Bible in 90 Days

²⁶ For you are all sons of God through trusting in Messiah Yeshua. ²⁷ For all of you who were immersed in Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. ²⁹ And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed—heirs according to the promise.

Living as Heirs

4 Now I am saying, so long as the heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the owner of everything. ² Instead, he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were subservient to the basic principles of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law— ⁵ to free those under law, so we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ Now because you are sons, God sent the Ruach of His Son into our hearts, who cries out, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave but a son—and if a son, also an heir through God. ^{[a] 8} But at that time, when you did not know God, you served those who by nature are not gods at all. ⁹ But now you have come to know God—or rather you have come to be known by God. So how can you turn back again to those weak and worthless principles? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain!

¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong— ¹³ you know it was because of a physical ailment that I proclaimed the Good News to you the first time; ¹⁴ and though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not hate or reject me. No, you welcomed me as a messenger of God—or even as Messiah Yeshua. ¹⁵ So where is your sense of joy? For I testify that you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me, if possible. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?! ¹⁷ Others zealously court you—not in a good way, but they wish to shut you out so that you will court them. ¹⁸ To be courted is good, but let it always be in a good way—and not just when I am there with you. ¹⁹ My dear children! Again I suffer labor pains until Messiah is formed in you. ²⁰ I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, for I don’t know what to make of you.

Midrash on Abraham’s Two Sons

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under Torah, don’t you understand^[b] the Torah? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. ^{[c] 23} But one—the son by the slave woman—was born naturally;^[d] while the other—the son by the free woman—was through the promise. ²⁴ Now these things are being treated allegorically, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, giving birth to slavery—this is Hagar. ²⁵ But this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery along with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem above is free—she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters—like Isaac, you are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Ruach, so it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son”^[f] of the free woman. ³¹ So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

Freedom Based on Favor

5 For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again. ² Listen—I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Messiah will be of no benefit to you. ³ Again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised, that he is obligated to keep the whole Torah. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by Torah^[g] have been cut off from Messiah; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Ruach, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Messiah Yeshua, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any meaning—but only trust and faithfulness expressing itself through love.

⁷ You were running a great race! Who blocked you from following the truth? ⁸ This detour doesn’t come from the One who calls you. ⁹ A little hametz works its way through the whole batch of dough! ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ As for me, brothers and sisters, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. ¹² I only wish those who are agitating you would castrate themselves!^[h]

Walking by the Ruach

¹³ Brothers and sisters, you were called to freedom—only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole Torah can be summed up in a single saying: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ^{[i] 15} But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not destroyed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Ruach, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Ruach, but the Ruach sets its desire against the flesh—for these are in opposition to one another, so that you cannot do what you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Ruach, you are not under law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, ²⁰ idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, just as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit God’s kingdom. ²² But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Messiah^[j] have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Ruach, let us also walk by the Ruach. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited—provoking one another, envying one another.

Bearing Burdens

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught doing something wrong, you who are directed by the Ruach, restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness—looking closely at yourself so you are not tempted also. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the Torah of Messiah. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is fooling himself. ⁴ Rather let each one examine his own work. Then he will have pride in himself alone and not in comparison to anyone else. ⁵ For each one will carry his own load.

⁶ Now let the one who is taught the word share all good things with his teacher. ⁷ Do not be deceived—God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also shall reap. ⁸ For the one who sows in the flesh will reap corruption from the flesh.^[k] But the one who sows in the Ruach will reap from the Ruach eternal life. ⁹ So let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good toward all^[l]—especially those who belong to the household of faith.

Living under God’s Favor

¹¹ Notice the large letters—I am writing to you with my own hand. ¹² Those wanting to look good outwardly^[m] are trying to force you to be circumcised—only so they will not be persecuted for the cross of Messiah. ¹³ For not even the circumcised keep Torah themselves. Yet they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. ¹⁴ But may I never boast—except in the cross of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Through Him the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means^[n] anything—but only a new creation. ¹⁶ Now as many as live by this rule^[o]—shalom and mercy on them and on the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one make trouble for me, for I bear on my body the scars^[p] of Yeshua.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Greetings

1 Paul, an emissary of Messiah Yeshua by God’s will,

To the kedoshim in Ephesus^[q]—those trusting in Messiah Yeshua:

² Grace and shalom to you, from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah!

God’s Glorious Grace

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah. ⁴ He chose us in the Messiah before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him in love. ⁵ He predestined us for adoption as sons through Messiah Yeshua, in keeping with the good pleasure of His will— ⁶ to the glorious praise of His grace, with which He favored us through the One He loves!

⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood—the removal of trespasses—in keeping with the richness of His grace ⁸ that He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight, ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, in keeping with His good pleasure that He planned in Messiah. ¹⁰ The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah—both things in heaven and things on earth, all in Him. ¹¹ In Him we also were chosen,^[r] predestined according to His plan. He keeps working out all things according to the purpose of His will— ¹² so that we, who were first to put our hope in Messiah, might be for His glorious praise.

¹³ After you heard the message of truth—the Good News of your salvation—and when you put your trust in Him, you were sealed with the promised Ruach ha-Kodesh. ¹⁴ He is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of His possession—to His glorious praise!

God’s Glorious Power Working in Us

¹⁵ Therefore, ever since I heard of your trust in the Lord Yeshua and of your love for all the kedoshim, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers— ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, our glorious Father, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in knowing Him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the richness of His glorious inheritance in the kedoshim, ¹⁹ and what is His exceedingly great power toward us who keep trusting Him—in keeping with the working of His mighty strength.

²⁰ This power He exercised in Messiah when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heaven. ^{[s] 21} He is far above any ruler, authority, power, leader, and every name that is named—not only in the olam ha-zeh but also in the olam ha-ba. ²² God placed all things under Messiah’s feet^[t] and appointed Him as head over all things for His community— ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Destined for Wrath, Saved by Grace

2 You were dead in your trespasses and sins. ² At that time, you walked in the way of this world, in conformity to the ruler of the domain of the air—the ruler of the spirit who is now operating in the sons of disobedience. ³ We too all lived among them in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind. By nature we were children of wrath, just like the others. ⁴ But God was rich in mercy,^[u] because of His great love with which He loved us. ⁵ Even when we were dead in our trespasses, He made us alive together with Messiah. (By grace you have been saved!) ⁶ And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua— ⁷ to show in the olam ha-ba the measureless richness of His grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua.

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves—it is the gift of God. ⁹ It is not based on deeds, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship—created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.

Jew and Gentile, One in Messiah

¹¹ Therefore, keep in mind that once you—Gentiles in the flesh—were called “uncircumcision” by those called “circumcision” (which is performed on flesh by hand). ¹² At that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. ¹⁴ For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation. Within His flesh He made powerless the hostility— ¹⁵ the law code of mitzvot contained in regulations. He did this in order to create within Himself one new man from the two groups, making shalom, ¹⁶ and to reconcile both to God in one body through the cross—by which He put the hostility to death. ¹⁷ And He came and proclaimed shalom to you who were far away and shalom to those who were near^[v]— ¹⁸ for through Him we both have access to the Father by the same Ruach. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. ²⁰ You have been built on the foundation made up of the emissaries and prophets, with Messiah Yeshua Himself being the cornerstone. ^{[w] 21} In Him the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple for the Lord. ²² In Him, you also are being built together into God’s dwelling place^[x] in the Ruach.

The Mystery of the Gentiles Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, am a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua for the sake of you Gentiles. ² Surely you have heard about the plan of God’s grace given to me for you— ³ that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote before briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Messiah— ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as it has now been revealed by the Ruach to His holy emissaries and prophets. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are joint heirs and fellow members of the same body and co-sharers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the Good News. ⁷ I became a servant of this Good News by the gift of God’s favor given to me through the exercise of His power.

⁸ This favor was given to me, the very least of His kedoshim, to proclaim to the Gentiles the endless riches of the Messiah ⁹ and to bring to light the plan of the mystery—which for ages was hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰ The purpose is that through Messiah’s community the multi-faceted wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, ¹¹ which is in keeping with the eternal purpose that He carried out in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. ¹² In Him we have boldness and access with confidence through trusting in Him. ^{[y] 13} So I ask you not to be discouraged by my troubles on your behalf—they are your glory.

Prayer for Power and Understanding

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father^[z]— ¹⁵ from Him every family in heaven and on earth receives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that from His glorious riches He would grant you to be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Ruach, ¹⁷ so that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to grasp with all the kedoshim what is the width and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations^[aa] forever and ever! Amen.

Unity of the Body and of God

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you were called— ² with complete humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, ³ making every effort to keep the unity of the Ruach in the bond of shalom.

⁷ But to each one of us grace was given in keeping with the measure of Messiah’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

⁹ Now what does “He went up” mean, except that He first went down to the lower regions of the earth? ^{[ad] 10} The One who came down is the same One who went up far above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

¹¹ He Himself gave some to be emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers— ¹² to equip the kedoshim for the work of service, for building up the body of Messiah. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Ben-Elohim—to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Messiah’s fullness. ¹⁴ As a result, we are no longer to be like children, tossed around by the waves and blown all over by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men with cunning in deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all ways into Messiah, who is the Head. ¹⁶ From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. The proper working of each individual part produces the body’s growth, for building itself up in love.

Put Off The Old, Put On The New

¹⁷ So I tell you this, indeed I insist on it in the Lord—walk no longer as the pagans do, stumbling around in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance in them due to the hardness of their heart. ¹⁹ Since they are past feeling, they have turned themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of immorality, with greed for more.

²⁰ However, you did not learn Messiah in this way— ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Yeshua. ²² With respect to your former lifestyle, you are to lay aside the old self corrupted by its deceitful desires, ²³ be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and put on the new self—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ So lay aside lying and “each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,”^[ae] for we are members of one another. ²⁶ “Be angry, yet do not sin.”^[af] Do not let the sun go down on your anger, ^{[ag] 27} nor give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ The one who steals must steal no longer—instead he must work, doing something useful with his own hands, so he may have something to share with the one who has need. ²⁹ Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it. ³⁰ Do not grieve the Ruach ha-Kodesh of God,^[ah] by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness and rage and anger and quarreling and slander, along with all malice. ³² Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other just as God in Messiah also forgave you.

Walk in the Light

5 Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children; ² and walk in love, just as Messiah also loved us^[ai] and gave Himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma. ³ But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed—don’t even let these be mentioned among you, as is proper for kedoshim. ⁴ Obscene, coarse, and stupid talk are also out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ Know for certain that no immoral, indecent, or greedy person—who is really an idol worshipper at heart—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and God.

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s judgment comes on the children of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them. ⁸ For once you were darkness, but now in union with the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰ trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them— ¹² for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that are done by them in secret. ¹³ Yet everything exposed by the light is being made visible, ¹⁴ for everything made visible is light. This is why it says,

¹⁵ So pay close attention to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of your time because the days are evil. ¹⁷ For this reason do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk on wine, for that is recklessness.^[ak] Instead, be filled with the Ruach, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord— ²⁰ always giving thanks for everything to God the Father, in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

Orderly Relationships: Marriage

²¹ Also submit yourselves to one another out of reverence for Messiah— ²² wives to your own husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as Messiah also is head of His community—Himself the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as Messiah’s community is submitted to Messiah, so also the wives to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives just as Messiah also loved His community and gave Himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, having cleansed her by immersion^[al] in the word. ²⁷ Messiah did this so that He might present to Himself His glorious community—not having stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but in order that she might be holy and blameless. ²⁸ In the same way, 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 Messiah also does His community, ³⁰ because we are members of His body. ³¹ “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ^{[am] 32} This mystery is great—but I am talking about Messiah and His community. ³³ In any case, let each of you love his own wife as himself, and let the wife respect her husband.

Orderly Relationships: Parents

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^{[an] 2} “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “so that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” ^{[ao] 4} Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.^[ap]

Orderly Relationships: Workplace

⁵ Slaves, obey your human masters, with respect and reverence, with sincerity of heart, as you would the Messiah— ⁶ not just under your master’s eye as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Messiah doing God’s will from the soul. ⁷ Serve with a positive attitude, as to the Lord and not to men— ⁸ knowing that whatever good each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. ⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Stop using threats, knowing that the Master—of them and of you, too—is in heaven,^[aq] and there is no favoritism with Him.

Put on the Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm then! Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. ^{[ar] 15} Strap up your feet in readiness with the Good News of shalom. ^{[as] 16} Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ^{[at] 17} And take the helmet of salvation^[au] and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ^{[av] 18} Pray in the Ruach on every occasion, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, keep alert with perseverance and supplication for all the kedoshim. ¹⁹ And pray for me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak boldly, the way I should.

²¹ Now Tychicus, my dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will give you all the news about me so you may know how I’m doing. ²² I have sent him to you for this very reason, so you may know how we are and he may encourage your hearts.

²³ Shalom to the brothers and sisters, and trusting love from God the Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Yeshua the Messiah with undying love.

Greetings

1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Messiah Yeshua,

To all the kedoshim in Messiah Yeshua who are in Philippi with the overseers and servant-leaders:

² Grace to you and shalom from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

Thanksgiving and Prayers of Joy

³ I thank my God at every memory of you, ⁴ always praying with joy in every prayer of mine for you all, ⁵ because of your sharing in the Good News from the first day until now. ⁶ I am sure of this very thing—that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Messiah Yeshua. ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart—for you all are partakers of grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Messiah Yeshua.

⁹ Now this I pray, that your love might overflow still more and more in knowledge and depth of discernment, ¹⁰ in order to approve what is excellent—so that in the Day of Messiah you may be sincere and blameless, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah, to the glory and praise of God.

Even in Chains, Proclaiming Messiah

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the Good News. ¹³ And so my imprisonment in the cause of Messiah has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian Guard and to everyone else. ¹⁴ Because of my imprisonment, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord to dare more than ever to speak the message fearlessly. ¹⁵ Some are proclaiming the Messiah out of envy and strife, but others out of good will. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News. ¹⁷ The former proclaim Messiah not sincerely, but out of selfishness—expecting to stir up trouble for me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in dishonesty or in truth, Messiah is being proclaimed—and in this I rejoice!

To Live Is Messiah

Yes, and I will keep rejoicing, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance, through your intercession and the help of the Ruach of Messiah Yeshua. ²⁰ My eager expectation and hope is that in no way will I be put to shame, but that with complete boldness Messiah will even now, as always, be exalted in my body—whether through life or through death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Messiah and to die is gain. ²² But if to live on in the body means fruit from my work, what shall I choose? I do not know. ²³ I am torn between the two—having a desire to leave and be with Messiah, which is far better; ²⁴ yet for your sake, to remain in the body is more necessary. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith— ²⁶ so that your confidence in Messiah Yeshua might overflow because of me through my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only live your lives in a manner worthy of the Good News of the Messiah. Then, whether I come and see you or I am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit—striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the Good News ²⁸ and not being frightened in any way by your opponents. For them this is a sign of destruction, but for you salvation—and that from God. ²⁹ For to you was granted for Messiah’s sake not only to trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake— ³⁰ experiencing the same struggle you saw in me and now you are hearing in me.

Messiah’s Example of Humility

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Messiah, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship of the Ruach, if there is any mercy and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in spirit, with one purpose. ³ Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but with humility consider others as more important than yourselves, ⁴ looking out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua,

Work Out Your Salvation

¹² Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For the One working in you is God—both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you might be blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.^[ax] Among them you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life, so that I may boast in the day of Messiah that I did not run or labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ¹⁸ The same way, you also—rejoice and share your joy with me!

Sending and Receiving Encouragement

¹⁹ But I hope in the Lord Yeshua to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too might be encouraged when I know the news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him who will genuinely care about you— ²¹ for all seek after their own interests, not those of Messiah Yeshua. ²² But you know Timothy’s proven character, that he served with me in spreading the Good News like a son with his father. ²³ Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I trust in the Lord that soon I too will come myself.

²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and aide to my need. ²⁶ For he was longing for you all and troubled because you heard that he was sick. ²⁷ He certainly was sick, close to death. But God had mercy on him—and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I have sent him with special urgency, so that when you see him again you might rejoice and I might be less worried about you. ²⁹ So welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard, ³⁰ because he came close to death for the work of Messiah, risking his life to make up for what was lacking in your service to me.

Where Do You Put Your Confidence?

3 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To keep writing the same things to you is not troublesome for me—but for you it is a safeguard.

² Beware of the dogs,^[ay] beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilation. ^{[az] 3} For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship by the Ruach Elohim and glory in Messiah Yeshua and have not depended on the flesh— ⁴ though I myself might have confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he might depend on the flesh, I far more— ⁵ circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Torah, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting Messiah’s community; as for Torah righteousness, found blameless.

⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, these I have considered as loss for the sake of the Messiah. ⁸ More than that, I consider all things to be loss in comparison to the surpassing value of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things; and I consider them garbage^[ba] in order that I might gain Messiah ⁹ and be found in Him not having my righteousness derived from Torah, but one that is through trusting in Messiah—the righteousness from God based on trust. ^{[bb] 10} My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death— ¹¹ if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.

Pursuing the Goal

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or been perfected, but I press on if only I might take hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua took hold of me. ^{[bc] 13} Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself as having taken hold of this. But this one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the reward of the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua. ^{[bd] 15} Therefore let all who are mature have this attitude; and if you have a different attitude in anything, this also God will reveal to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, let us live up to the same standard we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, join in following my example and notice those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. (¹⁸ For many walk who are enemies of the cross of Messiah—I have often told you about them, and now I am even weeping as I tell you. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction—their god is their belly and their glory is in their shame. They set their minds on earthly things.)

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and long for, my joy and crown—stand firm in the Lord in this way, my loved ones.

Rejoice in the Lord Always

² I urge Euodia and Syntyche to be in harmony in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you, true companion,^[be] to help these women—they labored side by side with me in spreading the Good News, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.^[bf]

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—put these things into practice, and the God of shalom will be with you.

The Secret of Contentment

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me (though you were concerned before but lacked opportunity to show it). ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need—for whatever circumstance I am in, I have learned to be content. ¹² I know what it is to live with humble means, and I know what it is to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment—both to be filled and to go hungry, to have abundance and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Messiah^[bg] who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my trouble. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians also know that in the beginning of the Good News, when I left Macedonia, not a single community partnered with me in giving and receiving—except you alone. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent something for my need more than once. ¹⁷ Not that I am looking for a gift, but for fruit that overflows to your credit. ¹⁸ But I have received everything and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ^{[bh] 19} My God will fulfill every need of yours according to the riches of His glory in Messiah Yeshua. ²⁰ To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Final Greetings and Blessings

²¹ Greet all the kedoshim in Messiah Yeshua. The brethren who are with me greet you. ²² All the kedoshim greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit.

Greetings

1 Paul, an emissary of Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, and Timothy our brother,

² To the kedoshim, the faithful brothers and sisters in Messiah, who are at Colossae:

Grace and shalom to you from God our Father!^[bi]

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, whenever we pray for you. ⁴ For we heard of your trust in Messiah Yeshua and the love you have for all the kedoshim ⁵ because of the hope stored up for you in heaven. You heard before about this hope in the true message of the Good News ⁶ that has come to you. In all the world this Good News is bearing fruit and growing,^[bj] just as it has in you since you first heard it and came to truly know God’s grace. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras—our dearly loved fellow slave, who is a faithful servant of Messiah on our behalf. ⁸ He also made clear to us your love in the Ruach.

⁹ For this reason also, ever since we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We keep asking God that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding— ¹⁰ to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. ¹¹ We pray that you may be strengthened with all the power that comes from His glorious might, for you to have all kinds of patience and steadfastness. With joy ¹² we give thanks to the Father, who qualified you to share in the inheritance of the kedoshim in the light. ¹³ He rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom He loves. ¹⁴ In Him we have redemption—the release of sins.

Ben-Elohim Is Supreme

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and hostile in your attitude by wicked deeds. ²² But now He has reconciled you in Messiah’s physical body through death, in order to present you holy, spotless and blameless in His eyes— ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, not budging from the hope of the Good News that you have heard. This Good News has been proclaimed throughout all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

The Mystery Revealed

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and in my physical body—for the sake of His body, Messiah’s community—I fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Messiah. ²⁵ I became its servant according to God’s commission, given to me for you, in order to declare His message in full— ²⁶ the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His kedoshim. ²⁷ God chose to make known to them this glorious mystery regarding the Gentiles—which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory! ²⁸ We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete^[bl] in Messiah. ²⁹ To this end I labor, striving with all His strength which is powerfully at work in me.

2 I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those in Laodicea, as well as for those who have still not seen me face to face. ² My purpose is that their hearts, joined together in love, may be encouraged. May they have all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, leading to a true knowledge of the mystery of God—that is, Messiah. ³ In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. ^{[bm] 4} I am telling you this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive-sounding arguments. ⁵ For even though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit—rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your trust in Messiah.

Living Out the Mystery

⁶ Therefore as you received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, so continue to walk in Him— ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in your faith just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness. ⁸ See that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men and the basic principles of the world rather than Messiah. ⁹ For all the fullness of Deity lives bodily in Him, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been filled to fullness. He is the head over every ruler and authority.

¹¹ In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision done not by hand, in the stripping away of the body of the flesh through the circumcision of Messiah. ¹² You were buried along with Him in immersion, through which you also were raised with Him by trusting in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³ When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him when He pardoned us all our transgressions. ¹⁴ He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ After disarming the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross.^[bn]

The Danger of False Wisdom

¹⁶ Therefore, do not let anyone pass judgment on you in matters of food or drink, or in respect to a festival or new moon or Shabbat. ^{[bo] 17} These are a foreshadowing of things to come, but the reality is Messiah. ^{[bp] 18} Let no one disqualify you by insisting on false humility and worship of angels—going into detail about what he has seen, puffed up without cause by his fleshly mind. ¹⁹ He is not holding fast to the Head. It is from Him that the whole body, nourished and held together by its joints and tendons, grows with a godly increase. ²⁰ If you died with Messiah to the basic principles of the world, why—as though living in the world—do you subject yourselves to their rules? ²¹ “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!” ²² These all lead to decay with use, based as they are on man-made commands and teachings. ^{[bq] 23} Indeed, these are matters that have an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and self-denial of the body—yet none are of any value for stopping indulgence of the flesh.

Put Off the Old, Put On the New

3 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things above—where Messiah is, sitting at the right hand of God. ^{[br] 2} Focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ^{[bs] 3} For you have died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God. ⁴ When Messiah, who is your^[bt] life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him, in glory!

⁵ Therefore, put to death what is earthly in you—sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed—for that is idolatry. ⁶ Because of such things God’s wrath is coming upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ At one time you also walked in these ways, when you used to live in these ways. ⁸ But now, set them all aside—anger, rage, malice, slander, and foul language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another.^[bu] After all, you have taken off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self that is being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of the One who created him. ^{[bv] 11} Here there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, savage,^[bw] slave and free; but Messiah is all, and in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience— ¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord pardoned you, so also you must pardon others. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfect harmony. ¹⁵ Let the shalom of Messiah rule in your hearts—to this shalom you were surely called in one body. Also be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Orderly, Mutual Relationships

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not become harsh toward them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in every respect, for this is pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your human masters in every respect—not just within your master’s sight as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it from the soul, as for the Lord and not for people. ²⁴ For you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is to the Lord Messiah you are giving service. ²⁵ For the one doing wrong will be paid back for what he did wrong, and there is no favoritism.^[bx]

4 Masters, give your slaves what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Devote Yourselves to Prayer

² Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, keep praying for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the message, to proclaim the mystery of Messiah—for which I am in prison. ⁴ Pray that I may make the mystery clear, as I ought to speak. ⁵ Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer everyone.

Further Instructions and Greetings

⁷ Tychicus—a dearly loved brother and trustworthy servant and fellow slave to the Lord—will tell you all the news about me. ⁸ I sent him to you for this very purpose, so you may know about us and he may encourage your hearts. ⁹ With him I sent Onesimus—a faithful and dear brother, who is one of your own. They will tell you about everything here.

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You received instructions about him—if he comes your way, welcome him.) ¹¹ Yeshua who is called Justus also sends his greetings. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God that are from among the circumcision—they have been a comfort to me.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of your own, a slave of Messiah Yeshua, greets you. He is always laboring in prayer on your behalf, so you may stand complete and fully assured about everything that is God’s will. ¹³ For I testify that he has gone to much trouble for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, the dearly loved physician, sends you greetings, and so does Demas.

¹⁵ Greet the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the community that meets in her house. ¹⁶ When this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in Messiah’s community of Laodicea. In turn, you should read my letter coming from Laodicea.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the service you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

¹⁸ This greeting is in my own hand—Paul’s. Remember my chains!

Grace be with you.