PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES

11 I wish you would put up with a little foolishnessx from me. Yes, do put up with me!E 2 For I am jealousy for you with a godly jealousy,z because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pureaa virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpentab deceivedac Evead by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pureF devotion to Christ.ae 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,af whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,ag which you had not received, or a different gospel,ah which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”ai 6 Even if I am untrained in public speaking,a I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.b Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything. 7 Or did I commit a sin by humblingc myself so that you might be exalted,d because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?e 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. 9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedoniaf supplied my needs.g I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stoppedA in the regions of Achaia.h 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to denyB an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,i deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.j

PAUL’S SUFFERINGS FOR CHRIST

16 I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little. 17 What I am saying in this matterC of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast. 19 For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!k 20 In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploitsl you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slapsm you in the face. 21 I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that!

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare: 22 Are they Hebrews?n So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham?o So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.

24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.p 25 Three times I was beaten with rods.q Once I received a stoning.r Three times I was shipwrecked.s I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,t dangers from my own people,u dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.v 28 Not to mentionD other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,w and I do not burn with indignation?

30 If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. 31 The God and Fatherx of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. 32 In Damascus,y a rulerE under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me. 33 So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.z

SUFFICIENT GRACE

12 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visionsaa and revelationsab of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who was caught upac to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. 3 I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows—4 was caught up into paradisead and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. 5 I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

6 For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth.ae But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, 7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the fleshaf was given to me, a messenger of Satanag to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my powerah is perfected in weakness.”ai

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ.a For when I am weak, then I am strong.b

SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE

11 I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.c 12 The signsd of an apostlee were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wondersf and miracles.g 13 So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!

PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE CORINTHIANS

14 Look, I am ready to come to you this third time.h I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.A,i If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 Now granted, I did not burdenj you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!k 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? 18 I urged Titusl to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spiritm and in the same footsteps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.n 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling,o jealousy,p angry outbursts, selfish ambitions,q slander,r gossip, arrogance, and disorder.s 21 I fear that when I come my God will againB humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repentedt of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,u and sensualityv they practiced.

FINAL WARNINGS AND EXHORTATIONS

13 This is the third time I am coming to you.w Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.C,x 2 I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warningy while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, 3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.z He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. 4 For he was crucifiedaa in weakness, but he livesab by the power of God. For we also are weak in him,ac but in dealing with you we will livead with him by God’s power.

5 Testae yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.D 6 And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. 7 But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,af even though we may appear to fail. 8 For we can’t do anything against the truth,ag but only for the truth. 9 We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.ah We also pray that you become fully mature.E 10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building upai and not for tearing down.aj

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice.F Become mature, be encouraged,G be of the same mind,ak be at peace,al and the God of loveam and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.an All the saints send you greetings.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the loveao of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.* ap

GALATIANS

GREETING

1 Paul,a an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Fatherb who raised him from the deadc—2 and all the brothers who are with me:

To the churches of Galatia.d

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our LordA Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sinse to rescue us from this present evil age,f according to the will of our God and Father.g 5 To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

NO OTHER GOSPEL

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who calledh you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another gospel,i but there are somej who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angelk from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you,l a curse be on him!B 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received,m a curse be on him!

10 For am I now trying to persuade people,C or God?n Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

THE ORIGIN OF PAUL’S GOSPEL

11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelationo of Jesus Christ.p

13 For you have heard about my former way of lifeq in Judaism:r I intensely persecuteds God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.t 15 But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and calledu me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Sonv in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.D 17 I did not go up to Jerusalemw to those who had become apostlesx before me; instead I went to Arabiay and came back to Damascus.z

18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalemaa to get to know Cephas,E,ab and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James,ac the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

21 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syriaad and Cilicia.ae 22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. 23 They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecutedaf us now preaches the faithag he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.F

PAUL DEFENDS HIS GOSPEL AT JERUSALEM

2 Then after fourteen years I went up againah to Jerusalem with Barnabas,ai taking Titusaj along also. 2 I went up according to a revelationak and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothersal had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the trutham of the gospel would be preserved for you.

6 Now from those recognized as important (what theyG once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritismH,an)—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised,ao just as Peterap was for the circumcised, 8 since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James,a Cephas,A,b and Johnc—those recognized as pillarsd—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor,e which I had made every effort to do.

FREEDOM FROM THE LAW

11 But when CephasA came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.B 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jewsf joined his hypocrisy,g so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told CephasA in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentileh and not like a Jew,i how can you compel Gentiles to livej like Jews?”*

15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the lawk but by faith in Jesus Christ,D even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in ChristE and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being willF be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,l is Christ then a promoterG,m of sin? Absolutely not!n 18 If I rebuildo those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.p 19 For through the law I died to the law,q so that I might live for God.r 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.s The life I now live in the body,H I live by faith in the Son of God,t who lovedu mev and gave himselfw for me.x 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,y then Christ diedz for nothing.

JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH

3 You foolishaa Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you,I before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayedJ as crucified?ab 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?* 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 Did you experienceL,ac so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miraclesad among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard—6 just like Abraham who believed God,ae and it was credited to him for righteousness?M,af

7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons.ag 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham,ah saying, All the nationsN will be blessed through you.O,ai 9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,aj who had faith.P

LAW AND PROMISE

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,ak because it is written,al Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.Q,am 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will livean by faith.R,ao 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.S,ap 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,aq because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.T,ar 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.as

15 Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.U 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,V,at who is Christ. 17 My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later,au does not invalidate a covenant previously established by GodW and thus cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

19 Why, then, was the law given?a It was added for the sake of transgressionsA until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angelsb by means of a mediator.c 20 Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one.d 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power,B,e so that the promise might be given on the basis of faithf in Jesus Christ to those who believe.g 23 Before this faithh came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.i 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ,j so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faithk has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.

SONS AND HEIRS

27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.l 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free,m male and female;n since you are all oneo in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirsp according to the promise.q 4 Now I say that as long as the heirr is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owners of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elementsC of the world.t 4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son,u born of a woman,v born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.w 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Sonx into ourD hearts, crying, “Abba,E Father!”y 7 So you are no longer a slavez but a son,aa and if a son, then God has made you an heir.ab

PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE GALATIANS

8 But in the past, since you didn’t know God,ac you were enslaved to thingsF that by nature are not gods. 9 But now, since you know God,ad or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthlessae elements?af Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 10 You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.ag 11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

12 I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have not wronged me; 13 you know* that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. 14 You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you.H On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

15 Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?ah 17 They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. 18 But it is always good to be pursuedI in a good manner—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children,ai I am again suffering labor painsaj for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

SARAH AND HAGAR: TWO COVENANTS

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abrahamak had two sons, one by a slaveal and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. 24 These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinaiam and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.an 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabiaao and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,ap for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem aboveaq is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,ar

Rejoice, childless woman,as

unable to give birth.

Burst into song and shout,

you who are not in labor,

for the children of the desolate woman will be many,

more numerous than those

of the woman who has a husband.A,a

28 Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac,b are children of promise.c 29 But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit,d so also now.e 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”B,f 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.g

FREEDOM OF THE CHRISTIAN

5 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firmh, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.i 2 Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.j 5 For we eagerly awaitk through the Spirit, by faith, the hopel of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faithm working through love.n

7 You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth?C,o 8 This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.p 9 A little leavenD leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.q 11 Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the crossr has been abolished. 12 I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!

13 For you were calleds to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunityE for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilledt in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.F,u 15 But if you bite and devourv one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

THE SPIRIT VERSUS THE FLESH

16 I say, then, walk by the Spiritw and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desiresx what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.y 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious:G sexual immorality,z moral impurity,aa promiscuity,ab 20 idolatry,ac sorcery,ad hatreds,ae strife,af jealousy,ag outbursts of anger,ah selfish ambitions,ai dissensions,aj factions,ak 21 envy,H,al drunkenness, carousing,am and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.an

22 But the fruit of the Spiritao is love,ap joy,aq peace, patience,ar kindness,as goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,at and self-control.au The law is not against such things.I 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesusav have crucified the fleshaw with its passions and desires.ax 25 If we liveay by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.az

CARRY ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentleba spirit,J,bb watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.bc 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.bd 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,be he deceives himself. 4 Let each person examine his own work,bf and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.

6 Let the one who is taught the word sharebg all his good things with the teacher. 7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirita will reap eternal lifeb from the Spirit. 9 Let us not get tiredc of doing good,d for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us worke for the goodf of all, especially for those who belong to the householdg of faith.h

CONCLUDING EXHORTATION

11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the fleshi are the ones who would compel you to be circumcisedj—but only to avoid being persecutedk for the crossl of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keepm the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 ForA both circumcision and uncircumcisionn mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.o 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israelp of God!B

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.q 18 Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.r Amen.

EPHESIANS

GREETING

1 Paul,a an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:b

To the faithful saintsc in Christ JesusA at Ephesus.B,d

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD’S RICH BLESSINGS

3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.f 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.C,f 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious graceg that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.h

7 In him we have redemptioni through his blood, the forgivenessj of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.D 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will,k according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christl 10 as a plan for the right timeE—to bring everything together in Christ,m both things in heaven and things on earthn in him.o

11 In him we have also received an inheritance,F because we were predestinedp according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hopeq in Christ might bring praise to his glory.r

13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirits when you heard the word of truth,t the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down paymentu of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL INSIGHT

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,G would give you the SpiritH,v of wisdom and revelationw in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hopex of his calling,y what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his powerz toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

GOD’S POWER IN CHRIST

20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right handaa in the heavensab—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,I,ac not only in this age but also in the one to come.ad 22 And he subjected everything under his feetJ,ae and appointed himK as headaf over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,ag the fullnessah of the one who fills all thingsai in every way.

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

2 And you were deadaj in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,ak according to the ruler of the power of the air,al the spiritam now working in the disobedient.L 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshlyan desires, carrying out the inclinationsao of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrathap as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy,aq because of his great lovear that he had for us,M 5 made us aliveas with Christ even though we were deadat in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,au 7 so that in the coming agesav he might display the immeasurable richesaw of his grace through his kindnessa to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by graceb through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, createdc in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of timed for us to do.

UNITY IN CHRIST

11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”e which is done in the flesh by human hands.f 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise,g without hopeh and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the bloodi of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups onej and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might createk in himself onel new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one bodym through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.A 17 He came and proclaimed the good newsn of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.o 18 For through him we both have accessp in one Spirit to the Father.q 19 So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,r with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together,s grows into a holy temple in the Lord.t 22 In him you are also being built togetheru for God’s dwellingv in the Spirit.

PAUL’S MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES

3 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisonerw of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—2 assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation,x as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.y 5 This was not made known to peopleB in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophetsz by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promiseaa in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.ab

8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable richesac of Christ, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who createdad all things. 10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdomae may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.af 11 This is according to his eternal purposeag accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we have boldness and confident accessah through faith in him.C 13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouragedai over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.aj

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL POWER

14 For this reason I kneelak before the FatherD 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the richesal of his glory,am to be strengthened with poweran in your inner beingao through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,ap 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is ableaq to do above and beyond all that we ask or thinkar according to the poweras that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.at

UNITY AND DIVERSITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

4 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord,au urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humilityav and gentleness, with patience,aw bearingax with one another in love,ay 3 making every effort to keep the unityaz of the Spiritba through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spiritbb—just as you were called to one hopeA,a at your calling—5 one Lord,b one faith,c one baptism, 6 one Godd and Fathere of all, who is above all and through all and in all.f

7 Now grace was given to each one of usg according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 For it says:

When he ascendedh on high,

he took the captives captive;

he gave gifts to people.B,i

9 But what does “he ascended” mean except that heC also descended to the lower parts of the earth?D,j 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,k to fill all things.l 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,m 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,n growing into maturity with a statureo measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,p by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the headq—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit togetherr by every supporting ligament, promotes the growths of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

LIVING THE NEW LIFE

17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and becauseE of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurityt with a desire for more and more.F

20 But that is not how you came to know Christ, 21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truthu is in Jesus, 22 to take offG,v your former way of life,w the old selfx that is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewedH in the spirity of your minds, 24 and to put onI,z the new self, the one createdaa according to God’s likenessab in righteousness and purity of the truth.

25 Therefore, putting awayac lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,J,ad because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin.K,ae Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity. 28 Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to shareaf with anyone in need. 29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,L so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.ag You were sealed by himM for the day of redemption.ah 31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kindai and compassionateaj to one another, forgivingak one another, just as God also forgave youN in Christ.

5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us,al a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But sexual immoralityam and any impurityan or greedao should not even be heard ofO among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoralap or impureaq or greedyar person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdomas of Christ and of God.

LIGHT VERSUS DARKNESS

6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrathat is coming on the disobedientP because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are lightau in the Lord. Walk as children of lightav—9 for the fruit of the lightQ consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truthaw—10 testingax what is pleasingay to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitlessaz works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible,a 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said:

Get up, sleeper,b and rise up from the dead,c

and Christ will shine on you.d

CONSISTENCY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time,A,e because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understandf what the Lord’s willg is. 18 And don’t get drunkh with wine,i which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:j 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.k

WIVES AND HUSBANDS

22 Wives,l submitB,m to your husbandsn as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wifeo as Christ is the headp of the church. He is the Savior of the body.q 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives,r just as Christ loveds the church and gave himselft for her 26 to make her holy, cleansingC her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.u 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of his body.D 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,v and the two will become one flesh.E,w 32 This mysteryx is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

CHILDREN AND PARENTS

6 Children, obeyy your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.F,G,z 4 Fathers, don’t stir up angeraa in your children, but bring them up in the trainingab and instruction of the Lord.

SLAVES AND MASTERS

5 Slaves, obey your humanH mastersac with fear and trembling,ad in the sincerityae of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s willaf from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,ag 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threateningah them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritismai with him.aj

CHRISTIAN WARFARE

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.ak 11 Put onal the full armoram of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against fleshan and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,ao against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,ap spiritual forces in the heavens.aq 13 For this reason take up the full armorar of God, so that you may be able to resistas in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,at therefore, with truthau like a belt around your waist, righteousnessav like armor on your chest,aw 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shieldax of faithay with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.az 17 Take the helmetba of salvation and the swordbb of the Spiritbc—which is the word of God. 18 Praybd at all times in the Spiritbe with every prayer and request, and stay alertbf with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldnessbg the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassadora in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

PAUL’S FAREWELL

21 Tychicus,b our dearly loved brother and faithful servantA in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encouragec your hearts.d

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Fathere and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.B,C

PHILIPPIANS

GREETING

1 Paula and Timothy,b servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,c including the overseersd and deacons.e

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,A 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first dayf until now.g 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good workh in youB will carry it on to completioni until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is rightj for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,C and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonmentk and in the defensel and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness,m how deeply I miss all of youn with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your loveo will keep on growingp in knowledge and every kind of discernment,q 10 so that you may approve the things that are superiorr and may be pures and blamelesst in the day of Christ,u 11 filled with the fruitv of righteousnessw that comes through Jesus Christ to the gloryx and praise of God.

ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,y 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the wordD,z fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,aa but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love,ab knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition,ac not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motivesad or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvationE,ae through your prayers and help from the Spiritaf of Jesus Christ.ag 20 My eager expectation and hopeah is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by lifeai or by death.aj

LIVING IS CHRIST

21 For me, to live is Christak and to die is gain.al 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitfulam workan for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christao—which is far betterap—24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,aq 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boastingar in Christ Jesusas may abound.

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your lifeat worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firmau in oneav spirit, in one accord,F contending together for the faithaw of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.ax This is a sign of destruction for them,ay but of your salvationaz—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believeba in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

CHRISTIAN HUMILITY

2 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,a if any fellowship with the Spirit,b if any affection and mercy,c 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way,d having the same love,e united in spirit, intent on onef purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambitiong or conceit,h but in humilityi consider others as more importantj than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests,k but rather to the interests of others.l

CHRIST’S HUMILITY AND EXALTATION

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with Godm

as something to be exploited.A

7 Instead he emptied himselfn

by assuming the form of a servant,o

taking on the likeness of humanity.p

And when he had come as a man,

8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death—

even to death on a cross.q

9 For this reason God highly exalted himr

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bows—

in heavent and on earth

and under the earthu—

11 and every tonguev will confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the gloryw of God the Father.

LIGHTS IN THE WORLD

12 Therefore, my dear friends,x just as you have always obeyed,y so now, not only in my presence but even 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 according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumblingz and arguing,aa 15 so that you may be blamelessab and pure,ac children of God who are faultlessad in a crookedae and pervertedaf generation,ag among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the wordah of life. Then I can boastai in the day of Christaj that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured outak as a drink offeringal on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesusam to send Timothyan to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests,ao not those of Jesus Christ.ap 22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.aq

25 But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditusar—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my needas—26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the workat of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

KNOWING CHRIST

3 In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoiceau in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.

2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evilav workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision,aw the ones who worship by the Spiritax of God, boast in Christ Jesus,ay and do not put confidence in the flesh—4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day;az of the nation of Israel,a of the tribe of Benjamin,b a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,c a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal,d persecutinge the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,f blameless.g

7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing valueh of knowing Christi Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christj 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law,k but one that is through faith in ChristA—the righteousness from God based on faith.l 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings,m being conformed to his death,n 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

REACHING FORWARD TO GOD’S GOAL

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take holdo of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do notB consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behindp and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenlyC call in Christ Jesus.q 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will revealr this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the crosss of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their gloryt is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things, 20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his gloriousu body,v by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.