Bible in 90 Days

²⁶ Children of God in Christ. Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in Christ. ²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free man, there is no longer male or female. For all of you are one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are the offspring of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.

Chapter 4

Set Free by Christ. ¹ What I am saying is that as long as an heir is a minor, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the owner of it all. ² He remains under the supervision of guardians and trustees until the date designated by the father. ³ This is also true of us. As long as we were children, we were enslaved to the forces of this world.

⁴ However, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, ⁵ in order to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, crying out “Abba! Father!” ⁷ Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son; and if you are a son, then through God you are also an heir.

No Return to Slavery.^{[a] 8} Previously, when you did not know God, you were slaves to forces who were not really gods at all. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God—or rather to be known by God—how can you turn back once again to those powerless and destitute forces? How can you consider becoming enslaved once again? ¹⁰ You even observe special days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ Now I am afraid for you, that I have labored among you in vain.

¹² Appeal To Enter into Freedom from the Law. I beg you, brethren, to be like me, just as I have become like you. You never did me any wrong. ¹³ As you remember, it was because of illness^[b] that I originally preached the gospel to you. ¹⁴ And though my illness was a trial to you, it did not lead to any scorn or revulsion; rather, you welcomed me as an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

¹⁵ What has become of your blessedness? For I can testify that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy because I have told you the truth?

¹⁷ Others are seeking to curry your favor, but they are not sincere. They are attempting to alienate you from us so that you may make them the sole object of your attention. ¹⁸ It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not just when I am in your presence. ¹⁹ You are my children, and I am experiencing the pain of giving birth to you all over again, until Christ is formed in you. ²⁰ I truly wish that I could be with you now and be able to alter my approach to you, because I do not know what to think about you.

²¹ Sarah and Hagar Foreshadow the Two Covenants.^[c] And so tell me, you who are so eager to be subject to the Law: why do you not listen to the Law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. ²³ The son by the slave woman was born through the flesh. The son by the free woman was born through a promise.

²⁴ Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One covenant is given on Mount Sinai and bears children who are born into slavery; this is Hagar. ²⁵ Hagar stands for Sinai, a mountain in Arabia, and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, for she is in slavery together with her children. ²⁶ However, the Jerusalem that is above is the free woman, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ Now you, brethren, are, like Isaac, the children of the promise. ²⁹ But just as in those days the child who was born through the flesh persecuted the child who was born through the Spirit, so is it now also. ³⁰ However, what does Scripture say?

³¹ Therefore, brethren, we are the children not of the slave woman but of the free woman.

There Is No Freedom Except in Christ^[d]

Chapter 5

Faith Expressing Itself through Love. ¹ It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, stand firm and refuse to submit again to the yoke of slavery.

² Listen to me! I, Paul, tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you. ³ Once again, I testify that every man who accepts circumcision is under obligation to observe the entire Law. ⁴ Those of you who seek to be justified by the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For it is through the Spirit and by faith that we eagerly hope to attain righteousness, ⁶ since in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor lack of circumcision is worth anything. All that matters is faith expressing itself through love.

Against Being Misled. ⁷ You were running a good race. Who kept you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This change did not come from the one who called you. ⁹ A little yeast leavens the entire batch of dough. ¹⁰ I am confident of you in the Lord that none of you will think differently, and that anyone who is trying to confuse you will be condemned, no matter who it is.

¹¹ As for me, brethren, if I were still advocating circumcision,^[e] why would I continue to be persecuted? If I were doing that, the cross would no longer be a stumbling block. ¹² I wish that those who are confusing you would even castrate themselves!

¹³ Proper Use of Freedom. Brethren, you were called to freedom. However, make sure that you do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Instead, serve one another in love. ¹⁴ For the entire Law can be summed up^[f] in a single commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you continue biting and tearing one another to pieces, at least be on your guard lest you be consumed by one another.

¹⁶ Hence, I advise you to be guided by the Spirit, so that you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the Spirit, and those of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh. They are in conflict with one another, so that you cannot do what you want. ¹⁸ But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

^19 [g]Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you previously, that no one who does such things will inherit the kingdom of God.

^22 [h]In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. ²⁶ We should not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be envious of one another.

Chapter 6

The Law of Christ.^{[i] 1} Brethren, if anyone is detected committing a transgression, you who are spiritual must set him right in a spirit of gentleness. Meanwhile, you should take care so that you yourselves are not tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

³ If anyone thinks he is something when in fact he is nothing, he is only deceiving himself. ⁴ Each person must examine his own work. Then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone and not in comparison with someone else. ⁵ For everyone has his own burden to bear.

⁶ Anyone who is being taught should give his teacher a share in all his possessions. ⁷ Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A person will reap only what he sows. ⁸ The one who sows in his flesh will reap a harvest of corruption, but the one who sows in the Spirit will reap from the Spirit the reward of eternal life.

⁹ Let us never grow weary in doing what is right, for if we do not give up, we will reap our harvest in due time. ¹⁰ Therefore, while we have the opportunity, let us labor for the good of all, but especially for those members of the household of the faith.

Conclusion^[j]

¹¹ The Cross of Christ, Our True Boast. Observe what large letters I make when I am writing to you in my own handwriting. ¹² It is those who want to gain human approval who are trying to compel you to be circumcised, their sole purpose being to escape persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the Law. They want you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

¹⁴ May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world is crucified to me and I to the world. ¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is important, but only a new creation.

¹⁶ Blessing and a Plea. May peace and mercy be given to all who follow this rule, and to the Israel of God.^[k]

¹⁷ In the future, let no one make trouble for me, for I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

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

Introduction

Chapter 1

Address and Greeting.^{[l] 1} Paul, by the will of God an apostle of Christ Jesus, to the saints who are in Ephesus^[m] and are faithful in Christ Jesus. ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Risen Christ, Lord and Savior of the Whole Human Race^[n]

God’s Glorious Plan of Salvation^[o]

Conceived by the Father

Realized by the Son

Fulfilled by the Holy Spirit

The Church’s Unity with Christ^[s]

Christ, Head of the Church. Having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I therefore never cease to give thanks to God for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know him.

¹⁸ I further pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, how rich and glorious is his inheritance^[t] in the saints, ¹⁹ and how immeasurably great is the power that he has exercised toward those who have faith.

Chapter 2

Christ Brought Us from Death to Life.^{[u] 1} You formerly were dead as a result of your transgressions and sins, ² which were your way of life in this worldly era,^[v] obeying the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit that is now at work among the children of rebellion. ³ We too were all numbered among them at one time. We were ruled by our sinful nature, succumbing to the temptations of the flesh and desires. And like all others, we were by nature children of wrath.

⁴ But God is rich in his mercy, and because he had such great love for us, ⁵ he brought us to life with Christ when we were already dead through sin—it is by grace that you have been saved. ⁶ He raised us up in union with Christ Jesus and enthroned us with him in the heavens, ⁷ so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace evidenced by his mercy to us in Christ Jesus.

^8 [w]For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. This has not come from you but from the gift of God. ⁹ It does not come from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for a life of good works that God had prepared for us to do.

¹¹ Jews and Gentiles Reconciled in the Church.^[x] Therefore, do not forget that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcised by those who refer to themselves as the circumcised because of a physical rite. ¹² Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, excluded from the community of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants^[y] of promise. You were in the world without hope and without God.

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

¹⁹ As a result, you are no longer strangers and foreigners. Rather, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ Through him the entire structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Commission To Preach the Mystery^[aa]

Chapter 3

The Mystery Made Known. ¹ This is the reason why I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—^{[ab] 2} For you surely must have heard of the mystery of God’s grace that was entrusted to me on your behalf, ³ and how the mystery was made known to me by a revelation, as I have briefly written. ⁴ Reading this, you will be able to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.

⁵ It was not disclosed to human beings in previous generations, but now it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, ⁶ namely that the Gentiles have become coheirs, members of the same body, and sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Mission to the Gentiles. ⁷ I became its minister by God’s grace bestowed on me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ ⁹ and to enlighten all concerning the administration of the mystery that had been kept hidden throughout the ages in God, the creator of all things.

¹⁰ In this way, the wisdom of God in its infinite variety might be made known through the Church to the principalities and powers in the heavens. ¹¹ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have free access to God in boldness and confidence because of our faith in him. ¹³ Therefore, I beg you not to lose heart over my sufferings for you. Truly, they are your glory.

¹⁴ Prayer for a Deeper Faith. This is the reason why I kneel in prayer before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[ac] in heaven and on earth takes its name. ¹⁶ I ask that from the riches of his glory he may grant through his Spirit that you be strengthened with power in your inner being ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that, rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ you may have the power to comprehend with all the saints its breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and know Christ’s love even though it is beyond knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

New Life in the Church

For Christians in General^[ad]

Chapter 4

Christian Unity and Maturity.^{[ae] 1} Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I implore you to behave in a manner worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in a spirit of love. ³ Make every possible effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, as well as one hope to which you have been called by your vocation, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But each of us was given grace according to the measure in which Christ allotted it. ⁸ Therefore, it is written,

⁹ Now the word “ascended” implies that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth. ¹⁰ The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.

¹¹ It was he who established some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,^{[af] 12} to equip the saints for the work of ministry in building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until all of us attain to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to full maturity, as measured by the full stature of Christ.

¹⁴ In this way, we will no longer be like children, tossed back and forth by the waves and swept along by every new wind of teaching, emanating from human cunning and craftiness and leading people into error. ¹⁵ Rather, professing truth and love, we will in all things grow into him who is the head, Christ. ¹⁶ From him, the entire body, joined and held together by every ligament, continues to grow and to build itself up in love, as each part performs its particular function.

¹⁷ The Newness of the Christian Life. Therefore, I declare and attest in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have abandoned themselves to vice, committing every kind of impurity in growing excess.

²⁰ That is not how you learned Christ. ²¹ Clearly, you were told about him and were taught what the truth is in Jesus. ²² You were taught to cast aside the old self of your former way of life that had been corrupted by its captivating desires. ²³ You are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to clothe yourselves with the new self created in God’s image, in the way of uprightness and holiness that belong to the truth.

²⁵ A Life Based on Love. Therefore, cease your lying and speak the truth to each other, for we are all members of one another. ²⁶ If you are angry, do not sin. Do not let the sun set on your anger, ²⁷ and do not give the devil an opening. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must no longer do so; rather, let him labor, performing some honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹ Let no foul word ever pass your lips. Say only what is useful for edification, so that your words may benefit your listeners. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal for the day of redemption. ³¹ Remove all forms of bitterness and wrath and anger and shouting and slander, as well as all malice from your lives. ³² Rather, be kind to one another and compassionate, and forgive one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

Chapter 5

¹ Hence, be imitators of God, as beloved children, ² and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a sacrificial offering whose fragrance is pleasing to God.

Sins To Avoid. ³ Indeed, fornication and impurity of any kind, as well as greed, should not even be mentioned among you. Such talk is not fitting for saints. ⁴ You should never engage in any obscene or foolish or suggestive conversation. All this is completely out of place. Instead, you should rather be engaged in offering thanks to God.

⁵ You can be absolutely certain that no immoral or impure person or one who is greedy—that is, an idolater—will have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

⁶ Let no one deceive you with worthless arguments. These are the very things that bring down the wrath of God on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Do not associate with them.

Christians Are Children of Light. ⁸ Once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, ⁹ for light produces all goodness and righteousness and truth. ¹⁰ Discern what the Lord finds pleasing. ¹¹ Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather seek to expose them.

¹² For it is shameful even to speak of what deeds people do in secret. ¹³ However, everything that is exposed by the light is made visible, ¹⁴ and whatever is made visible is light. Therefore, it is said,^[ag]

¹⁵ Therefore, take care to live as intelligent people, and do not be like those who are senseless. ¹⁶ Make the most of the present time, for this is a wicked age. ¹⁷ Do not be foolish, but recognize what is the will of the Lord. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which can lead to debauchery.

Rather, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with one another. Sing and chant to the Lord in your hearts, ²⁰ giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ and Christian Spouses^[ah]

Be Subject to One Another in Christ. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. ²² Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church, the body of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also wives must be subject to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Love One Another in Christ. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ in order to sanctify her by cleansing her with water and the word,^{[ai] 27} in order to present the Church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such flaw, but holy and without the slightest blemish.

²⁸ In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own body; rather, he nourishes it and cares for it, even as Christ does for the Church, ³⁰ because we are members of his body.

³² This is a great mystery. Here I am applying it to Christ and the Church. ³³ However, each one of you should love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

Chapter 6

Christ and the Members of the Household^[aj]

Children and Parents. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for it is only right that you should do so. ² “Honor your father and your mother.” This is the first commandment that is connected with a promise: ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth.”

⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters. ⁵ Slaves, be constant in your unwavering obedience to your earthly masters with fear and trembling and with the same heartfelt sincerity that you show to Christ. ⁶ Do this not just when they are watching you, as if you only had to please human beings, but as slaves of Christ, wholeheartedly carrying out the will of God. ⁷ Do your work willingly, as for the Lord and not for human beings, ⁸ knowing that whatever good we may do, whether as slaves or as free men, we will be repaid by the Lord.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves fairly. Stop threatening them. Remember that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and he shows no favoritism.

The Christian Warfare^[ak]

¹⁰ Put On the Armor of God. Finally, find your strength in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the deceit of the devil. ¹² For we are not struggling against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, the powers, and the cosmic rulers of this present darkness, and against the spirits of evil in the heavens.

¹³ Therefore, put on the armor of God, so that you will be able to hold fast on the evil day and to hold your ground with all your strength. ¹⁴ Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness clothing you, ¹⁵ and with your feet shod in zeal to proclaim the gospel of peace.

¹⁶ In all circumstances, hold in your hand the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation as well as the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Be Vigilant in Prayer. In all of your prayers and entreaties, pray always in the Spirit. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, so that whenever I open my mouth, I may be given the proper words to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as is my duty.

Conclusion^[al]

²¹ A Personal Message. So that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord, will keep you informed. ²² I am sending him to you for this specific purpose, so that you will know how we are and that your hearts may be encouraged.

²³ Final Greeting. May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grant peace and love with faith to all the brethren.

²⁴ Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying devotion.

Introduction

Chapter 1

Address.^{[am] 1} Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with their bishops and deacons: ² grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Joyful Prayer for the Philippians.^{[an] 3} I give thanks to my God every time I think of you. ⁴ I always pray for you, interceding for you with joy ⁵ because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am confident of this: that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.^[ao]

⁷ It is only right for me to feel this way toward you, because I hold you in my heart, for you have all shared with me in God’s grace, both during my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ Indeed, God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And for this I pray: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and full insight ¹⁰ to enable you to discover what is really important, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, ¹¹ filled with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

News and Instructions

¹² To Live Is Christ.^[ap] Brethren, I want you to know that what has happened to me has actually helped spread the gospel, ¹³ for my imprisonment has become known not only throughout the praetorium^[aq] but to everyone else as well. ¹⁴ And the majority of the brethren having taken encouragement in the Lord from my imprisonment, dare more than ever to proclaim the word without fear.

¹⁵ It is true that some are proclaiming Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others are doing so with goodwill. ¹⁶ These latter ones do so out of love, aware that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not in sincerity, but in an effort to increase my suffering while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter, as long as in every way, with false motives or true, that Christ is proclaimed? And in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and with the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in deliverance for me. ²⁰ It is my firm expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but will act with complete fearlessness, now as always, so that Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by my life or by my death.

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.^{[ar] 22} But if I continue living in the body, that will mean fruitful work for me. Hence, I do not know which I should choose. ²³ I am pulled in opposite directions. My desire is to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far better, ²⁴ but, it is a more urgent need for you that I remain in the body.

²⁵ Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with all of you to ensure your progress and joy in the faith. ²⁶ Thus, you will rebound with joy in Christ Jesus when I return to be with you once again.

²⁷ Striving and Suffering for Christ.^[as] Only live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or simply hear news of you from a distance, I will know that you are standing firm and united in spirit, striving together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and being in no way intimidated by those who oppose you.

This will be a clear sign to them of their forthcoming destruction as well as of your salvation. All of this is in accord with God’s design. ²⁹ For it has been granted you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. ³⁰ You are taking part in the same struggle that you have seen in me and that you now hear I am experiencing.^[at]

Chapter 2

Unity and Humility.^{[au] 1} Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, any comfort in love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love for one another, and united in thought. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly regard others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Be concerned not only with your own interests but also with those of others.

⁵ Let your attitude be identical to that of Christ Jesus.

The Humbled and Exalted Christ^[av]

¹² Innocence of the Children of God.^[ay] Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always been obedient when I am present, you must be so all the more now when I am absent, as you work out your salvation in fear and trembling.^{[az] 13} For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to desire and to act for his chosen purpose.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may show yourselves blameless and beyond reproach, children of God without spot in the midst of an evil and depraved generation, among which you shine like lights in the world ¹⁶ as you hold fast tenaciously to the word of life. Then I will have cause to boast of you on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor to no purpose.

¹⁷ But even if my blood is to be poured out as a libation upon the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way, you too must rejoice and share your joy with me.

¹⁹ Timothy Commended.^[ba]I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by hearing news of you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him in his genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ All the others serve their own interests more than those of Jesus Christ.

²² His reputation is well known to you. Like a son helping his father, he has worked with me in the service of the gospel. ²³ I hope to send him to you as soon as I see how things will go with me. ²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord that I myself shall also come before long.

²⁵ Epaphroditus Praised. I have also decided that it is necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother and coworker and fellow soldier, who was your messenger and ministered to my needs. ²⁶ He has missed all of you and been greatly distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷ And indeed he was dangerously ill and close to death. However, God had mercy on him—and not merely on him but on me as well, so that I would not have to endure one sorrow on top of another.

²⁸ Therefore, I am all the more eager to send him in order that you may rejoice on seeing him again and I may thereby feel less anxious. ²⁹ Receive him joyfully in the Lord, and value people like him very highly. ³⁰ For he came perilously close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to render me those services that you were unable to provide.

Chapter 3

¹ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

Warning against False Teachers

Worship by the Spirit.^[bb] I do not mind writing the same things to you again; it is for your safety.

² Beware of the dogs!^[bc] Beware of evil-doers! Beware of those who mutilate the flesh! ³ For we are the circumcision,^[bd] we who worship by the Spirit of God and who boast in Christ Jesus and do not place any confidence in the flesh— ⁴ even though I too have reason for confidence in the flesh.

Joyous Sacrifice of All Things for Christ.^[be] If anyone thinks that he has reasons to be confident in the flesh, I have more! ⁵ I was circumcised on the eighth day of my life. I was one of the people of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin.^[bf] I am a Hebrew and the son of Hebrews. In regard to the Law, I was a Pharisee; ⁶ in regard to religious zeal, I was a persecutor of the Church; in regard to righteousness under the Law, I was without fault.

⁷ All these I once regarded as assets, but now I have come to regard them as losses because of Christ. ⁸ Even more than that, I count everything as loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all other things, and I regard them as so much rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him.

I do not wish to have any righteousness of my own based on the Law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness given by God in response to faith. ¹⁰ All I want is to come to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share in his sufferings by becoming conformed to his death, ¹¹ so that I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Racing toward the Goal.^[bg] It is not that I have already attained this or have yet reached perfection. But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ once took hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not claim to have taken hold of it as yet. Only this one thing: forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the finishing line to win the heavenly prize to which God has called me in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Those of us who are mature should adopt this same attitude. If on any matter you have a different point of view, this too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold fast in our conduct to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Our Citizenship Is in Heaven.^[bh] Brethren, join in imitating me,^[bi] and take note of those who conduct themselves in accord with the model you have in us. ¹⁸ As I have told you before, and now remind you with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction. Their god is their stomach. Their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven,^[bj] and from there we await our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be conformed to his glorified body by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

Chapter 4

¹ Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and for whom I long, my joy and crown: stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

Counsels and Thanksgiving

Christian Concord.^{[bk] 2} I exhort both Euodia and Syntyche to come to a mutual understanding in the Lord. ³ I also ask you, my loyal companion Syzygus, to help these women, for they have struggled alongside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice without Ceasing.^{[bl] 4} Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your kindness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but present your needs to God in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. ⁷ Then the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

All That Is Truly Human Is Christian.^{[bm] 8} Finally, brethren, let your minds be filled with whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, whatever is excellent, whatever is worthy of praise. ⁹ Do the things that you have learned, received, and heard from me and that you saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Acknowledgment of the Community’s Gift^[bn]

¹⁰ Contentment in Any Circumstances. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you have renewed your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I do not say this because I have been in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.

¹² I know how to live with little, and I know how to live with plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. ¹³ I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Philippian Generosity. Even so, it was kind of you to share my difficulties. ¹⁵ You Philippians are aware that in the early days of the gospel^[bo] when I set out from Macedonia, not a single Church other than yours shared with me in giving and receiving. ¹⁶ Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me something for my needs on more than one occasion.

¹⁷ Do not think that it is the gift that I value most. What I desire is for the interest to mount up in your account. ¹⁸ I have been paid in full and have more than enough. I am satisfied now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God.^{[bp] 19} And my God will fully supply all your needs out of the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ Doxology. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion

²¹ Final Greetings.^[bq] Give my greetings to every one of the saints in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me send their greetings to you, ²² as do all the saints here, especially those in the emperor’s service.

²³ Benediction.^[br] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Introduction

Chapter 1

Address. ¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² to the saints^[bs] and faithful brethren in Christ in Colossae. May God our Father grant you grace and peace.

A Community Pervaded by the Gospel.^{[bt] 3} In all our prayers for you we always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints ⁵ because of the hope that is stored up for you in heaven. You had learned of this hope through the word of truth, the gospel,^{[bu] 6} that has come down to you.

Just as it is bearing fruit and growing throughout the entire world, so it has been bearing fruit among you, ever since the day when you heard it and came to understand the grace of God in truth. ⁷ You learned this from Epaphras,^[bv] our beloved fellow servant and a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. ⁸ He was also the one who made known to us your love in the Spirit.

⁹ That is why, ever since the day we first heard about it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ And we ask this so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord and become fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and continuing to grow in the knowledge of God.

¹¹ May you be fortified with the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be granted patience and endurance, while joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.^{[bw] 13} He has rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Supremacy of Christ

In Christ, through Him, and for Him^[bx]

²¹ Christ among the Gentiles.^[bz]You yourselves were once alienated and hostile in your intent because of your evil deeds. ²² But now, through Christ’s death in his body of flesh, God has reconciled you to himself so that you may stand holy, blameless, and irreproachable in his presence.

²³ However, you must persevere in the faith, firmly grounded and steadfast in your belief, and never allowing yourselves to drift away from the hope of the gospel that you accepted and that has now been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, the gospel of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

²⁴ Christ’s Suffering in His People. I find great joy at present in suffering for you, and in my own body I am completing the sufferings that still must be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.^{[ca] 25} I was made a minister of that Church, with the commission given to me by God to make fully known to you the word of God, ²⁶ the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and from past generations but that now has been revealed to his saints.

²⁷ To these God chose to make known how rich is the priceless glory that this mystery brings to the Gentiles—Christ in you, your hope of glory.^{[cb] 28} It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing and instructing everyone in all wisdom so that we may present everyone to Christ in a state of perfection. ²⁹ For this I labor and struggle with all his energy working within me mightily.

Chapter 2

Closely United in Love.^{[cc] 1} I want you to realize how greatly I am struggling for you as well as for those in Laodicea^[cd] and all the others who have never seen me face to face. ² I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love so that they may grow rich in their complete understanding as they come to the knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

⁴ I am telling you all this so that no one may deceive you with deceptive arguments. ⁵ Even if I am not physically present to you, I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your unity and the resolute firmness of your faith in Christ.

Instruction about Errors That Are Circulating

Walk in Christ.^{[ce] 6} Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him. ⁷ Be rooted and built up in him, and remain established in the faith as you were taught, overflowing with thanksgiving. ⁸ Make sure that no one leads you astray with an empty and deceitful philosophy that depends on human tradition^[cf] and worldly principles, and not on Christ.

God Has Given You Life in Christ. ⁹ For it is in him that the entire fullness of deity dwells in bodily form,^{[cg] 10} and you share this fullness in him who is the head of every ruler and power. ¹¹ In him also you were circumcised, not with a physical circumcision but with a spiritual stripping away of the old nature with the circumcision of Christ.

¹² When you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And even when you were dead in your sins and your flesh was uncircumcised, God gave you new life along with him. He has forgiven us all our sins, ¹⁴ erasing the record against us^[ch] with its decrees that are hostile to us. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ Disarming the rulers and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, parading them in his triumphal procession.

¹⁶ The Reality Is Christ.^[ci] Therefore, do not allow anyone to pass judgment on you in regard to what you eat or drink, or about the observance of Festivals, New Moons, or Sabbaths.^{[cj] 17} These are only a shadow of what is to come. The reality is Christ.

¹⁸ Do not allow yourself to be declared disqualified by those who revel in false humility and worship angels and visions, their vanity foolishly inflated by a human way of thinking. ¹⁹ They are not united with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, achieves the growth that comes from God.

²⁰ Since you died with Christ to the elemental principles of this world, why are you living in the world as if you were subject to it? ²¹ “Do not handle!” “Do not taste!” “Do not touch!” ²² All this refers to things that perish as they are used. They are simply human commands and teachings. ²³ Rules of this type indeed appear to be wise in promoting self-imposed piety, false humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they are of no value in combating the flesh.

Exhortation To Live as Christians

Chapter 3

Seek the Things That Are Above.^{[ck] 1} Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. ² Fix your thoughts on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth, ³ for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

A New Self.^{[cl] 5} And so you should put to death everything in your nature that is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed (which is idolatry).^{[cm] 6} Because of these practices, the wrath of God will fall on those who are disobedient. ⁷ In the life you formerly lived, you used to do these things. ⁸ But now you must cast them all aside—anger, rage, malice, slander, and foul language out of your lips.

⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have stripped off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self that is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ¹¹ Now there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian and Scythian,^[cn] slave and free man. Rather, Christ is all and in all.

¹² Characteristics of Life in Common.^[co] As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Bear with one another, and forgive one another if anyone has reason to be offended with another. You must forgive just as the Lord has forgiven you.

¹⁴ Over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it was for this that you were called together in one body. Always be thankful.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ^[cp] with all its richness dwell in you. Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

¹⁸ The Christian Family.^[cq]Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not treat them harshly. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they lose heart.

²² Slaves and Masters. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only when you are being observed or in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, out of reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as if you were doing it for the Lord and not for others, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive from the Lord an inheritance as your reward for you are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But anyone who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done. There will not be any favoritism shown.

Chapter 4

¹ Masters, be just and fair in your treatment of your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

Assiduous Prayer.^{[cr] 2} Persevere in prayer, with alert minds and thankful hearts. ³ At the same time, pray for us too, so that God may open a door to us to proclaim the word, the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it as clearly as I should.

Christian Behavior.^{[cs] 5} Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of your opportunity. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious and seasoned with wisdom, so that you will know how to respond properly to all.

Conclusion

Tychicus and Onesimus.^{[ct] 7} Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you will know how we are and that he may cheer your hearts. ⁹ He will be accompanied by Onesimus, our trustworthy and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything that has happened here.

¹⁰ Paul’s Coworkers. Aristarchus,^[cu] my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, make him welcome.) ¹¹ And Jesus who is called Justus also greets you. Of all those who are of the circumcision, these are the only ones who are working with me for the kingdom of God, and they have been a great comfort to me.

¹² Epaphras sends you greetings. He is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, and he is always pleading earnestly in his prayers on your behalf so that you may seek perfection and fulfill the will of God. ¹³ I can testify for him that he has worked tirelessly for you and those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.^{[cv] 14} Luke,^[cw] the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.

¹⁵ Notes for the Laodiceans. Give my greetings to the brethren in Laodicea, and to Nymphas^[cx] and the Church in her house. ¹⁶ Then when this letter has been read to you, see to it that it is also read to the Church at Laodicea; and I ask you in turn to read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. ¹⁷ Also tell Archippus:^[cy] “See that you carry out fully the ministry that you received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ Paul’s Signature.^[cz] I, Paul, write this farewell in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.