AES)the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His ^[ji]saints, ²⁷ to whom ^(AET)God willed to make known what is ^(AEU)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is ^(AEV)Christ in you, the ^(AEW)hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, ^(AEX)admonishing every man and teaching every man ^[jj]with all ^(AEY)wisdom, so that we may ^(AEZ)present every man ^[jk](AFA)complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose also I ^(AFB)labor, ^(AFC)striving ^(AFD)according to His ^[jl]power, which ^[jm]mightily works within me.

You Are Built Up in Christ

2 For I want you to know how great a ^(AFE)struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at ^(AFF)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^[jn]personally seen my face, ² that their ^(AFG)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(AFH)knit together in love, and attaining to all ^(AFI)the wealth ^[jo]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(AFJ)true knowledge of ^(AFK)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all ^(AFL)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ^4 (AFM)I say this so that no one will delude you with ^(AFN)persuasive argument. ⁵ For even though I am ^(AFO)absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[jp]to see ^[jq]your ^(AFP)good discipline and the ^(AFQ)stability of your faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore as you have received ^(AFR)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^[jr](AFS)walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly ^(AFT)rooted and now being ^(AFU)built up in Him and ^(AFV)established ^[js]in your faith, just as you ^(AFW)were instructed, and overflowing ^[jt]with gratitude.

^8 (AFX)See to it that no one takes you captive through ^(AFY)philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the ^(AFZ)elementary principles of the world, ^[ju]rather than according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the ^(AGA)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been ^(AGB)made ^[jv]complete, and ^(AGC)He is the head ^[jw]over all ^(AGD)rule and authority; ¹¹ and in Him ^(AGE)you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of ^(AGF)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; ¹² having been ^(AGG)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also ^(AGH)raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who ^(AGI)raised Him from the dead. ¹³ When you were ^(AGJ)dead ^[jx]in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He ^(AGK)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, ¹⁴ having canceled out ^(AGL)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and ^(AGM)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ When He had ^[jy](AGN)disarmed the ^(AGO)rulers and authorities, He ^(AGP)made a public display of them, having ^(AGQ)triumphed over them through ^[jz]Him.

¹⁶ Therefore no one is to ^[ka](AGR)act as your judge in regard to ^(AGS)food or ^(AGT)drink or in respect to a ^(AGU)festival or a ^(AGV)new moon or a ^(AGW)Sabbath ^[kb]day— ¹⁷ things which are ^(AGX)a mere shadow of what is to come; but the ^[kc]substance ^[kd]belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one keep ^[ke](AGY)defrauding you of your prize by ^(AGZ)delighting in ^[kf]self-abasement and the worship of the angels, ^[kg]taking his stand on visions he has seen, ^[kh](AHA)inflated without cause by his ^(AHB)fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to ^(AHC)the head, from whom ^(AHD)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ^[ki]ligaments, grows with a growth ^[kj]which is from God.

^20 (AHE)If you have died with Christ ^[kk]to the ^(AHF)elementary principles of the world, ^(AHG)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to ^(AHH)decrees, such as, ²¹ “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” ²² (which all refer ^(AHI)to things destined to perish ^[kl]with use)—in accordance with the ^(AHJ)commandments and teachings of men? ²³ These are matters which have, to be sure, the ^[km]appearance of wisdom in ^[kn](AHK)self-made religion and self-abasement and ^(AHL)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against ^(AHM)fleshly indulgence.

Put On the New Self

3 Therefore if you have been ^(AHN)raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, ^(AHO)seated at the right hand of God. ^2 [ko](AHP)Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have ^(AHQ)died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, ^(AHR)who is our life, is revealed, ^(AHS)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

^5 (AHT)Therefore ^[kp]consider ^(AHU)the members of your earthly body as dead to ^[kq](AHV)immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which ^[kr]amounts to idolatry. ⁶ For it is because of these things that ^(AHW)the wrath of God will come ^[ks]upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ and ^(AHX)in them you also once walked, when you were living ^[kt]in them. ⁸ But now you also, ^(AHY)put them all aside: ^(AHZ)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and ^(AIA)abusive speech from your mouth. ^9 [ku](AIB)Do not lie to one another, since you ^(AIC)laid aside the old ^[kv]self with its evil practices, ¹⁰ and have ^(AID)put on the new self who is being ^[kw](AIE)renewed to a true knowledge ^(AIF)according to the image of the One who ^(AIG)created him— ¹¹ a renewal in which ^(AIH)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, ^(AII)circumcised and uncircumcised, ^[kx](AIJ)barbarian, Scythian, ^(AIK)slave and freeman, but ^(AIL)Christ is all, and in all.

¹² So, as those who have been ^(AIM)chosen of God, holy and beloved, ^(AIN)put on a ^(AIO)heart of compassion, kindness, ^(AIP)humility, gentleness and ^[ky](AIQ)patience; ^13 (AIR)bearing with one another, and ^(AIS)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; ^(AIT)just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is ^[kz](AIU)the perfect bond of ^(AIV)unity. ¹⁵ Let ^(AIW)the peace of Christ ^[la]rule in your hearts, to which ^[lb]indeed you were called in ^(AIX)one body; and ^[lc]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(AIY)the word of ^[ld]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[le]with all wisdom ^(AIZ)teaching and admonishing ^[lf]one another ^(AJA)with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ^(AJB)singing ^[lg]with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ^17 (AJC)Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(AJD)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Family Relations

^18 (AJE)Wives, ^(AJF)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ^19 (AJG)Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. ^20 (AJH)Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing ^[lh]to the Lord. ^21 (AJI)Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

^22 (AJJ)Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters ^[li]on earth, ^(AJK)not with ^[lj]external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, do your work ^[lk]heartily, ^(AJL)as for the Lord ^[ll]rather than for men, ^24 (AJM)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward ^[lm]of ^(AJN)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you ^(AJO)serve. ²⁵ For ^(AJP)he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and ^[ln](AJQ)that without partiality.

Fellow Workers

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

^2 (AJS)Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; ³ praying at the same time ^(AJT)for us as well, that God will open up to us a ^(AJU)door for ^(AJV)the word, so that we may speak forth ^(AJW)the mystery of Christ, for which I have also ^(AJX)been imprisoned; ⁴ that I may make it clear ^(AJY)in the way I ought to speak.

^5 [lo](AJZ)Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward ^(AKA)outsiders, ^[lp](AKB)making the most of the opportunity. ^6 (AKC)Let your speech always be ^[lq]with grace, as though seasoned with ^(AKD)salt, so that you will know how you should ^(AKE)respond to each person.

^7 (AKF)As to all my affairs, ^(AKG)Tychicus, our ^(AKH)beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. ^8 (AKI)For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may ^(AKJ)encourage your hearts; ^9 [lr]and with him ^(AKK)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(AKL)beloved brother, ^(AKM)who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

^10 (AKN)Aristarchus, my ^(AKO)fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also ^(AKP)Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received ^[ls]instructions; ^(AKQ)if he comes to you, welcome him); ¹¹ and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only ^(AKR)fellow workers for the kingdom of God ^(AKS)who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. ^12 (AKT)Epaphras, ^(AKU)who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always ^(AKV)laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may ^[lt]stand ^[lu](AKW)perfect and ^[lv]fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I testify for him that he has ^[lw]a deep concern for you and for those who are in ^(AKX)Laodicea and Hierapolis. ^14 (AKY)Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also ^(AKZ)Demas. ¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in ^(ALA)Laodicea and also ^[lx]Nympha and ^(ALB)the church that is in ^[ly]her house. ^16 (ALC)When ^[lz]this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part ^(ALD)read ^[ma]my letter that is coming from ^(ALE)Laodicea. ¹⁷ Say to ^(ALF)Archippus, “Take heed to the ^(ALG)ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may ^[mb]fulfill it.”

^18 [mc]I, Paul, ^(ALH)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(ALI)Remember my ^[md](ALJ)imprisonment. ^(ALK)Grace be with you.