1 Corinthians 7:17 - Colossians 2:9

New King James Version

Live as You Are Called

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And ^(A)so I ^[a]ordain in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? ^(B)Let him not be circumcised. ^19 (C)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but ^(D)keeping the commandments of God is what matters. ²⁰ Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. ²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is ^(E)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is ^(F)Christ’s slave. ^23 (G)You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each one remain with ^(H)God in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

²⁵ Now concerning virgins: ^(I)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one ^(J)whom the Lord in His mercy has made ^(K)trustworthy. ²⁶ I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—^(L)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

²⁹ But ^(M)this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, ³¹ and those who use this world as not ^(N)misusing it. For ^(O)the form of this world is passing away.

³² But I want you to be without ^[b]care. ^(P)He who is unmarried ^[c]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. ³³ But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. ³⁴ There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman ^(Q)cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

³⁶ But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his ^[d]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. ³⁷ Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his ^[e]virgin, does well. ^38 (R)So then he who gives ^[f]her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

^39 (S)A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, ^(T)only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains as she is, ^(U)according to my judgment—and ^(V)I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Be Sensitive to Conscience

8 Now ^(W)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have ^(X)knowledge. ^(Y)Knowledge ^[g]puffs up, but love ^[h]edifies. ² And ^(Z)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

⁴ Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that ^(AA)an idol is nothing in the world, ^(AB)and that there is no other God but one. ⁵ For even if there are ^(AC)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), ⁶ yet ^(AD)for us there is one God, the Father, ^(AE)of whom are all things, and we for Him; and ^(AF)one Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AG)through whom are all things, and ^(AH)through whom we live.

⁷ However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, ^(AI)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is ^(AJ)defiled. ⁸ But ^(AK)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

⁹ But ^(AL)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become ^(AM)a ^[i]stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰ For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not ^(AN)the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? ¹¹ And ^(AO)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? ¹² But ^(AP)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, ^(AQ)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

A Pattern of Self-Denial

9 Am ^(AR)I not an apostle? Am I not free? ^(AS)Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? ^(AT)Are you not my work in the Lord? ² If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are ^(AU)the ^[j]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ^4 (AV)Do we have no ^[k]right to eat and drink? ⁵ Do we have no right to take along ^[l]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, ^(AW)the brothers of the Lord, and ^(AX)Cephas? ⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I ^(AY)who have no right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who ever ^(AZ)goes to war at his own expense? Who ^(BA)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who ^(BB)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

⁸ Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, ^(BC)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰ Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that ^(BD)he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. ^11 (BE)If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? ¹² If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

^(BF)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things ^(BG)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. ^13 (BH)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the ^(BI)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴ Even so ^(BJ)the Lord has commanded ^(BK)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

¹⁵ But ^(BL)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for ^(BM)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for ^(BN)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, ^(BO)I have a reward; but if against my will, ^(BP)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What is my reward then? That ^(BQ)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel ^[m]of Christ without charge, that I ^(BR)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

¹⁹ For though I am ^(BS)free from all men, ^(BT)I have made myself a servant to all, ^(BU)that I might win the more; ²⁰ and ^(BV)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the ^[n]law, that I might win those who are under the law; ^21 (BW)to ^(BX)those who are without law, as without law ^(BY)(not being without ^[o]law toward God, but under ^[p]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; ^22 (BZ)to the weak I became ^[q]as weak, that I might win the weak. ^(CA)I have become all things to all men, ^(CB)that I might by all means save some. ²³ Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ^(CC)Run in such a way that you may ^[r]obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize ^[s]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for ^(CD)an imperishable crown. ²⁶ Therefore I run thus: ^(CE)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ^27 (CF)But I discipline my body and ^(CG)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become ^(CH)disqualified.

Old Testament Examples

10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under ^(CI)the cloud, all passed through ^(CJ)the sea, ² all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ all ate the same ^(CK)spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same ^(CL)spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵ But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies ^(CM)were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as ^(CN)they also lusted. ^7 (CO)And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ^(CP)“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” ^8 (CQ)Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as ^(CR)some of them did, and ^(CS)in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹ nor let us ^[t]tempt Christ, as ^(CT)some of them also tempted, and ^(CU)were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰ nor complain, as ^(CV)some of them also complained, and ^(CW)were destroyed by ^(CX)the destroyer. ¹¹ Now ^[u]all these things happened to them as examples, and ^(CY)they were written for our ^[v]admonition, ^(CZ)upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

¹² Therefore ^(DA)let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but ^(DB)God is faithful, ^(DC)who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to ^[w]bear it.

Flee from Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, ^(DD)flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to ^(DE)wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. ^16 (DF)The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the ^[x]communion of the blood of Christ? ^(DG)The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ For ^(DH)we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

¹⁸ Observe ^(DI)Israel ^(DJ)after the flesh: ^(DK)Are not those who eat of the sacrifices ^[y]partakers of the altar? ¹⁹ What am I saying then? ^(DL)That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? ²⁰ Rather, that the things which the Gentiles ^(DM)sacrifice ^(DN)they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. ^21 (DO)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and ^(DP)the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the ^(DQ)Lord’s table and of the table of demons. ²² Or do we ^(DR)provoke the Lord to jealousy? ^(DS)Are we stronger than He?

All to the Glory of God^(DT)

²³ All things are lawful ^[z]for me, but not all things are ^(DU)helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things ^[aa]edify. ²⁴ Let no one seek his own, but each one ^(DV)the other’s well-being.

^25 (DW)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; ²⁶ for ^(DX)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

²⁷ If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, ^(DY)eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. ²⁸ But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it ^(DZ)for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; ^[ab]for ^(EA)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” ²⁹ “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For ^(EB)why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? ³⁰ But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food ^(EC)over which I give thanks?

^31 (ED)Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ^32 (EE)Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, ³³ just ^(EF)as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Worship and the Lord’s Supper

11 Imitate^(EG) me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Head Coverings

² Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to know that ^(EH)the head of every man is Christ, ^(EI)the head of woman is man, and ^(EJ)the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man praying or ^(EK)prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were ^(EL)shaved. ⁶ For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is ^(EM)shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. ⁷ For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since ^(EN)he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man is not from woman, but woman ^(EO)from man. ⁹ Nor was man created for the woman, but woman ^(EP)for the man. ¹⁰ For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, ^(EQ)neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. ¹² For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

¹³ Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁵ But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given ^[ac]to her for a covering. ¹⁶ But ^(ER)if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, ^(ES)nor do the churches of God.

Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For first of all, when you come together as a church, ^(ET)I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For ^(EU)there must also be factions among you, ^(EV)that those who are approved may be ^[ad]recognized among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. ²¹ For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and ^(EW)another is drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise ^(EX)the church of God and ^(EY)shame ^[ae]those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper^(EZ)

²³ For ^(FA)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: ^(FB)that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ^[af]“Take, eat; this is My body which is ^[ag]broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death ^(FC)till He comes.

Examine Yourself

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats ^(FD)this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and ^[ah]blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But ^(FE)let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks ^[ai]in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the ^[aj]Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many ^[ak]sleep. ³¹ For ^(FF)if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, ^(FG)we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brethren, when you ^(FH)come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

12 Now ^(FI)concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ² You know ^(FJ)that^[al] you were Gentiles, carried away to these ^(FK)dumb^[am] idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus ^[an]accursed, and ^(FL)no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

^4 (FM)There are ^[ao]diversities of gifts, but ^(FN)the same Spirit. ^5 (FO)There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God ^(FP)who works ^[ap]all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given ^(FQ)the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another ^(FR)the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 (FS)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another ^(FT)gifts of healings by ^[aq]the same Spirit, ^10 (FU)to another the working of miracles, to another ^(FV)prophecy, to another ^(FW)discerning of spirits, to another ^(FX)different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(FY)distributing to each one individually ^(FZ)as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body^(GA)

¹² For ^(GB)as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, ^(GC)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^(GD)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(GE)whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and ^(GF)have all been made to drink ^[ar]into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many.

¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now ^(GG)God has set the members, each one of them, in the body ^(GH)just as He pleased. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no ^[as]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ^(GI)you are the body of Christ, and ^(GJ)members individually. ²⁸ And ^(GK)God has appointed these in the church: first ^(GL)apostles, second ^(GM)prophets, third teachers, after that ^(GN)miracles, then ^(GO)gifts of healings, ^(GP)helps, ^(GQ)administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But ^(GR)earnestly desire the ^[at]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The Greatest Gift

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of ^(GS)prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, ^(GT)so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And ^(GU)though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ^[au]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

^4 (GV)Love suffers long and is ^(GW)kind; love ^(GX)does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not ^[av]puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, ^(GY)does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^[aw]thinks no evil; ^6 (GZ)does not rejoice in iniquity, but ^(HA)rejoices in the truth; ^7 (HB)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ^9 (HC)For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is ^[ax]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For ^(HD)now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then ^(HE)face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and ^(HF)desire spiritual gifts, ^(HG)but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who ^(HH)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks ^(HI)edification and ^(HJ)exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; ^[ay]for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Tongues Must Be Interpreted

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by ^(HK)revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? ⁷ Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ⁸ For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without ^[az]significance. ¹¹ Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a ^[ba]foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² Even so you, since you are ^[bb]zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the ^[bc]edification of the church that you seek to excel.

¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may ^(HL)interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. ^(HM)I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing ^(HN)with the understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” ^(HO)at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

²⁰ Brethren, ^(HP)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice ^(HQ)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

^21 (HR)In the law it is written:

says the Lord.

²² Therefore tongues are for a ^(HT)sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, ^(HU)will they not say that you are ^[bd]out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ^25 [be]And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report ^(HV)that God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, ^(HW)has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. ^(HX)Let all things be done for ^[bf]edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and ^(HY)let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, ^(HZ)let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And ^(IA)the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of ^[bg]confusion but of peace, ^(IB)as in all the churches of the saints.

^34 (IC)Let ^[bh]your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the ^(ID)law also says. ³⁵ And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

³⁶ Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? ^37 (IE)If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But ^[bi]if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹ Therefore, brethren, ^(IF)desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ^40 (IG)Let all things be done decently and in order.

The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality^(IH)

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel ^(II)which I preached to you, which also you received and ^(IJ)in which you stand, ^2 (IK)by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless ^(IL)you believed in vain.

³ For ^(IM)I delivered to you first of all that ^(IN)which I also received: that Christ died for our sins ^(IO)according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day ^(IP)according to the Scriptures, ^5 (IQ)and that He was seen by ^[bj]Cephas, then ^(IR)by the twelve. ⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have ^[bk]fallen asleep. ⁷ After that He was seen by James, then ^(IS)by all the apostles. ^8 (IT)Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

⁹ For I am ^(IU)the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because ^(IV)I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But ^(IW)by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, ^(IX)yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹ Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Risen Christ, Our Hope^(IY)

¹² Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, ^(IZ)then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because ^(JA)we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; ^(JB)you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have ^[bl]fallen ^(JC)asleep in Christ have perished. ^19 (JD)If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

²⁰ But now ^(JE)Christ is risen from the dead, and has become ^(JF)the firstfruits of those who have ^[bm]fallen asleep. ²¹ For ^(JG)since by man came death, ^(JH)by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall ^(JI)be made alive. ²³ But ^(JJ)each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers ^(JK)the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(JL)till He has put all enemies under His feet. ^26 (JM)The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For ^(JN)“He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. ^28 (JO)Now when all things are made subject to Him, then ^(JP)the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Effects of Denying the Resurrection

²⁹ Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? ³⁰ And ^(JQ)why do we stand in ^[bn]jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I affirm, by ^(JR)the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, ^(JS)I die daily. ³² If, in the manner of men, ^(JT)I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, ^(JU)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

³³ Do not be deceived: ^(JV)“Evil company corrupts good habits.” ^34 (JW)Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; ^(JX)for some do not have the knowledge of God. ^(JY)I speak this to your shame.

A Glorious Body

³⁵ But someone will say, ^(JZ)“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” ³⁶ Foolish one, ^(KA)what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind ^[bo]of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

⁴⁰ There are also ^[bp]celestial bodies and ^[bq]terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

^42 (KB)So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. ^43 (KC)It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, ^(KD)“The first man Adam became a living being.” ^(KE)The last Adam became ^(KF)a life-giving spirit.

⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. ^47 (KG)The first man was of the earth, ^(KH)made^[br] of dust; the second Man is ^[bs]the Lord ^(KI)from heaven. ⁴⁸ As was the ^[bt]man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; ^(KJ)and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And ^(KK)as we have borne the image of the man of dust, ^(KL)we^[bu] shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Our Final Victory

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that ^(KM)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a ^[bv]mystery: ^(KN)We shall not all sleep, ^(KO)but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. ^(KP)For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and ^(KQ)this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ^(KR)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and ^(KT)the strength of sin is the law. ^57 (KU)But thanks be to God, who gives us ^(KV)the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (KW)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing ^(KX)that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning ^(KY)the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: ^2 (KZ)On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. ³ And when I come, ^(LA)whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. ^4 (LB)But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

Personal Plans^(LC)

⁵ Now I will come to you ^(LD)when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). ⁶ And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may ^(LE)send me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, ^(LF)if the Lord permits.

⁸ But I will tarry in Ephesus until ^(LG)Pentecost. ⁹ For ^(LH)a great and effective door has opened to me, and ^(LI)there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ And ^(LJ)if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for ^(LK)he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. ^11 (LL)Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey ^(LM)in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

¹² Now concerning our brother ^(LN)Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

Final Exhortations

^13 (LO)Watch, ^(LP)stand fast in the faith, be brave, ^(LQ)be strong. ^14 (LR)Let all that you do be done with love.

¹⁵ I urge you, brethren—you know ^(LS)the household of Stephanas, that it is ^(LT)the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ^(LU)the ministry of the saints— ^16 (LV)that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and ^(LW)labors with us.

¹⁷ I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, ^(LX)for what was lacking on your part they supplied. ^18 (LY)For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(LZ)acknowledge such men.

Greetings and a Solemn Farewell

¹⁹ The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, ^(MA)with the church that is in their house. ²⁰ All the brethren greet you.

^(MB)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

^21 (MC)The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

²² If anyone ^(MD)does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(ME)let him be ^[bx]accursed. ^(MF)O^[by] Lord, come!

^23 (MG)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(MH)an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and ^(MI)Timothy our brother,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, ^(MJ)with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

^2 (MK)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Comfort in Suffering

^3 (ML)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who ^(MM)comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any ^[bz]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as ^(MN)the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our ^[ca]consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶ Now if we are afflicted, ^(MO)it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. ⁷ And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that ^(MP)as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Delivered from Suffering

⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of ^(MQ)our ^[cb]trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should ^(MR)not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, ^10 (MS)who delivered us from so great a death, and ^[cc]does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, ¹¹ you also ^(MT)helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on ^[cd]our behalf ^(MU)for the gift granted to us through many.

Paul’s Sincerity

¹² For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in ^[ce]simplicity and ^(MV)godly sincerity, ^(MW)not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. ¹³ For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end ¹⁴ (as also you have understood us in part), ^(MX)that we are your boast as ^(MY)you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Sparing the Church

¹⁵ And in this confidence ^(MZ)I intended to come to you before, that you might have ^(NA)a second benefit— ¹⁶ to pass by way of you to Macedonia, ^(NB)to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. ¹⁷ Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan ^(NC)according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? ¹⁸ But as God is ^(ND)faithful, our ^[cf]word to you was not Yes and No. ¹⁹ For ^(NE)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, ^(NF)Silvanus, and ^(NG)Timothy—was not Yes and No, ^(NH)but in Him was Yes. ^20 (NI)For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and ^(NJ)has anointed us is God, ²² who ^(NK)also has sealed us and ^(NL)given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

²³ Moreover ^(NM)I call God as witness against my soul, ^(NN)that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. ²⁴ Not ^(NO)that we ^[cg]have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for ^(NP)by faith you stand.

Paul Urges Forgiveness

2 But I determined this within myself, ^(NQ)that I would not come again to you in sorrow. ² For if I make you ^(NR)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

³ And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, ^(NS)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, ^(NT)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much ^[ch]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, ^(NU)not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

⁵ But ^(NV)if anyone has caused grief, he has not ^(NW)grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. ⁶ This punishment which was inflicted ^(NX)by the majority is sufficient for such a man, ^7 (NY)so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are ^(NZ)obedient in all things. ¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For ^[ci]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

¹² Furthermore, ^(OA)when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and ^(OB)a ^[cj]door was opened to me by the Lord, ^13 (OC)I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

¹⁴ Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us ^[ck]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ ^(OD)among those who are being saved and ^(OE)among those who are perishing. ^16 (OF)To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And ^(OG)who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not, as ^[cl]so many, ^(OH)peddling^[cm] the word of God; but as ^(OI)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Christ’s Epistle^(OJ)

3 Do ^(OK)we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, ^(OL)epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? ^2 (OM)You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; ³ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ^(ON)ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not ^(OO)on tablets of stone but ^(OP)on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

The Spirit, Not the Letter

⁴ And we have such trust through Christ toward God. ^5 (OQ)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but ^(OR)our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who also made us sufficient as ^(OS)ministers of ^(OT)the new covenant, not ^(OU)of the letter but of the ^[cn]Spirit; for ^(OV)the letter kills, ^(OW)but the Spirit gives life.

Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ But if ^(OX)the ministry of death, ^(OY)written and engraved on stones, was glorious, ^(OZ)so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, ⁸ how will ^(PA)the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? ⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry ^(PB)of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. ¹⁰ For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. ¹¹ For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, ^(PC)we use great boldness of speech— ¹³ unlike Moses, ^(PD)who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at ^(PE)the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But ^(PF)their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless ^(PG)when one turns to the Lord, ^(PH)the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now ^(PI)the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is ^(PJ)liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding ^(PK)as in a mirror ^(PL)the glory of the Lord, ^(PM)are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as ^[co]by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Light of Christ’s Gospel

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, ^(PN)as we have received mercy, we ^(PO)do not lose heart. ² But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor ^[cp]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth ^(PP)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ But even if our gospel is veiled, ^(PQ)it is veiled to those who are perishing, ⁴ whose minds ^(PR)the god of this age ^(PS)has blinded, who do not believe, lest ^(PT)the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^(PU)who is the image of God, should shine on them. ^5 (PV)For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ^(PW)ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For it is the God ^(PX)who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has ^(PY)shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down but Unconquered

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, ^(PZ)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ We are ^(QA)hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not ^(QB)forsaken; ^(QC)struck down, but not destroyed— ^10 (QD)always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, ^(QE)that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live ^(QF)are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you.

¹³ And since we have ^(QG)the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ^(QH)“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ knowing that ^(QI)He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵ For ^(QJ)all things are for your sakes, that ^(QK)grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible

¹⁶ Therefore we ^(QL)do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is ^(QM)being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For ^(QN)our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ^18 (QO)while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Assurance of the Resurrection

5 For we know that if ^(QP)our earthly ^[cq]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house ^(QQ)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this ^(QR)we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our ^[cr]habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, ^(QS)having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, ^(QT)but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also ^(QU)has given us the Spirit as ^[cs]a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ⁷ For ^(QV)we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, yes, ^(QW)well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

⁹ Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ^10 (QX)For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^(QY)that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, ^(QZ)the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Be Reconciled to God

¹² For ^(RA)we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity ^(RB)to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For ^(RC)if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that ^(RD)if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, ^(RE)that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

^16 (RF)Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, ^(RG)yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone ^(RH)is in Christ, he is ^(RI)a new creation; ^(RJ)old things have passed away; behold, all things have become ^(RK)new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, ^(RL)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that ^(RM)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[ct]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then, we are ^(RN)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For ^(RO)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become ^(RP)the righteousness of God in Him.

Marks of the Ministry

6 We then, as ^(RQ)workers together with Him also ^(RR)plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For He says:

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

^3 (RT)We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. ⁴ But in all things we commend ourselves ^(RU)as ministers of God: in much ^[cu]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ^5 (RV)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶ by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by ^[cv]sincere love, ^7 (RW)by the word of truth, by ^(RX)the power of God, by ^(RY)the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, and ^(RZ)yet well known; ^(SA)as dying, and behold we live; ^(SB)as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many ^(SC)rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Be Holy

¹¹ O Corinthians! ^[cw]We have spoken openly to you, ^(SD)our heart is wide open. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but ^(SE)you are restricted by your own affections. ¹³ Now in return for the same ^(SF)(I speak as to children), you also be open.

^14 (SG)Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For ^(SH)what ^[cx]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what ^[cy]communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^(SI)you^[cz] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

¹⁷ Therefore

The Corinthians’ Repentance

7 Therefore,^(SN) having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Corinthians’ Repentance

² Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, ^(SO)we have cheated no one. ³ I do not say this to condemn; for ^(SP)I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. ^4 (SQ)Great is my boldness of speech toward you, ^(SR)great is my boasting on your behalf. ^(SS)I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

⁵ For indeed, ^(ST)when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but ^(SU)we were troubled on every side. ^(SV)Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. ⁶ Nevertheless ^(SW)God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by ^(SX)the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the ^[da]consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

⁸ For even if I made you ^(SY)sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; ^(SZ)though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. ⁹ Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For ^(TA)godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; ^(TB)but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹ For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what ^(TC)clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be ^(TD)clear in this matter. ¹² Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, ^(TE)but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

The Joy of Titus

¹³ Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit ^(TF)has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴ For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. ¹⁵ And his affections are greater for you as he remembers ^(TG)the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. ¹⁶ Therefore I rejoice that ^(TH)I have confidence in you in everything.

Excel in Giving

8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: ² that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and ^(TI)their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. ³ For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, ⁴ imploring us with much urgency ^[db]that we would receive the gift and ^(TJ)the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵ And not only as we had hoped, but they first ^(TK)gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the ^(TL)will of God. ⁶ So ^(TM)we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. ⁷ But as ^(TN)you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see ^(TO)that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

^8 (TP)I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(TQ)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^(TR)rich.

¹⁰ And in this ^(TS)I give advice: ^(TT)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^(TU)were desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹ but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹² For ^(TV)if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; ¹⁴ but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. ¹⁵ As it is written, ^(TW)“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Collection for the Judean Saints

¹⁶ But thanks be to God who ^[dc]puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. ¹⁷ For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. ¹⁸ And we have sent with him ^(TX)the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, ¹⁹ and not only that, but who was also ^(TY)chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us ^(TZ)to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, ²⁰ avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— ^21 (UA)providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

²² And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. ²³ If anyone inquires about ^(UB)Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are ^(UC)messengers^[dd] of the churches, the glory of Christ. ²⁴ Therefore show to them, ^[de]and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our ^(UD)boasting on your behalf.

Administering the Gift

9 Now concerning ^(UE)the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; ² for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a ^(UF)year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. ^3 (UG)Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; ⁴ lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this ^[df]confident boasting. ⁵ Therefore I thought it necessary to ^[dg]exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a ^[dh]grudging obligation.

The Cheerful Giver

^6 (UH)But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows ^[di]bountifully will also reap ^[dj]bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, ^(UI)not grudgingly or of ^[dk]necessity; for ^(UJ)God loves a cheerful giver. ^8 (UK)And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

¹⁰ Now ^[dl]may He who ^(UM)supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, ^[dm]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your ^(UN)righteousness, ¹¹ while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, ^(UO)which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹² For the administration of this service not only ^(UP)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³ while, through the proof of this ministry, they ^(UQ)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal ^(UR)sharing with them and all men, ¹⁴ and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding ^(US)grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God ^(UT)for His indescribable gift!

The Spiritual War

10 Now ^(UU)I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—^(UV)who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. ² But I beg you ^(UW)that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ^4 (UX)For the weapons ^(UY)of our warfare are not ^[dn]carnal but ^(UZ)mighty in God ^(VA)for pulling down strongholds, ^5 (VB)casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ^6 (VC)and being ready to punish all disobedience when ^(VD)your obedience is fulfilled.

Reality of Paul’s Authority

^7 (VE)Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? ^(VF)If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even ^[do]so ^(VG)we are Christ’s. ⁸ For even if I should boast somewhat more ^(VH)about our authority, which the Lord gave ^[dp]us for ^[dq]edification and not for your destruction, ^(VI)I shall not be ashamed— ⁹ lest I seem to terrify you by letters. ¹⁰ “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but ^(VJ)his bodily presence is weak, and his ^(VK)speech contemptible.” ¹¹ Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

Limits of Paul’s Authority

^12 (VL)For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. ^13 (VM)We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), ^(VN)for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; ¹⁵ not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, ^(VO)in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, ¹⁶ to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

¹⁷ But ^(VP)“he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For ^(VQ)not he who commends himself is approved, but ^(VR)whom the Lord commends.

Concern for Their Faithfulness

11 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little ^(VS)folly—and indeed you do bear with me. ² For I am ^(VT)jealous for you with godly jealousy. For ^(VU)I have betrothed you to one husband, ^(VV)that I may present you ^(VW)as a chaste virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear, lest somehow, as ^(VX)the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds ^(VY)may be corrupted from the ^[dr]simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴ For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a ^(VZ)different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Paul and False Apostles

⁵ For I consider that ^(WA)I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. ⁶ Even though ^(WB)I am untrained in speech, yet I am not ^(WC)in knowledge. But ^(WD)we have ^[ds]been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

⁷ Did I commit sin in ^[dt]humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you ^(WE)free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. ⁹ And when I was present with you, and in need, ^(WF)I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked ^(WG)the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. ^10 (WH)As the truth of Christ is in me, ^(WI)no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹ Why? ^(WJ)Because I do not love you? God knows!

¹² But what I do, I will also continue to do, ^(WK)that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. ¹³ For such ^(WL)are false apostles, ^(WM)deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into ^(WN)an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, ^(WO)whose end will be according to their works.

Reluctant Boasting

¹⁶ I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I speak, ^(WP)I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. ¹⁹ For you put up with fools gladly, ^(WQ)since you yourselves are wise! ²⁰ For you put up with it ^(WR)if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. ²¹ To our shame ^(WS)I say that we were too weak for that! But ^(WT)in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

Suffering for Christ

²² Are they ^(WU)Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: ^(WV)in labors more abundant, ^(WW)in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, ^(WX)in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received ^(WY)forty ^(WZ)stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(XA)beaten with rods; ^(XB)once I was stoned; three times I ^(XC)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, ^(XD)in perils of my own countrymen, ^(XE)in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, ^(XF)in sleeplessness often, ^(XG)in hunger and thirst, in ^(XH)fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: ^(XI)my deep concern for all the churches. ^29 (XJ)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

³⁰ If I must boast, ^(XK)I will boast in the things which concern my ^[du]infirmity. ^31 (XL)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(XM)who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ^32 (XN)In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; ³³ but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is ^[dv]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to ^(XO)visions and ^(XP)revelations of the Lord: ² I know a man ^(XQ)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one ^(XR)was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ how he was caught up into ^(XS)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not ^(XT)boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(XU)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(XV)a messenger of Satan to ^[dw]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ^8 (XW)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(XX)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(XY)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(XZ)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(YA)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Signs of an Apostle

¹¹ I have become ^(YB)a fool ^[dx]in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for ^(YC)in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though ^(YD)I am nothing. ^12 (YE)Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and ^(YF)wonders and mighty ^(YG)deeds. ¹³ For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

^14 (YH)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for ^(YI)I do not seek yours, but you. ^(YJ)For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent ^(YK)for your souls; though ^(YL)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

¹⁶ But be that as it may, ^(YM)I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus, and sent our ^(YN)brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

^19 (YO)Again, ^[dy]do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? ^(YP)We speak before God in Christ. ^(YQ)But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. ²⁰ For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that ^(YR)I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; ²¹ lest, when I come again, my God ^(YS)will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many ^(YT)who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, ^(YU)fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Coming with Authority

13 This will be ^(YV)the third time I am coming to you. ^(YW)“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” ^2 (YX)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent ^[dz]I write to those ^(YY)who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again ^(YZ)I will not spare— ³ since you seek a proof of Christ ^(ZA)speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty ^(ZB)in you. ^4 (ZC)For though He was crucified in weakness, yet ^(ZD)He lives by the power of God. For ^(ZE)we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, ^(ZF)that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you ^[ea]are ^(ZG)disqualified. ⁶ But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Paul Prefers Gentleness

⁷ Now ^[eb]I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though ^(ZH)we may seem disqualified. ⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. ⁹ For we are glad ^(ZI)when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, ^(ZJ)that you may be made complete. ^10 (ZK)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the ^(ZL)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

Greetings and Benediction

¹¹ Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. ^(ZM)Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love ^(ZN)and peace will be with you.

^12 (ZO)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

¹³ All the saints greet you.

^14 (ZP)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and ^(ZQ)the ^[ec]communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but ^(ZR)through Jesus Christ and God the Father ^(ZS)who raised Him from the dead), ² and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

³ Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ^4 (ZT)who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us ^(ZU)from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Only One Gospel

⁶ I marvel that you are turning away so soon ^(ZV)from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ^7 (ZW)which is not another; but there are some ^(ZX)who trouble you and want to ^(ZY)pervert^[ed] the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if ^(ZZ)we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be ^[ee]accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you ^(AAA)than what you have received, let him be accursed.

¹⁰ For ^(AAB)do I now ^(AAC)persuade men, or God? Or ^(AAD)do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Call to Apostleship^(AAE)

^11 (AAF)But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. ¹² For ^(AAG)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came ^(AAH)through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how ^(AAI)I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and ^(AAJ)tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, ^(AAK)being more exceedingly zealous ^(AAL)for the traditions of my fathers.

¹⁵ But when it pleased God, ^(AAM)who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, ^16 (AAN)to reveal His Son in me, that ^(AAO)I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with ^(AAP)flesh and blood, ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Contacts at Jerusalem^(AAQ)

¹⁸ Then after three years ^(AAR)I went up to Jerusalem to see ^[ef]Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But ^(AAS)I saw none of the other apostles except ^(AAT)James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

^21 (AAU)Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which ^(AAV)were in Christ. ²³ But they were ^(AAW)hearing only, “He who formerly ^(AAX)persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they ^(AAY)glorified God in me.

Defending the Gospel^(AAZ)

2 Then after fourteen years ^(ABA)I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. ² And I went up ^[eg]by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but ^(ABB)privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means ^(ABC)I might run, or had run, in vain. ³ Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ And this occurred because of ^(ABD)false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our ^(ABE)liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, ^(ABF)that they might bring us into bondage), ⁵ to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that ^(ABG)the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

⁶ But from those ^(ABH)who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; ^(ABI)God ^[eh]shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something ^(ABJ)added nothing to me. ⁷ But on the contrary, ^(ABK)when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised ^(ABL)had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter ⁸ (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the ^(ABM)circumcised ^(ABN)also ^(ABO)worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), ⁹ and when James, ^[ei]Cephas, and John, who seemed to be ^(ABP)pillars, perceived ^(ABQ)the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, ^(ABR)that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ They desired only that we should remember the poor, ^(ABS)the very thing which I also was eager to do.

No Return to the Law

^11 (ABT)Now when ^[ej]Peter had come to Antioch, I ^[ek]withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, ^(ABU)he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing ^[el]those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about ^(ABV)the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter ^(ABW)before them all, ^(ABX)“If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, ^[em]why do you compel Gentiles to live as ^[en]Jews? ^15 (ABY)We who are Jews by nature, and not ^(ABZ)sinners of the Gentiles, ^16 (ACA)knowing that a man is not ^[eo]justified by the works of the law but ^(ACB)by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not ^(ACC)by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

¹⁷ “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found ^(ACD)sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. ¹⁹ For I ^(ACE)through the law ^(ACF)died to the law that I might ^(ACG)live to God. ²⁰ I have been ^(ACH)crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh ^(ACI)I live by faith in the Son of God, ^(ACJ)who loved me and gave Himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God; for ^(ACK)if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died ^[ep]in vain.”

Justification by Faith^(ACL)

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you ^[eq]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed ^[er]among you as crucified? ² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, ^(ACM)or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? ^(ACN)Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by ^(ACO)the flesh? ^4 (ACP)Have you suffered so ^[es]many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

⁵ Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— ⁶ just as Abraham ^(ACQ)“believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” ⁷ Therefore know that only ^(ACR)those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. ⁸ And ^(ACS)the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ^(ACT)“In you all the nations shall be blessed.” ⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Law Brings a Curse

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ^(ACU)“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹ But that no one is ^[et]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ^(ACV)“the just shall live by faith.” ¹² Yet ^(ACW)the law is not of faith, but ^(ACX)“the man who does them shall live by them.”

^13 (ACY)Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ^(ACZ)“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ^14 (ADA)that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the ^(ADB)Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive ^(ADC)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Changeless Promise^(ADD)

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: ^(ADE)Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of ^(ADF)one, ^(ADG)“And to your Seed,” who is ^(ADH)Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the law, ^(ADI)which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God ^[eu]in Christ, ^(ADJ)that it should make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸ For if ^(ADK)the inheritance is of the law, ^(ADL)it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ What purpose then does the law serve? ^(ADM)It was added because of transgressions, till the ^(ADN)Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ^(ADO)appointed through angels by the hand ^(ADP)of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, ^(ADQ)but God is one.

²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. ²² But the Scripture has confined ^(ADR)all under sin, ^(ADS)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, ^[ev]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore ^(ADT)the law was our ^[ew]tutor to bring us to Christ, ^(ADU)that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

²⁶ For you ^(ADV)are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For ^(ADW)as many of you as were baptized into Christ ^(ADX)have put on Christ. ^28 (ADY)There is neither Jew nor Greek, ^(ADZ)there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all ^(AEA)one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(AEB)if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s ^(AEC)seed, and ^(AED)heirs according to the promise.

Sons and Heirs Through Christ

4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, ² but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. ³ Even so we, when we were children, ^(AEE)were in bondage under the elements of the world. ⁴ But ^(AEF)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, ^(AEG)born^{[ex] (AEH)}of a woman, ^(AEI)born under the law, ^5 (AEJ)to redeem those who were under the law, ^(AEK)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth ^(AEL)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ^[ey]“Abba, Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, ^(AEM)and if a son, then an heir ^[ez]of God ^[fa]through Christ.

Fears for the Church

⁸ But then, indeed, ^(AEN)when you did not know God, ^(AEO)you served those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now ^(AEP)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, ^(AEQ)how is it that you turn again to ^(AER)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ^10 (AES)You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, ^(AET)lest I have labored for you in vain.

¹² Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. ^(AEU)You have not injured me at all. ¹³ You know that ^(AEV)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴ And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me ^(AEW)as an ^[fb]angel of God, ^(AEX)even as Christ Jesus. ^15 [fc]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷ They ^(AEY)zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. ¹⁸ But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. ^19 (AEZ)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰ I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Two Covenants^(AFA)

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons: ^(AFB)the one by a bondwoman, ^(AFC)the other by a freewoman. ²³ But he who was of the bondwoman ^(AFD)was born according to the flesh, ^(AFE)and he of the freewoman through promise, ²⁴ which things are symbolic. For these are ^[fd]the two covenants: the one from Mount ^(AFF)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— ²⁵ for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— ²⁶ but the ^(AFG)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now ^(AFI)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are ^(AFJ)children of promise. ²⁹ But, as ^(AFK)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AFL)even so it is now. ³⁰ Nevertheless what does ^(AFM)the Scripture say? ^(AFN)“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for ^(AFO)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” ³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Christian Liberty

5 ^(AFP)Stand^[fe] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a ^(AFQ)yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that ^(AFR)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised ^(AFS)that he is ^[ff]a debtor to keep the whole law. ^4 (AFT)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; ^(AFU)you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit eagerly ^(AFV)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For ^(AFW)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ^(AFX)faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁷ You ^(AFY)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. ^9 (AFZ)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

¹¹ And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, ^(AGA)why do I still suffer persecution? Then ^(AGB)the offense of the cross has ceased. ^12 (AGC)I could wish that those ^(AGD)who trouble you would even ^[fg]cut themselves off!

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only ^(AGE)do not use liberty as an ^(AGF)opportunity for the flesh, but ^(AGG)through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(AGH)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ^(AGI)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Walking in the Spirit

¹⁶ I say then: ^(AGJ)Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(AGK)the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, ^(AGL)so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But ^(AGM)if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now ^(AGN)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[fh]adultery, ^[fi]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[fj]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that ^(AGO)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But ^(AGP)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(AGQ)love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, ^(AGR)goodness, ^(AGS)faithfulness, ^23 [fk]gentleness, self-control. ^(AGT)Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s ^(AGU)have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ^25 (AGV)If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ^26 (AGW)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear and Share Burdens

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[fl]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of ^(AGX)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ^2 (AGY)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill ^(AGZ)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(AHA)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when ^(AHB)he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But ^(AHC)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and ^(AHD)not in another. ⁵ For ^(AHE)each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

^6 (AHF)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for ^(AHG)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap ^(AHH)everlasting life. ⁹ And ^(AHI)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap ^(AHJ)if we do not lose heart. ^10 (AHK)Therefore, as we have opportunity, ^(AHL)let us do good to all, ^(AHM)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹² As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, ^(AHN)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the ^(AHO)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by ^[fm]whom the world has been crucified to me, and ^(AHP)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(AHQ)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁸ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

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

Redemption in Christ

^3 (AHR)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(AHS)He chose us in Him ^(AHT)before the foundation of the world, that we should ^(AHU)be holy and without blame before Him in love, ^5 (AHV)having predestined us to ^(AHW)adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(AHX)according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, ^(AHY)by which He ^[fn]made us accepted in ^(AHZ)the Beloved.

^7 (AIA)In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to ^(AIB)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and ^[fo]prudence, ^9 (AIC)having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure ^(AID)which He purposed in Himself, ¹⁰ that in the dispensation of ^(AIE)the fullness of the times ^(AIF)He might gather together in one ^(AIG)all things in Christ, ^[fp]both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. ^11 (AIH)In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to ^(AII)the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ^12 (AIJ)that we ^(AIK)who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard ^(AIL)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ^(AIM)you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ^14 (AIN)who^[fq] is the ^[fr]guarantee of our inheritance ^(AIO)until the redemption of ^(AIP)the purchased possession, ^(AIQ)to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

¹⁵ Therefore I also, ^(AIR)after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ^16 (AIS)do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that ^(AIT)the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ^(AIU)may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ^18 (AIV)the eyes of your ^[fs]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is ^(AIW)the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, ^(AIX)according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when ^(AIY)He raised Him from the dead and ^(AIZ)seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ^21 (AJA)far above all ^(AJB)principality^[ft] and ^[fu]power and ^[fv]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

²² And ^(AJC)He put all things under His feet, and gave Him ^(AJD)to be head over all things to the church, ^23 (AJE)which is His body, ^(AJF)the fullness of Him ^(AJG)who fills all in all.

By Grace Through Faith

2 And ^(AJH)you He made alive, ^(AJI)who were dead in trespasses and sins, ^2 (AJJ)in which you once walked according to the ^[fw]course of this world, according to ^(AJK)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in ^(AJL)the sons of disobedience, ^3 (AJM)among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in ^(AJN)the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and ^(AJO)were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

⁴ But God, ^(AJP)who is rich in mercy, because of His ^(AJQ)great love with which He loved us, ^5 (AJR)even when we were dead in trespasses, ^(AJS)made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together ^(AJT)in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in ^(AJU)His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ^8 (AJV)For by grace you have been saved ^(AJW)through faith, and that not of yourselves; ^(AJX)it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of ^(AJY)works, lest anyone should ^(AJZ)boast. ¹⁰ For we are ^(AKA)His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Brought Near by His Blood

¹¹ Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called ^(AKB)the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— ¹² that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Christ Our Peace

¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one ^(AKC)new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might ^(AKD)reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby ^(AKE)putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For ^(AKF)through Him we both have access ^(AKG)by one Spirit to the Father.

Christ Our Cornerstone

¹⁹ Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been ^(AKH)built ^(AKI)on the foundation of the ^(AKJ)apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being ^(AKK)the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into ^(AKL)a holy temple in the Lord, ^22 (AKM)in whom you also are being built together for a ^(AKN)dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The Mystery Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^[fx]dispensation of the grace of God ^(AKO)which was given to me for you, ^3 (AKP)how that by revelation ^(AKQ)He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵ which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶ that the Gentiles ^(AKR)should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ^7 (AKS)of which I became a minister ^(AKT)according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by ^(AKU)the effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

⁸ To me, ^(AKV)who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ^(AKW)the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all see what is the ^[fy]fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who ^(AKX)created all things ^[fz]through Jesus Christ; ^10 (AKY)to the intent that now ^(AKZ)the ^[ga]manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church ^(ALA)to the ^[gb]principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ^11 (ALB)according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access ^(ALC)with confidence through faith in Him. ^13 (ALD)Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, ^(ALE)which is your glory.

Appreciation of the Mystery

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the ^(ALF)Father ^[gc]of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, ^(ALG)according to the riches of His glory, ^(ALH)to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in ^(ALI)the inner man, ^17 (ALJ)that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, ^(ALK)being rooted and grounded in love, ^18 (ALL)may be able to comprehend with all the saints ^(ALM)what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled ^(ALN)with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now ^(ALO)to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly ^(ALP)above all that we ask or think, ^(ALQ)according to the power that works in us, ^21 (ALR)to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner ^[gd]of the Lord, ^[ge]beseech you to ^(ALS)walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit ^(ALT)in the bond of peace. ^4 (ALU)There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ^5 (ALV)one Lord, ^(ALW)one faith, ^(ALX)one baptism; ^6 (ALY)one God and Father of all, who is above all, and ^(ALZ)through all, and in ^[gf]you all.

Spiritual Gifts

⁷ But ^(AMA)to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore He says:

^9 (AMC)(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also ^[gg]first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is also the One ^(AMD)who ascended far above all the heavens, ^(AME)that He might fill all things.)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, ^(AMF)for the ^[gh]edifying of ^(AMG)the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith ^(AMH)and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to ^(AMI)a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be ^(AMJ)children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of ^(AMK)deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the ^(AML)head—Christ— ^16 (AMM)from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The New Man

¹⁷ This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should ^(AMN)no longer walk as ^[gi]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(AMO)blindness of their heart; ^19 (AMP)who, being past feeling, ^(AMQ)have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you ^(AMR)put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and ^(AMS)be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you ^(AMT)put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, ^(AMU)“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for ^(AMV)we are members of one another. ^26 (AMW)“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ^27 (AMX)nor give ^[gj]place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather ^(AMY)let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something ^(AMZ)to give him who has need. ^29 (ANA)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but ^(ANB)what is good for necessary ^[gk]edification, ^(ANC)that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And ^(AND)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (ANE)Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[gl]clamor, and ^(ANF)evil speaking be put away from you, ^(ANG)with all malice. ³² And ^(ANH)be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ^(ANI)forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

5 Therefore^(ANJ) be imitators of God as dear ^(ANK)children. ² And ^(ANL)walk in love, ^(ANM)as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God ^(ANN)for a sweet-smelling aroma.

³ But fornication and all ^(ANO)uncleanness or ^(ANP)covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ^4 (ANQ)neither filthiness, nor ^(ANR)foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, ^(ANS)which are not fitting, but rather ^(ANT)giving of thanks. ⁵ For ^[gm]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any ^(ANU)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 comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be ^(ANV)partakers with them.

Walk in Light

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are ^(ANW)light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(ANX)the fruit of the ^[gn]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 (ANY)finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have ^(ANZ)no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather ^[go]expose them. ^12 (AOA)For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But ^(AOB)all things that are ^[gp]exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴ Therefore He says:

Walk in Wisdom

^15 (AOD)See then that you walk ^[gq]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ^16 (AOE)redeeming the time, ^(AOF)because the days are evil.

^17 (AOG)Therefore do not be unwise, but ^(AOH)understand ^(AOI)what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(AOJ)do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another ^(AOK)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making ^(AOL)melody in your heart to the Lord, ^20 (AOM)giving thanks always for all things to God the Father ^(AON)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (AOO)submitting to one another in the fear of ^[gr]God.

Marriage—Christ and the Church^(AOP)

²² Wives, ^(AOQ)submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(AOR)the husband is head of the wife, as also ^(AOS)Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands ^(AOT)in everything.

^25 (AOU)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(AOV)gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might ^[gs]sanctify and cleanse her ^(AOW)with the washing of water ^(AOX)by the word, ^27 (AOY)that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, ^(AOZ)not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For ^(APA)we are members of His body, ^[gt]of His flesh and of His bones. ^31 (APB)“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the ^(APC)two shall become one flesh.” ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless ^(APD)let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(APE)respects her husband.

Children and Parents^(APF)

6 Children, ^(APG)obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (APH)“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³ “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

⁴ And ^(API)you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but ^(APJ)bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (APK)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, ^(APL)with fear and trembling, ^(APM)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ^6 (APN)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ^8 (APO)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that ^[gu]your own ^(APP)Master also is in heaven, and ^(APQ)there is no partiality with Him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ^11 (APR)Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ^[gv]wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(APS)principalities, against powers, against ^(APT)the rulers of ^[gw]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ^13 (APU)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand ^(APV)in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(APW)having girded your waist with truth, ^(APX)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ^15 (APY)and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking ^(APZ)the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And ^(AQA)take the helmet of salvation, and ^(AQB)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ^18 (AQC)praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, ^(AQD)being watchful to this end with all perseverance and ^(AQE)supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, ^(AQF)that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which ^(AQG)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

A Gracious Greeting

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, ^(AQH)Tychicus, a beloved brother and ^(AQI)faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ^22 (AQJ)whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may ^(AQK)comfort your hearts.

²³ Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the ^[gx]bishops and ^(AQL)deacons:

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

Thankfulness and Prayer

^3 (AQM)I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in ^(AQN)every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ^5 (AQO)for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun ^(AQP)a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. ⁸ For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness ^(AQQ)which are by Jesus Christ, ^(AQR)to the glory and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached

¹² But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become evident ^(AQS)to the whole ^[gy]palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: ^16 [gz]The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

¹⁹ For I know that ^(AQT)this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but ^(AQU)with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life ^(AQV)or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I ^[ha]cannot tell. ^23 [hb]For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a ^(AQW)desire to depart and be with Christ, which is ^(AQX)far better. ²⁴ Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, ²⁶ that ^(AQY)your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Striving and Suffering for Christ

²⁷ Only ^(AQZ)let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, ^(ARA)with one mind ^(ARB)striving together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but ^[hc]to you of salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(ARC)it has been granted on behalf of Christ, ^(ARD)not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(ARE)suffer for His sake, ^30 (ARF)having the same conflict ^(ARG)which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Unity Through Humility

2 Therefore if there is any ^[hd]consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any ^(ARH)affection and mercy, ^2 (ARI)fulfill my joy ^(ARJ)by being like-minded, having the same love, being of ^(ARK)one accord, of one mind. ^3 (ARL)Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but ^(ARM)in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ^4 (ARN)Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of ^(ARO)others.

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

^5 (ARP)Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, ^(ARQ)being in the form of God, did not consider it ^[he]robbery to be equal with God, ^7 (ARR)but ^[hf]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form ^(ARS)of a bondservant, and ^(ART)coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and ^(ARU)became ^(ARV)obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ^9 (ARW)Therefore God also ^(ARX)has highly exalted Him and ^(ARY)given Him the name which is above every name, ^10 (ARZ)that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and ^(ASA)that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Light Bearers

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(ASB)as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, ^(ASC)work out your own salvation with ^(ASD)fear and trembling; ¹³ for ^(ASE)it is God who works in you both to will and to do ^(ASF)for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things ^(ASG)without ^[hg]complaining and ^(ASH)disputing,^{[hh] 15} that you may become blameless and ^[hi]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as ^(ASI)lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that ^(ASJ)I may rejoice in the day of Christ that ^(ASK)I have not run in vain or labored in ^(ASL)vain.

¹⁷ Yes, and if ^(ASM)I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice ^(ASN)and service of your faith, ^(ASO)I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy Commended

¹⁹ But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send ^(ASP)Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your ^[hj]state. ²⁰ For I have no one ^(ASQ)like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. ²¹ For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know his proven character, ^(ASR)that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. ²³ Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. ²⁴ But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

Epaphroditus Praised

²⁵ Yet I considered it necessary to send to you ^(ASS)Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and ^(AST)fellow soldier, ^(ASU)but your messenger and ^(ASV)the one who ministered to my need; ^26 (ASW)since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. ²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; ³⁰ because for the work of Christ he came close to death, ^[hk]not regarding his life, ^(ASX)to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

All for Christ

3 Finally, my brethren, ^(ASY)rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

^2 (ASZ)Beware of dogs, beware of ^(ATA)evil workers, ^(ATB)beware of the mutilation! ³ For we are ^(ATC)the circumcision, ^(ATD)who worship ^[hl]God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, ⁴ though ^(ATE)I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I ^(ATF)more so: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, ^(ATG)of the tribe of Benjamin, ^(ATH)a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, ^(ATI)a Pharisee; ⁶ concerning zeal, ^(ATJ)persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But ^(ATK)what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss ^(ATL)for 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 ^(ATM)my own righteousness, which is from the law, but ^(ATN)that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the ^(ATO)power of His resurrection, and ^(ATP)the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may ^(ATQ)attain^[hm] to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already ^(ATR)attained,^[hn] or am already ^(ATS)perfected; 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 ^[ho]apprehended; but one thing I do, ^(ATT)forgetting those things which are behind and ^(ATU)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ^14 (ATV)I press toward the goal for the prize of ^(ATW)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are ^(ATX)mature, ^(ATY)have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, ^(ATZ)God will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already ^[hp]attained, ^(AUA)let us walk ^(AUB)by the same ^[hq]rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

¹⁷ Brethren, ^(AUC)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as ^(AUD)you 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 ^(AUE)the enemies of the cross of Christ: ^19 (AUF)whose end is destruction, ^(AUG)whose god is their belly, and ^(AUH)whose glory is in their shame—^(AUI)who set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰ For ^(AUJ)our citizenship is in heaven, ^(AUK)from which we also ^(AUL)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (AUM)who will transform our lowly body that it may be ^(AUN)conformed to His glorious body, ^(AUO)according to the working by which He is able even to ^(AUP)subdue all things to Himself.

Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts

4 Therefore, my beloved and ^(AUQ)longed-for brethren, ^(AUR)my joy and crown, so ^(AUS)stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche ^(AUT)to be of the same mind in the Lord. ^3 [hr]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who ^(AUU)labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in ^(AUV)the Book of Life.

^4 (AUW)Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

⁵ Let your ^[hs]gentleness be known to all men. ^(AUX)The Lord is at hand.

^6 (AUY)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with ^(AUZ)thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and ^(AVA)the 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 ^(AVB)true, whatever things are ^(AVC)noble, whatever things are ^(AVD)just, ^(AVE)whatever things are pure, whatever things are ^(AVF)lovely, 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 ^(AVG)the God of peace will be with you.

Philippian Generosity

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last ^(AVH)your^[ht] care 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, ^(AVI)to be content: ^12 (AVJ)I know how to ^[hu]be abased, and I know how to ^[hv]abound. 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 ^(AVK)through ^[hw]Christ who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that ^(AVL)you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, ^(AVM)no 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 ^(AVN)the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I ^[hx]have all and abound. I am full, having received from ^(AVO)Epaphroditus the things sent from you, ^(AVP)a sweet-smelling aroma, ^(AVQ)an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God ^(AVR)shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ^20 (AVS)Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren ^(AVT)who 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 ^[hy]you all. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(AVU)an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To the saints ^(AVV)and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:

^(AVW)Grace to you and peace from God our Father ^[hz]and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Faith in Christ

^3 (AVX)We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ^4 (AVY)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of ^(AVZ)your love for all the saints; ⁵ because of the hope ^(AWA)which 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, ^(AWB)as it has also in all the world, and ^(AWC)is bringing forth ^[ia]fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew ^(AWD)the grace of God in truth; ⁷ as you also learned from ^(AWE)Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is ^(AWF)a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, ⁸ who also declared to us your ^(AWG)love in the Spirit.

Preeminence of Christ

^9 (AWH)For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask ^(AWI)that you may be filled with ^(AWJ)the knowledge of His will ^(AWK)in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ^10 (AWL)that you may walk worthy of the Lord, ^(AWM)fully pleasing Him, ^(AWN)being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the ^(AWO)knowledge of God; ^11 (AWP)strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, ^(AWQ)for all patience and longsuffering ^(AWR)with joy; ^12 (AWS)giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of ^(AWT)the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from ^(AWU)the power of darkness ^(AWV)and ^[ib]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ^14 (AWW)in whom we have redemption ^[ic]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ He is ^(AWX)the image of the invisible God, ^(AWY)the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For ^(AWZ)by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or ^(AXA)dominions or ^[id]principalities or ^[ie]powers. All things were created ^(AXB)through Him and for Him. ^17 (AXC)And He is before all things, and in Him ^(AXD)all things consist. ¹⁸ And ^(AXE)He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, ^(AXF)the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that ^(AXG)in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and ^(AXH)by Him to reconcile ^(AXI)all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, ^(AXJ)having made peace through the blood of His cross.

²¹ And you, ^(AXK)who once were alienated and enemies in your mind ^(AXL)by wicked works, yet now He has ^(AXM)reconciled ^22 (AXN)in the body of His flesh through death, ^(AXO)to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— ²³ if indeed you continue ^(AXP)in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are ^(AXQ)not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, ^(AXR)which was preached to every creature under heaven, ^(AXS)of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Sacrificial Service for Christ

^24 (AXT)I now rejoice in my sufferings ^(AXU)for you, and fill up in my flesh ^(AXV)what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for ^(AXW)the sake of His body, which is the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to ^(AXX)the ^[if]stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, ^26 (AXY)the ^[ig]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, ^(AXZ)but now has been revealed to His saints. ^27 (AYA)To them God willed to make known what are ^(AYB)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: ^[ih]which is ^(AYC)Christ in you, ^(AYD)the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, ^(AYE)warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, ^(AYF)that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me ^(AYG)mightily.

Not Philosophy but Christ

2 For I want you to know what a great ^(AYH)conflict^[ii] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, ^[ij]both of the Father and of Christ, ^3 (AYI)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

⁴ Now this I say ^(AYJ)lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. ⁵ For ^(AYK)though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[ik]to see ^(AYL)your good order and the ^(AYM)steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

^6 (AYN)As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ^7 (AYO)rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding ^[il]in it with thanksgiving.

⁸ Beware lest anyone ^[im]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to ^(AYP)the tradition of men, according to the ^(AYQ)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For ^(AYR)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead ^[in]bodily;