1 Paul, an apostle—not an apostle from men nor by human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins so that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father: 5 to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am amazed that you are turning away so quickly from him who called you by the grace of Christ. I am amazed that you are turning to a different gospel, 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some men who cause you trouble and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel other than the one we proclaimed to you, let him be cursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, "If someone proclaims to you a gospel other than the one you received, let him be cursed." 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men or of God? Am I seeking to please men? If I am still trying to please men, I am not a servant of Christ.
11 For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I proclaimed is not man's gospel. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it. Instead, it was by revelation of Jesus Christ to me. 13 You have heard about my former life in Judaism, how I was persecuting the church of God beyond measure and that I was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many of those who were my own age, from out of my own people. That is how extremely zealous I was for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who had set me apart from my mother's womb, and who called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me. Instead, I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20 In what I write to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying. 21 Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still not known by face to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard it being said, "The man who once persecuted us is now proclaiming as good news the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 So they glorified God because of me.
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I spoke privately to those who seemed to be important, in order to make sure that I was not running—or had not run—in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me and who was a Greek, was forced to be circumcised. 4 The false brothers came in secretly to spy on the liberty we have in Christ Jesus. They desired to enslave us, 5 but we did not yield in submission to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6 But those who seemed to be important (whatever they were does not matter to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed important added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to those who are uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to those who are circumcised. 8 For God, who worked in Peter for the apostleship to those who are circumcised, also worked in me to the Gentiles. 9 When James, Cephas, and John, who had a reputation as pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they should go to the circumcised. 10 They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing that I was eager to do.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12 Before certain men came from James, Cephas was eating with the Gentiles. But when these men came, he stopped and kept away from the Gentiles. He was afraid of those who were demanding circumcision. 13 Also the rest of the Jews joined in this hypocrisy. Even Barnabas was led astray with them by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their behavior was not following the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all of them, "If you are a Jew but are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?" 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that no person is justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. So we also have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law no flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Absolutely not! 18 For if I rebuild those things I once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. [1]20 It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothing!
1 Foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly displayed as crucified. 2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now going to be perfected by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? 5 Does he who gives the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? 6 Just as Abraham "believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness," 7 in the same way, understand, then, that those of faith are the children of Abraham. 8 The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed." 9 So then, those of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; and so it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law, and do them." 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because "the righteous will live by faith." 12 But the law is not of faith; rather, "The person who does the works of the law must live by them." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"— 14 so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
15 Brothers, let me speak in human terms. Once a man-made contract is established by law, no one can set it aside or add to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It does not say, "to descendants," referring to many, but instead to only one, "and to your descendant," who is Christ. 17 Now what I am saying is this: The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God, to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no longer comes by promise. But God freely gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the descendant of Abraham would come to whom the promise had been made. The law was ordained through angels by the hand of an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one person. But God is one. 21 So is the law against the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the scripture imprisoned everything under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until faith should be revealed. 24 So then the law became our guardian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 Then if you are Christ's, you are Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to promise.
1 I am saying that the heir, for whatever time he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is owner of the entire estate. 2 But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law 5 so that he might redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who cries out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then you are also an heir through God.
8 But at that time, when you did not know God, you were made to be slaves to those who are, by their natural powers, not gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather that you are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to the weak and worthless elemental principles? Do you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and new moons and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid for you that somehow my labor with you may have been for nothing.
12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I also have become like you. You did me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a disease of the flesh that I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time, 14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where then is your blessing now? For I testify to you that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? 17 They are zealous to win you over, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out so you may be zealous for them. 18 It is always good to be zealous for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, again I am suffering the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave girl and one by the free woman. 23 One was born by the slave girl according to the flesh, but the other was born by the free woman through promise. 24 These things may be interpreted as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One of them is from Mount Sinai and she bears children into slavery. This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she represents the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
"Rejoice, you barren one who does not give birth;
cry out and shout for joy,
you who are not suffering the pains of childbirth;
because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than those of the woman who has a husband."
28 But you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the scripture say? "Send away the slave girl and her son. For the son of the slave girl will not share in the inheritance with the son of the free woman." 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave girl, but of the free woman.
1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not again be subject to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will not benefit you in any way. 3 I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You are cut off from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you no longer experience grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has value, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from him who calls you! 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will think nothing different. The one who is troubling you will suffer the judgment, whoever he is. 11 Brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. 12 As for those who are disturbing you, I wish they would cut themselves off!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. But do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You must love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. For these oppose each other, so that you cannot do the things you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalry, dissension, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, drunken celebrations, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those 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, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, provoking one another, envying one another.
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Be concerned about yourself, so you also may not be tempted. 2 Carry one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should examine his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in someone else. 5 For each one will carry his own burden.
6 The one who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man plants, that he will also reap. 8 For he who plants seed to his own flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction. The one who plants seed to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the household of faith.
11 See what large letters I write to you with my own hand. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They do this only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who circumcised themselves keep the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but what counts is a new creation. 16 To all who walk according to this standard, peace and mercy be upon them, even upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I carry on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to God's holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful in Christ Jesus: [1]
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 4 God chose us in him from the foundation of the world, that we may be holy and blameless in his sight in love. 5 God predestined us [2] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will. 6 Our adoption results in the praise of his glorious grace that he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In Jesus Christ we have redemption through his blood and the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. 8 He multiplied this grace to us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God made known to us the mystery of his will, according to what pleased him, and which he demonstrated in Christ, 10 with a view to a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things together—all things in heaven and on earth—under one head, even Christ. 11 In Christ we were given an inheritance, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything according to the purpose of his will. 12 God appointed us as heirs so that we, who are the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of his glory. 13 In Christ, you also—when you had heard the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation, believed in him and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's holy people, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you as I mention you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, that you may know the hope to which he has called you and the riches of his glorious inheritance among all God's holy people. 19 In my prayers I ask that you may know the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of the strength of his might. 20 This is the same power that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. 21 He seated Christ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named. Christ will rule, not only in this age, but also in the age to come. 22 God subjected all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as head over all things. 23 The church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
1 And as for you, you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked, according to the ways of this world. You were living according to the ruler of the authorities of the air, the spirit that is working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Once we all lived among these people, fulfilling the evil desires of our flesh, and carrying out the desires of the flesh and of the mind. We were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of humanity. 4 But God is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us. 5 While we were dead in trespasses, he made us alive together in Christ—by grace you have been saved. 6 God raised us up together with Christ, and God made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show to us the immeasurably great riches of his grace expressed in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this did not come from you; it is the gift of God, 9 not from works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good deeds that God planned long ago for us, so that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore, remember that once you were Gentiles in the flesh. You are called "uncircumcision" by what is called the "circumcision" in the flesh made by human hands. 12 For at that time you were separated from Christ, foreigners to citizenship in Israel, strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, because he made us both one. By his flesh he broke down the dividing wall of hostility. 15 He set aside the law with its commands and ordinances so that he might create in himself one new man out of two, so making peace. 16 Christ reconciles both peoples into one body to God through the cross, putting to death the hostility. 17 Jesus came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Jesus we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then, now you Gentiles are no longer foreigners and strangers. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God's holy people and members of the household of God. 20 You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building fits together and grows as a holy temple in the Lord. 22 It is in him that you also are being built together as a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God that was given to me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read about this, you will be able to understand my insight into this mystery about Christ. 5 In other generations this mystery was not made known to the sons of men. But now it has been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 This hidden truth is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and they share the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 For I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given to me through the working of his power. 8 To me—although I am the least of all God's holy people—this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 9 and to bring to light for everyone the plan—the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things. 10 This plan was made known through the church so the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places would come to know the many-sided nature of the wisdom of God. 11 This happened according to the eternal plan that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 For in Christ we have boldness and access with confidence because of our faith in him. 13 Therefore, I ask you not to be discouraged because of my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this reason I bend my knees to the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit, who is in your inner person. 17 I pray that Christ may live in your hearts through faith and that you may be rooted and founded in his love, 18 in order that you might be able to understand, along with all God's holy people, what is the width, the length, the height, and the depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ, which goes beyond knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, according to his power that works in us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
1 I, therefore, as the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthily of the calling by which you were called. 2 I urge you to live with great humility and gentleness and patience, bearing with one another in love. 3 Do your best to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling. 5 And there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 To each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 It is as scripture says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led the captives into captivity,
and he gave gifts to the people."
9 What is the meaning of "he ascended," except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same person who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 Christ gave some to be apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers 12 to equip God's holy people for the work of service, for the building up of the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, so that we become mature and reach the measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Christ builds us up so that we should no longer be children who are tossed back and forth by the waves, carried away by every wind of doctrine and by the trickery of people in their deceitful schemes. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 Christ builds the whole body, and it is joined and held together by every supporting ligament, and when each part works together, that makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
17 Therefore, I say and insist on this in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They have become shameless and have committed themselves to sensuality, and they practice every kind of uncleanness with greed. 20 But that is not how you learned about Christ. 21 I assume that you have heard about him, and that you were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to put off what belongs to your former manner of life, to put off the old man. It is the old man that is corrupt because of its deceitful desires. 23 You were taught to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new man that is created in the image of God—in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, get rid of lies, and let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. 27 Do not give an opportunity to the devil. 28 The one who had been stealing must steal no longer. Instead, he must labor, working at what is good with his hands, so that he may have something to share with those who are in need. 29 Do not let any harmful talk come out of your mouth. Use only words that are good for the edification of those who need it, so that your words give grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, for it is by him that you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Put away all bitterness, rage, anger, quarreling, and insults, along with every kind of evil. 32 Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as also Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality or any kind of uncleanness or of greed must not even be named among you, for these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Let there be no filthiness, no foolish talk, and no crude jokes—all of which are improper. Instead, there should be thanksgiving. 5 For you know and are certain that no sexually immoral, impure, or greedy person—that is, an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore, do not join in with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 and test and approve what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not associate with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is disgraceful even to mention the things they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. 14 For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
"Awake, you sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15 Look carefully how you walk—not as unwise but as wise. 16 Redeem the time because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that leads to reckless behavior. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 always giving thanks for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father, 21 being subject to one another in reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ also is the head of the church, himself the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself as glorious, without stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way husbands ought to 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 treats it with care, just as Christ nourishes and treats the church with care, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This hidden truth is great—but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each of you also must love his own wife as himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is proper. 2 "Honor your father and mother" (which is the first commandment with promise), 3 "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger. Instead, raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, be obedient to your masters according to the flesh with deep respect and trembling, in the honesty of your heart. Be obedient to them as you would be obedient to Christ. 6 Be obedient not only when your masters are watching, in order to please them. Instead, be obedient as slaves of Christ, who do the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve with all your heart, as though you were serving the Lord and not people, 8 because we know that for whatever good deed each person does, he will receive a reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.
9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them. You know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the scheming plans of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, by which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit. To this end, always be watching with all perseverance as you offer prayers for all God's holy people. 19 And pray for me, that a message might be given to me when I open my mouth. Pray that I might make known with boldness the hidden truth about the gospel. 20 It is for the gospel that I am an ambassador who is kept in chains, so that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you may know how I am doing. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and so that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be to all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an incorruptible love.
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2 May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 always, in every prayer of mine for all of you, making my prayer with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is proper for me to feel this way about all of you because I have you in my heart. You all have been my partners in grace both in my imprisonment and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 So this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all understanding 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so you may be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, my chains in Christ came to light throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else. 14 Most of the brothers have far more confidence in the Lord because of my chains, and they have courage to fearlessly speak the word. 15 Some indeed even proclaim Christ out of envy and strife, and also others out of good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 But the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely. They think they will cause me distress while I am in chains. 18 What then? Only that in every way—whether from false motives or from true—Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which to choose? I do not know. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, 24 yet to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Being convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have increasing reasons to boast in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come to see you or am absent, I may hear about you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. 28 Do not be frightened in any respect by those who are your opponents. This is a sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation—and this from God. 29 For it has been freely given to you for the sake of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now you hear in me.
1 If there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort provided by love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there are any tender mercies and compassions, 2 then make my joy full by being of the same mind, having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of ambition or empty conceit. Instead, with humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this mind in yourselves which also was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he existed in the form of God,
did not consider his equality with God as something to hold on to.
7 Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant,
and he was born in the likeness of men.
And being found in the form of a man,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore also God highly exalted him
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 So then, my beloved, as you always obey, not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining or arguing 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without blemish in the middle of a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine as lights in the world. 16 Hold on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I may boast that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as an offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 In the same manner, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be encouraged when I know the things about you. 20 For I have no one else like him, who is truly concerned for you. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven worth, because as a son with his father, so he served with me in the gospel. 23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things will go with me. 24 But I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon. 25 But I think it is necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and servant for my needs. 26 For he was very distressed, and he longed to be with you all, because you heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was so sick that he almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 So it is all the more eagerly that I am sending him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I can have less sorrow. 29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy. Honor people like him. 30 For it was for the work of Christ that he came near death. He risked his life so that he could bring to completion what was lacking in your service to me.
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write these same things again to you is no trouble for me, and it keeps you safe. 2 Watch out for the dogs. Watch out for those evil workers. Watch out for the mutilation. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision—the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, and take pride in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Even so, I myself could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he has confidence in the flesh, I could have even more. 5 I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; with regard to the law, a Pharisee. 6 As for zeal, I persecuted the church; as for righteousness under the law, I was blameless. 7 But whatever things were a profit for me, I have considered them as loss because of Christ. 8 In fact, now I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have given up all things—and I consider them rubbish—so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God that is by faith. 10 So now I want to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 so somehow I may experience the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained these things, or am already perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not think that I myself have yet taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal with a view to the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature, let us think this way; and if you think differently about anything, God will also reveal that to you. 16 Nevertheless, let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Be imitators of me, brothers. Closely watch those who are walking by the example that you have in us. 18 Many are walking—those about whom I have often told you, and now I am telling you with tears—as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction. For their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. They think about earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our lowly bodies into bodies formed like his glorious body, formed by the might of his power to subject all things to himself.
1 Therefore, my beloved brothers whom I long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved friends.
2 I am pleading with Euodia, and I am pleading with Syntyche, be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you, my true companion, to help these women who labored with me in spreading the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in everything by prayer and earnest appeal with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God, 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything excellent, if there is anything to be praised, think about these things. 9 The things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I greatly rejoice in the Lord because now at last you have renewed your concern for me. You had indeed been concerned for me before, but there was no opportunity for you to help. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need. For I have learned to be content in all circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be poor, and I also know what it is to have plenty. In every way and in all things I have learned the secret of how to be well fed or to be hungry, and how to have an abundance or to be in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 However, you did well to share with me in my difficulties. 15 You Philippians know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church supported me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent help for my needs more than once. 17 It is not that I seek the gift. Instead, I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received everything in full, and even more. I have been well supplied now that I have received from Epaphroditus the things you sent. They are a sweet-smelling aroma, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 My God will meet all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all God's holy people in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All God's holy people who are here greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. [1]
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 to God's holy people and faithful brothers in Christ who are at Colossae: May grace be to you, and peace from God our Father. [1]
3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we always pray for you. 4 We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all God's holy people, 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, which you heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you. In the same way, this gospel is bearing fruit and is growing in all the world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. 7 This is the gospel as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf. [2]8 Epaphras has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 Because of this love, from the day we heard this we have not stopped praying for you. We pray that you will be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord and that pleases him in every way: by bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; 11 by being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience; and by joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who made you able [3] to have a share in the inheritance of God's holy people in light. 13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. [4]15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: those in the heavens and those on the earth, the visible and the invisible things. Whether thrones or dominions or governments or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so he has first place among all things. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son, 20 and through the Son to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 At one time you also were alienated and hostile in mind and in evil deeds. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, blameless, and above accusation before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which was proclaimed to every person created under heaven. This is the gospel of which I, Paul, became a servant.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 It is of this church that I am a servant, according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God. 26 This is the mystery that was hidden for ages and for generations but now has been revealed to God's holy people. 27 It is to them that God wanted to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him, warning every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person mature in Christ. 29 For this I labor and strive according to his energy that is at work in me in power.
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have had for you, for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. 2 I work so that their hearts may be encouraged by being brought together in love and into all the riches of full assurance of understanding, into the knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ. 3 In him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4 I say this so that no one may trick you with persuasive speech. 5 Although I am not with you in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit. I rejoice to see your good order and the strength of your faith in Christ.
6 As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him. 7 Be rooted in him, be built on him, be established in faith just as you were taught, and abound in thanksgiving.
8 See that no one captures you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, conforming to the elemental spirits of the world, and not conforming to Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of God lives in bodily form. 10 You have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done by humans in the removal of the body of flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ. 12 You were buried with him in baptism, and in him you were raised up through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him and forgave us all of our trespasses. [1]14 He blotted out the written record of debts that was hostile to us with its regulations. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
16 So then, let no one judge you in eating or in drinking, or about a festival or a new moon, or about Sabbath days. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance is Christ. 18 Let no one who wants humility and the worship of angels judge you out of your prize. Such a person enters into the things he has seen and becomes puffed up for no reason by his fleshly thinking. 19 He does not hold on to the head. It is from the head that the whole body throughout its joints and ligaments is supplied and held together; it grows with the growth given by God.
20 If you died together with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you live as obligated to the world: 21 "Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch"? 22 All these things will perish with use, according to the commandments and teachings of men. 23 These rules have the appearance of wisdom, with their self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body. But they have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
1 If then God has raised you with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Think about the things above, not about the things on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ appears, who is your life, then you will also appear with him in glory. [1]
5 Put to death, then, the members that are on earth—sexual immorality, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 It is for these things that the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. [2]7 It is in these things that you also once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you must get rid of all these things—wrath, anger, evil intentions, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old man with its practices, 10 and you have put on the new man that is being made new in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it, 11 where there is no Greek or Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another. Be gracious to each other. If someone has a complaint against someone else, forgive in the same way that the Lord has forgiven you. 14 Above all these things, have love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. It was for this peace that you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ live in you richly, teaching and instructing one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as it is appropriate in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they will not be discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh in all things, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with a sincere heart. Fear the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work from the soul as to the Lord and not as to people. 24 You know that you will receive from the Lord the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For anyone who does unrighteousness will receive the penalty for the unrighteousness that he did, and there is no partiality.
1 Masters, give to slaves what is right and fair, knowing you also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, staying alert in it in thanksgiving, 3 praying together for us also, that God would open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I have been in chains. 4 Pray that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those outside, and redeem the time. 6 Let your words always be with grace. Let them be seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
7 As for all the things concerning me, Tychicus will make them known to you. He is a beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow slave in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this, that you might know the matters about us, and so that he may encourage your hearts. [1]9 I have sent him together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that has happened here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, as well as Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received orders; if he comes to you, receive him), 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcision are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras greets you. He is one of you and a slave of Christ Jesus. He always strives for you in prayer, so that you may stand complete and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I can testify that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and 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 see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 Say to Archippus, "Look to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, that you should fulfill it."
18 This greeting is with my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. May grace be with you.