Bible in 90 Days
You are God’s Children
26 For all of you are God’s children through faith in the Messiah[a] Jesus. 27 Indeed, all of you who were baptized into the Messiah[b] have clothed yourselves with the Messiah.[c] 28 Because all of you are one in the Messiah[d] Jesus, a person is no longer a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a male or a female. 29 And if you belong to the Messiah,[e] then you are Abraham’s descendants indeed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. 2 Instead, he is placed under the care of[f] guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father. 3 It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.[g] 4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children. 6 Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our[h] hearts to cry out, “Abba![i] Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did.
8 However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.[j] 9 But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles?[k] Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid for you! I don’t want my work for you to have[l] been wasted!
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
12 I beg you, brothers, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me. 13 You know that it was because I was ill[m] that I brought you the gospel the first time. 14 Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah[n] Jesus. 15 What, then, happened to your positive attitude?[o] For I testify that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I now become your enemy for telling you the truth?
17 These people who have been instructing you[p] are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them. 18 (Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.) 19 My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until the Messiah[q] is formed in you. 20 Indeed, I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice, because I am completely baffled by you!
You are Children of a Free Woman
21 Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. 23 Now the slave woman’s son was conceived through human means, while the free woman’s son was conceived through divine[r] promise. 24 This is being said as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. The one woman, Hagar, is from Mount Sinai, and her children are born into slavery. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children. 26 But the heavenly Jerusalem is the free woman, and she is our spiritual mother.[s] 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, you childless woman,
who cannot give birth to any children!
Break into song and shout,
you who feel no pains of childbirth!
For the children of the deserted woman
are more numerous than the children
of the woman who has a husband.”[t]
28 So you,[u] brothers, are children of the promise, like Isaac. 29 But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.”[v] 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.
Live in the Freedom that the Messiah Provides
5 The Messiah[w] has set us free so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom.[x] So keep on standing firm in it, and stop putting yourselves under the yoke of slavery again. 2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, the Messiah[y] will be of no benefit to you. 3 Again, I insist[z] that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised is obligated to obey the entire Law. 4 Those of you who are trying to be justified by the Law have been cut off from the Messiah.[aa] You have fallen away from grace.
5 Through the Spirit by faith we confidently await the fulfillment of our righteous hope, 6 for in union with the Messiah[ab] Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. What matters is faith[ac] expressed through love.
7 You were running the race beautifully. Who cut in on you and stopped you from obeying the truth? 8 Such influence does not come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident[ad] in the Lord that you will take no other view of this. However, the one who is troubling you will suffer God’s[ae] judgment, whoever he is. 11 As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching the necessity of[af] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish that those who are upsetting you would castrate themselves!
13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh, but through love make it your habit to serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is summarized in a single statement: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”[ag] 15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you are not destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the actions of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, witchcraft,[ah] hatred, rivalry, jealously, outbursts of anger, quarrels, conflicts, factions, 21 envy, murder,[ai] drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I am telling you now, as I have told you in the past, that people who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,[aj] 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 Now those who belong to the Messiah[ak] Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also be guided. 26 Let’s stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.
Help Each Other
6 Brothers, if a person is caught doing something wrong, those of you who are spiritual should restore that person gently. Watch out for yourself so that you are not tempted as well. 2 Practice carrying each other’s burdens. In this way you will fulfill the law of the Messiah.[al] 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is only fooling himself. 4 Each person must examine his own actions, and then he can boast about his own accomplishments and not about someone else. 5 For everyone must carry his own load.
6 The person who is taught the word should share all his goods with his teacher. 7 Stop being[am] deceived; God is not to be ridiculed. A person harvests whatever he plants: 8 The person who sows through human means will harvest decay from human means, but the person who sows in the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Let’s not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest—if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have the opportunity, let’s practice doing good to everyone, especially to the family of faith.
A Final Warning against Circumcision
11 Look at how large these letters are because I am writing with my own hand! 12 These people who want to impress others by their external appearance[an] are trying to force you to be circumcised, simply to avoid being persecuted for the cross of the Messiah.[ao] 13 Why, not even those who are circumcised obey the Law! They simply want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your external appearance.[ap] 14 But may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[aq] by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. Rather, what matters is being[ar] a new creation. 16 Now may peace be on all those who live by this principle, and may mercy be on the Israel of God. 17 Let no one make any more trouble for me, because I carry the scars of Jesus on my own body.
Final Greeting
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[as] be with your spirit, brothers! Amen.
Greetings from Paul
1 From:[at] Paul, an apostle of the Messiah[au] Jesus by God’s will.
To: His holy and faithful people[av] in Ephesus[aw] who are in union with the Messiah[ax] Jesus.
2 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[ay] be yours!
The Many Blessings of Salvation
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah![az] He has blessed us in the Messiah[ba] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm, 4 just as he chose us in the Messiah[bb] before the creation of the universe[bc] to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus the Messiah,[bd] according to the pleasure of his will, 6 so that we would praise[be] his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One. 7 In union with him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God’s[bf] grace 8 that he lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, 9 when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in the Messiah[bg] 10 to usher in[bh] the fullness of the times and to bring together in the Messiah[bi] all things in heaven and on earth.
11 In the Messiah[bj] we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything that he wills to do, 12 so that we who had already fixed our hope on the Messiah[bk] might live for his praise and glory. 13 You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in the Messiah,[bl] you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until God redeems his own possession[bm] for his praise and glory.
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
15 Therefore, because I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[bn] for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers. 17 I pray[bo] that the God of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[bp] the most glorious Father, would give you a wise spirit, along with revelation that comes through knowing the Messiah[bq] fully. 18 Then, with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, you will know the confidence[br] that is produced by God[bs] having called you,[bt] the rich glory that is his inheritance among the saints, 19 and the unlimited greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he brought about in the Messiah[bu] when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm. 21 He is far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come. 22 God[bv] has put everything under the Messiah’s[bw] feet and has made him the head of everything for the good of[bx] the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way.[by]
God Has Brought Us from Death to Life
2 You used to be dead because of your offenses and sins 2 that you once practiced as you lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient.[bz] 3 Indeed, all of us once behaved like[ca] them in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and senses. By nature we were destined for[cb] wrath, just like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us[cc] 5 even when we were dead because of our offenses, made us alive together with[cd] the Messiah[ce] (by grace you have been saved), 6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in the Messiah[cf] Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the limitless riches of his grace that comes to us through his kindness in the Messiah[cg] Jesus. 8 For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God 9 and not the result of actions, to put a stop to all boasting.[ch] 10 For we are God’s[ci] masterpiece,[cj] created in the Messiah[ck] Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.[cl]
All Believers are One in the Messiah
11 So then, remember that at one time you gentiles by birth[cm] were called “the uncircumcised” by those who called themselves “the circumcised.” They underwent physical circumcision done by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah,[cn] excluded from citizenship in Israel,[co] and strangers to the covenants of promise. You had no hope and were in the world without God. 13 But now, in union with the Messiah[cp] Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.[cq]
14 For it is he who is our peace. Through his mortality[cr] he made both groups one by tearing down the wall of hostility that divided them.[cs] 15 He rendered the Law inoperative, along with its commandments and regulations, thus creating in himself one new humanity from the two, thereby making peace, 16 and reconciling both groups to God in one body through the cross, on which he eliminated the hostility. 17 He came and proclaimed peace for you who were far away and for you who were near. 18 For through him, both of us[ct] have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the Messiah[cu] Jesus himself being the cornerstone.[cv] 21 In union with him the whole building is joined together and rises into a holy sanctuary for the Lord. 22 You, too, are being built in him, along with the others, into a place for God’s Spirit to dwell.
Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles
3 For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of the Messiah[cw] Jesus for the sake of you gentiles. 2 Surely you have heard about the responsibility of administering God’s grace that was given to me on your behalf, 3 and how this secret was made known to me through a revelation, just as I wrote about briefly in the past. 4 By reading this, you will be able to grasp my understanding of the secret about the Messiah,[cx] 5 which in previous generations was not made known to human beings[cy] as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s[cz] holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret:[da] 6 The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised[db] by the Messiah[dc] Jesus through the gospel.
7 I have become a servant of this gospel[dd] according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given so that I might proclaim to the gentiles the immeasurable wealth of the Messiah[de] 9 and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things. 10 He did this[df] so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm 11 in keeping with the eternal purpose that God[dg] carried out through the Messiah[dh] Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through his faithfulness.[di] 13 So then, I ask you not to become discouraged because of my troubles on your behalf, which work toward your glory.
To Know the Messiah’s Love
14 This is the reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[dj] 15 from whom every family[dk] in heaven and on earth receives its name. 16 I pray[dl] that he would give you, according to his glorious riches, strength in your inner being and power through his Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah[dm] would make his home in your hearts through faith. Then, having been rooted and grounded in love, 18 you will be able to understand, along with all the saints, what is wide, long, high, and deep— 19 that is, you will know the love of the Messiah[dn]— which transcends knowledge, and will be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among[do] us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in the Messiah[dp] Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
The Messiah’s Gifts to the Church
4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a way that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 demonstrating all expressions of humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another in love. 3 Do your best to maintain the unity of the Spirit by means of the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit. Likewise, you were called to the one hope of your calling.
5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is above all, through all, and in all.
7 Now to each one of us grace has been given proportionate to the measure of the Messiah’s[dq] gift. 8 That is why God[dr] says,
“When he went up to the highest place,
he led captives into captivity
and gave gifts to people.”[ds]
9 Now what does this “he went up” mean except that he also had gone[dt] down into the lower parts of the earth?[du] 10 The one who went down is the same one who went up above all the heavens so that all things would be fulfilled. 11 And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip[dv] the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah[dw] 13 until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God’s Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah.[dx] 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely and become one with the head, that is, one with the Messiah,[dy] 16 in whom the whole body is united and held together by every ligament with which it is supplied. As each individual part does its job, the body builds itself up in love.
The Old Life and the New
17 Therefore, I tell you and insist on[dz] in the Lord not to live any longer like the gentiles live, thinking worthless thoughts.[ea] 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. 19 Since they have lost all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to sensuality and practice every kind of sexual perversion without restraint. 20 However, that is not the way you came to know the Messiah.[eb] 21 Surely you have listened to him and have been taught by him, since truth is in Jesus. 22 Regarding your former way of life, you were taught[ec] to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires, 23 to be renewed in your mental attitude, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God’s image[ed] in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, “let each of us speak the truth to his neighbor,”[ee] for we belong to one another. 26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.”[ef] Do not let the sun set while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the Devil an opportunity to work.[eg] 28 The thief must no longer steal but must work hard and do what is good with his own hands, so that he might earn something to give to the needy.
29 Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment.[eh] This way you will administer grace to those who hear you. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred. 32 And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you[ei] in the Messiah.[ej]
5 So be imitators of God, as his dear children. 2 Live lovingly, just as the Messiah[ek] also loved us[el] and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God. 3 Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah[em] and of God.
Living in the Light
6 Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.[en] 7 So do not be partners with them. 8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, 9 for the fruit that the light[eo] produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Determine what pleases the Lord, 11 and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people[ep] in secret. 13 But everything that is exposed to the light becomes visible, 14 for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says,
Wise Behavior
15 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, 16 making the best use of your time[es] because the times are evil. 17 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Stop getting[et] drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. 19 Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts; 20 you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah;[eu] 21 and you will submit to one another out of reverence for[ev] the Messiah.[ew]
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit yourselves[ex] to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of his wife as the Messiah[ey] is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body. 24 Indeed, just as the church is submissive to the Messiah,[ez] so wives must be submissive[fa] to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah[fb] loved the church and gave himself for it, 26 so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word, 27 and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love[fc] their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah[fd] does[fe] the church.
30 For we are parts of his body—of his flesh and of his bones.[ff] 31 “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[fg] 32 This is a great secret, but I am talking about the Messiah[fh] and the church. 33 But each individual man among you must love his wife as he loves[fi] himself; and may the wife fear her husband.
Advice for Children and Parents
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,[fj] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother…”[fk] (This is a very important commandment with a promise.) 3 “…so that it may go well for you, and that you may have a long life on the earth.”[fl]
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up by training[fm] and instructing them about the Lord.
Advice for Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear, trembling, and sincerity, as when you obey[fn] the Messiah.[fo] 6 Do not do this only while you’re being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah,[fp] who are determined to obey God’s will. 7 Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people,[fq] 8 because you know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free.
9 Masters, treat your slaves[fr] the same way. Do not threaten them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Putting on the Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, relying on his mighty strength. 11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the Devil’s strategies.[fs] 12 For our[ft] struggle is not against human opponents,[fu] but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us,[fv] and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. 13 For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.
14 Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and being firm-footed in the gospel of peace.[fw] 16 In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one, 17 also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints. 19 Pray[fx] also for me, so that, when I begin to speak, the right words will come to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel, 20 for whose sake I am an ambassador in chains, desiring to declare the gospel[fy] as boldly as I should.[fz]
Final Greeting
21 So that you may know what has happened to me and how I am doing, Tychicus, our dear brother and a faithful minister in service to the Lord, will tell you everything. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 May peace and love, with faith, be with the brothers, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah![ga]
24 May grace be with all who sincerely love the Lord Jesus, the Messiah![gb]
Greetings from Paul and Timothy
1 From:[gc] Paul and Timothy, servants of the Messiah[gd] Jesus.
To: All the holy ones[ge] in Philippi, along with their overseers[gf] and ministers,[gg] who are in union with the Messiah[gh] Jesus.
2 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[gi] be yours!
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippians
3 I thank my God every time I remember you,[gj] 4 always praying joyfully in every one of my prayers for all of you 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good action among[gk] you will bring it to completion by the Day of the Messiah[gl] Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because you’re constantly on my mind.[gm] Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partners with me in this privilege.[gn] 8 For God is my witness how much I long for all of you with the compassion that the Messiah[go] Jesus provides.
9 And this is my prayer, that your love will keep on growing more and more with full knowledge and insight, 10 so that you may be able to choose what is best and be pure and blameless until the day when the Messiah[gp] returns, 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus the Messiah[gq] so that God will be glorified and praised.
The Priority of the Gospel in Everything
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually caused the gospel to advance. 13 As a result, it has become clear to the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that I am in prison for preaching about[gr] the Messiah.[gs] 14 Moreover, because of my imprisonment the Lord has caused most of the brothers to become confident to speak God’s word more boldly and courageously than ever before. 15 Some are preaching the Messiah[gt] because of jealousy and dissension, while others do so[gu] because of their good will. 16 The latter are motivated[gv] by love, because they know that I have been appointed to defend the gospel. 17 The former proclaim the Messiah[gw] because they are selfishly ambitious and insincere, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me during my imprisonment.
18 But so what? Just this—that in every way, whether by false or true motives, the Messiah[gx] is being proclaimed. Because of this, I rejoice and will continue to rejoice. 19 I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus the Messiah.[gy] 20 I rejoice because I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of, because through my[gz] boldness the Messiah[ha] will be exalted through me,[hb] now as always, whether I live or die.[hc]
21 For to me, to go on living is the Messiah,[hd] and to die is gain. 22 Now if I continue living, fruitful labor is the result, so I do not know which I would prefer. 23 Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah,[he] for that is far better. 24 But for your sake it is better that I remain alive.[hf]
25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you, so you will mature in the faith and know joy in it. 26 Then your rejoicing in the Messiah[hg] Jesus will increase along with mine[hh] when I visit with you again.
Standing Firm in One Spirit
27 The only thing that matters is that you continue to live as good citizens in a manner worthy of the gospel of the Messiah.[hi] Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I may hear all about you—that you are standing firm in one spirit, struggling with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28 and that you are not intimidated by your opponents in any way. This is evidence that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved—and all because of[hj] God. 29 For you have been given the privilege[hk] for the Messiah’s[hl] sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. 30 You have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear that I am still having.[hm]
Unity through Humility
2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in the Messiah,[hn] if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there is any compassion and sympathy, 2 then fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind. 3 Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves. 4 Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about[ho] the interests of others. 5 Have the same attitude among yourselves[hp] that was also in the Messiah[hq] Jesus:[hr]
6 In God’s own form existed he,
and shared with God equality,
deemed nothing needed grasping.
7 Instead, poured out in emptiness,
a servant’s form did he possess,
a mortal man becoming.
In human form he chose to be,
8 and lived in all humility,
death on a cross obeying.
9 Now lifted up by God to heaven,
a name above all others given,
this matchless name possessing.
10 And so, when Jesus’ name is called,
the knees of everyone should fall,[hs]
wherever they’re residing.[ht]
11 Then every tongue in one accord,
will say that Jesus the Messiah[hu] is Lord,
while God the Father praising.
Blameless Living
12 And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing 15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, God’s children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be proud when the Messiah[hv] returns[hw] that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.
17 Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer[hx] for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you. 18 In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.
News about Paul’s Companions
19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I can be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 I do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For all the others look after their own interests, not after those of Jesus the Messiah.[hy] 22 But you know his proven worth—how like a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things are going to turn out for me. 24 Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you[hz] soon.
25 Meanwhile, I thought it best to send Epaphroditus—my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need—back to you. 26 For he has been longing for[ia] all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow on top of another.[ib] 28 Therefore, I am especially eager to send him so that you may have the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved. 29 So joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such people highly, 30 because he came close to death for the work of the Messiah[ic] by risking his life to complete what remained unfinished in your service to me.
Warning against Pride
3 So then,[id] my brothers, keep on rejoicing in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you; indeed, it is for your safety.
2 Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilators![ie] 3 For it is we who are the circumcision[if]—we who worship in the Spirit of God[ig] and find our joy in the Messiah[ih] Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh, 4 although I could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he can place confidence in the flesh, I have more reason to think so.[ii] 5 Having been circumcised on the eighth day, I am of the nation of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As far as the Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee. 6 As for my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as righteousness in the Law is concerned, I was blameless.
7 But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah.[ij] 8 What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah[ik] Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish[il] in order to gain the Messiah[im] 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but one that comes through the faithfulness[in] of the Messiah,[io] the righteousness that comes from God and that depends on faith. 10 I want to know the Messiah[ip]—what his resurrection power is like and what it means to share in his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 though I hope to experience the resurrection from the dead.
Pursuing the Goal
12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah[iq] Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet.[ir] But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize[is] of God’s heavenly call in the Messiah[it] Jesus.
15 Therefore, those of us who are mature[iu] should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think.[iv] 16 However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.
True and False Teachers
17 Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you.[iw] 18 For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah.[ix] 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things.
20 Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, and it is from there that we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[iy] 21 He will change our unassuming bodies and make them like his glorious body through the power that enables him to bring everything under his authority.
Closing Exhortations
4 Therefore, my dear brothers whom I long for, my joy and my victor’s crown, this is how you must stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. 2 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to have the same attitude in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, my true partner,[iz] to help these women. They have worked hard with me to advance[ja] the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Keep on rejoicing in the Lord at all times. I will say it again: Keep on rejoicing! 5 Let your gracious attitude[jb] be known to all people. The Lord is near: 6 Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation let your petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s peace, which goes far beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your hearts and minds in union with the Messiah[jc] Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—keep thinking about these things. 9 Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
The Philippians’ Gifts
10 Now I rejoice in the Lord greatly, because once again you have shown your concern for me. Of course, you were concerned for me but you did not have an opportunity to show it.[jd] 11 I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in. 12 I know how to be humble, and I know how to prosper. In each and every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going hungry, of having too much and of having too little. 13 I can do all things through him[je] who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.
15 You Philippians also know that in the early days[jf] of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church participated with me in the matter of giving and receiving except for you. 16 Even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs not once, but twice. 17 It is not that I am looking for a gift. No, I want to see that you receive the fruit that increases to your benefit. 18 I have been paid in full and have more than enough. I am fully supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant aroma, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah[jg] Jesus. 20 Glory belongs to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.
Final Greeting
21 Greet every saint who is in union with the Messiah[jh] Jesus. The brothers who are with me send their greetings to you. 22 All the saints, especially those of the emperor’s[ji] household, greet you.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[jj] be with your spirit! Amen.[jk]
Greetings from Paul
1 From:[jl] Paul, an apostle of the Messiah[jm] Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.
2 To: The holy[jn] and faithful brothers in Colossae who are in union with the Messiah.[jo]
May grace and peace from God our Father[jp] be yours!
Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians
3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[jq] praying always for you, 4 because we have heard about your faith in the Messiah[jr] Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints, 5 based on the hope laid up for you in heaven. Some time ago you heard about this hope[js] through the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and spreading all over the world, so it has been doing[jt] among you from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth. 7 You learned about this gospel[ju] from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of the Messiah[jv] on your[jw] behalf. 8 He has told us about your love in the Spirit.
The Messiah is Above All
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about this, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of God’s[jx] will with respect to all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you might live in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him[jy] as you bear fruit while doing all kinds of good things and growing in the full knowledge of God. 11 You are being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, so that you might patiently endure everything with joy 12 and might thank the Father, who has enabled us[jz] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 God[ka] has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom he loves, 14 through whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The Centrality of Jesus
15 The Son[kb] is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created,
things visible and invisible,
whether they are kings,[kc] lords, rulers, or powers.
All things have been created through him and for him.
17 He himself existed before anything else did,
and he holds all things together.
18 He is also the head of the body,
which is the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that he himself might have first place in everything.
19 For God[kd] was pleased to have
all of his divine essence[ke] inhabit him.
20 Through the Son,[kf] God[kg] also reconciled all things to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
thereby making peace
through the blood of his cross.
21 You who were once alienated with a hostile attitude, doing evil,[kh] 22 he has now reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you holy, blameless, and without fault before him. 23 However, you must remain firmly established and steadfast in the faith, without being moved from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.[ki]
Paul’s Service in the Church
24 Now I am rejoicing while suffering for you as I complete in my flesh whatever remains of the Messiah’s[kj] sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church. 25 I became its servant[kk] as God commissioned me to work for you, so that I may complete my ministry of[kl] the word of God. 26 This secret was hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints, 27 to whom God wanted to make known the glorious riches of this secret among the gentiles—which is the Messiah[km] in you, our glorious hope. 28 It is he whom we proclaim as we admonish and wisely teach everyone, so that we may present everyone mature[kn] in the Messiah.[ko] 29 I work hard and struggle to do this, using the energy that he powerfully provides in me.
2 For I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen me face to face.[kp] 2 Because they are united in love, I pray[kq] that their hearts may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of the full knowledge of the Messiah,[kr] who is[ks] the mystery of God. 3 In him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will mislead you with nice-sounding rhetoric. 5 For although I am physically absent, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how stable you are and how firm your faith in the Messiah[kt] is.
Fullness of Life
6 So then, just as you have received the Messiah[ku] Jesus the Lord, continue to live dependent on him. 7 For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful. 8 See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world,[kv] and not according to the Messiah,[kw] 9 because all the essence[kx] of deity inhabits him in bodily form. 10 And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11 In union with him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without human[ky] hands by stripping off the corrupt nature by the circumcision performed by the Messiah.[kz] 12 When you were buried with the Messiah[la] in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 Even when you were dead because of your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God[lb] made you alive with him when he forgave us all of our offenses, 14 having erased the charges that were brought against us, along with their obligations that were hostile to us. He took those charges away when he nailed them to the cross. 15 And when he had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross.[lc]
16 Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a New Moon, or Sabbath days.[ld] 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality[le] belongs to the Messiah.[lf] 18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen.[lg] Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind. 19 He does not hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, which is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God enables it.
The New Life in the Messiah
20 If you have died with the Messiah[lh] to the basic principles of the world,[li] why are you submitting to its decrees as though you still lived in the world? 21 “Don’t handle this! Don’t taste or touch that!” 22 All of these things will be destroyed as they are used, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence.
Keep Focusing on the Messiah
3 Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah,[lj] keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah[lk] is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah[ll] in God. 4 When the Messiah,[lm] who is[ln] your[lo] life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.
5 So put to death your worldly impulses:[lp] sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.[lq] 7 You used to behave like them as you lived among them. 8 But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene speech, and all such sins. 9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old nature with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of the one who created it. 11 In him[lr] there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,[ls] slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah[lt] is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness,[lu] and patience. 13 Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord[lv] has forgiven you, you also should forgive.[lw] 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with[lx] love, which ties everything together in unity. 15 Let the peace of the Messiah[ly] also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of the Messiah[lz] inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Family Duties
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is appropriate for those who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with[ma] them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not make your children resentful. Otherwise, they’ll become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched in order to please them, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it[mb] for the Lord and not merely for people. 24 You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Messiah[mc] whom you are serving! 25 For the person who does what is wrong will be paid back for what he has done without favoritism.
4 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Closing Exhortations
2 Devote yourselves to prayer. Be alert[md] and thankful when you pray. 3 At the same time also pray for us—that God would open before us a door for the word so that we may tell the secret about the Messiah,[me] for which I have been imprisoned. 4 May I reveal it as clearly as I should![mf]
5 Behave wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of your time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
Greetings from Paul and His Fellow Workers
7 Tychicus will tell you everything that has happened to me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, that faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him. 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God. They have been an encouragement to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant[mg] of the Messiah[mh] Jesus, sends you his greetings. He is always wrestling in his prayers for you, so that you may stand mature,[mi] completely convinced of the entire will of God. 13 For I can testify on his behalf that he has a deep concern for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers in Laodicea, especially to Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and be sure to read the one from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus, “See that you complete the ministry you have received from the Lord.”
Final Greeting
18 This greeting is written with my own signature[mj]—“Paul.” Remember that I remain imprisoned. May grace be with you! Amen.[mk]
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