All for Christ

3 Finally, my brethren, arejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

2 bBeware of dogs, beware of cevil workers, dbeware of the mutilation! 3 For we are ethe circumcision, fwho worship 1God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though gI also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I hmore so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, iof the tribe of Benjamin, ja Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, ka Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, lpersecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But mwhat things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss nfor the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having omy own righteousness, which is from the law, but pthat which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the qpower of His resurrection, and rthe fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may sattain 2to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already tattained, 3 or am already uperfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have 4apprehended; but one thing I do, vforgetting those things which are behind and wreaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 xI press toward the goal for the prize of ythe upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are zmature, ahave this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, bGod will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already 5attained, clet us walk dby the same 6rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

17 Brethren, ejoin in following my example, and note those who so walk, as fyou have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are gthe enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 hwhose end is destruction, iwhose god is their belly, and jwhose glory is in their shame—kwho set their mind on earthly things. 20 For lour citizenship is in heaven, mfrom which we also neagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 owho will transform our lowly body that it may be pconformed to His glorious body, qaccording to the working by which He is able even to rsubdue all things to Himself.

4 Therefore, my beloved and alonged-for brethren, bmy joy and crown, so cstand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche dto be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 1And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who elabored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in fthe Book of Life.

4 gRejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your 2gentleness be known to all men. hThe Lord is at hand.

6 iBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with jthanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and kthe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are ltrue, whatever things are mnoble, whatever things are njust, owhatever things are pure, whatever things are plovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and qthe God of peace will be with you.

Philippian Generosity

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last ryour 3care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, sto be content: 12 tI know how to 4be abased, and I know how to 5abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things uthrough 6Christ who strengthens me.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that vyou shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, wno church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek xthe fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I 7have all and abound. I am full, having received from yEpaphroditus the things sent from you, za sweet-smelling aroma, aan acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God bshall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 cNow to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren dwho are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 8you all. Amen.

Colossians

Greeting

1 Paul, aan apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints band faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:

cGrace to you and peace from God our Father 1and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Faith in Christ

3 dWe give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 esince we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of fyour love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope gwhich is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, has it has also in all the world, and iis bringing forth 2fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew jthe grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from kEpaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is la faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your mlove in the Spirit.

Preeminence of Christ

9 nFor this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask othat you may be filled with pthe knowledge of His will qin all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 rthat you may walk worthy of the Lord, sfully pleasing Him, tbeing fruitful in every good work and increasing in the uknowledge of God; 11 vstrengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, wfor all patience and longsuffering xwith joy; 12 ygiving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of zthe inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from athe power of darkness band 3conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 cin whom we have redemption 4through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is dthe image of the invisible God, ethe firstborn over all creation. 16 For fby Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or gdominions or 5principalities or 6powers. All things were created hthrough Him and for Him. 17 iAnd He is before all things, and in Him jall things consist. 18 And kHe is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, lthe firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

19 For it pleased the Father that min Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and nby Him to reconcile oall things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, phaving made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, qwho once were alienated and enemies in your mind rby wicked works, yet now He has sreconciled 22 tin the body of His flesh through death, uto present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—23 if indeed you continue vin the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are wnot moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, xwhich was preached to every creature under heaven, yof which I, Paul, became a minister.