Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
III. World Mission of the Church
Chapter 3
Commission to Preach God’s Plan.[a] 1 Because of this,(A) I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ[b] [Jesus] for you Gentiles— 2 if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship[c] of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit,(B) 3 [namely, that] the mystery[d] was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier.(C) 4 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,(D) 6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.(E)
7 Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.(F) 8 To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,(G) 9 and to bring to light [for all][e] what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things,(H) 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities[f] in the heavens.(I) 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.(J) 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory.(K)
Prayer for the Readers.[g] 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[h] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,(L) 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love,(M) 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth,(N) 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.(O)
20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us,(P) 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Chapter 4
Unity in the Body. 1 [i]I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,(Q) 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,(R) 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:(S) 4 [j]one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;(T) 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;(U) 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.(V)
Diversity of Gifts. 7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.(W) 8 Therefore, it says:
9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower [regions] of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11 [l]And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,(Y) 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,[m] for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[n] to the extent of the full stature of Christ,(Z) 14 so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.(AA) 15 Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head,(AB) Christ,[o] 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.(AC)
Renewal in Christ.[p] 17 So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds;(AD) 18 darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart,(AE) 19 they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess.(AF) 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires,(AG) 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,(AH) 24 and put on[q] the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.(AI)
IV. Daily Conduct, an Expression of Unity[r]
Rules for the New Life. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another.(AJ) 26 Be angry but do not sin;(AK) do not let the sun set on your anger,[s] 27 and do not leave room for the devil.(AL) 28 The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work[t] with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need.(AM) 29 No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.(AN) 30 And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.[u] 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.(AO) 32 [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.(AP)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.