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• M'Cheyne
• New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs

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3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. ¹  3:27 For all of you who ²  were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave ³  nor free, there is neither male nor female ⁴  – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, ⁵  heirs according to the promise.

4:1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, ⁶  is no different from a slave, though he is the owner ⁷  of everything. 4:2 But he is under guardians ⁸  and managers until the date set by his ⁹  father. 4:3 So also we, when we were minors, ¹⁰  were enslaved under the basic forces ¹¹  of the world. 4:4 But when the appropriate time ¹²  had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. ¹³  4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls ¹⁴  “Abba! ¹⁵  Father!” 4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are ¹⁶  a son, then you are also an heir through God. ¹⁷ 

4:8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. ¹⁸  4:9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless ¹⁹  basic forces? ²⁰  Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? ²¹  4:10 You are observing religious ²²  days and months and seasons and years. 4:11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. 4:12 I beg you, brothers and sisters, ²³  become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

4:13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, 4:14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. ²⁴  Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, ²⁵  as though I were Christ Jesus himself! ²⁶  4:15 Where then is your sense of happiness ²⁷  now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! 4:16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? ²⁸ 

4:17 They court you eagerly, ²⁹  but for no good purpose; ³⁰  they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. ³¹  4:18 However, it is good ³²  to be sought eagerly ³³  for a good purpose ³⁴  at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 4:19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! ³⁵  4:20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, ³⁶  because I am perplexed about you.

4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law? ³⁷  4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the ³⁸  slave woman and the other by the free woman. 4:23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, ³⁹  while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise. 4:24 These things may be treated as an allegory, ⁴⁰  for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. 4:25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, ⁴¹  and she is our mother. 4:27 For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; ⁴² 

break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains,

because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous

than those of the woman who has a husband.” ⁴³ 

4:28 But you, ⁴⁴  brothers and sisters, ⁴⁵  are children of the promise like Isaac. 4:29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descent ⁴⁶  persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, ⁴⁷  so it is now. 4:30 But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son” ⁴⁸  of the free woman. 4:31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, ⁴⁹  we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

5:1 For freedom ⁵⁰  Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke ⁵¹  of slavery. 5:2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 5:3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey ⁵²  the whole law. 5:4 You who are trying to be declared righteous ⁵³  by the law have been alienated ⁵⁴  from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. ⁵⁵ 

5:7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying ⁵⁶  the truth? 5:8 This persuasion ⁵⁷  does not come from the one who calls you! 5:9 A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise! ⁵⁸  5:10 I am confident ⁵⁹  in the Lord that you will accept no other view. ⁶⁰  But the one who is confusing ⁶¹  you will pay the penalty, ⁶²  whoever he may be. 5:11 Now, brothers and sisters, ⁶³  if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? ⁶⁴  In that case the offense of the cross ⁶⁵  has been removed. ⁶⁶  5:12 I wish those agitators ⁶⁷  would go so far as to ⁶⁸  castrate themselves! ⁶⁹ 

5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; ⁷⁰  only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, ⁷¹  but through love serve one another. ⁷²  5:14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, ⁷³  namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁷⁴  5:15 However, if you continually bite and devour one another, ⁷⁵  beware that you are not consumed ⁷⁶  by one another. 5:16 But I say, live ⁷⁷  by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. ⁷⁸  5:17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires ⁷⁹  that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to ⁸⁰  each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh ⁸¹  are obvious: ⁸²  sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, ⁸³  hostilities, ⁸⁴  strife, ⁸⁵  jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, ⁸⁶  factions, 5:21 envying, ⁸⁷  murder, ⁸⁸  drunkenness, carousing, ⁸⁹  and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit ⁹⁰  is love, ⁹¹  joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ⁹²  5:23 gentleness, and ⁹³  self-control. Against such things there is no law. 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ ⁹⁴  have crucified the flesh ⁹⁵  with its passions ⁹⁶  and desires. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with ⁹⁷  the Spirit. 5:26 Let us not become conceited, ⁹⁸  provoking ⁹⁹  one another, being jealous ¹⁰⁰  of one another.

6:1 Brothers and sisters, ¹⁰¹  if a person ¹⁰²  is discovered in some sin, ¹⁰³  you who are spiritual ¹⁰⁴  restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. ¹⁰⁵  Pay close attention ¹⁰⁶  to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 6:4 Let each one examine ¹⁰⁷  his own work. Then he can take pride ¹⁰⁸  in himself and not compare himself with ¹⁰⁹  someone else. 6:5 For each one will carry ¹¹⁰  his own load.

6:6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches ¹¹¹  it. 6:7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. ¹¹²  For a person ¹¹³  will reap what he sows, 6:8 because the person who sows to his own flesh ¹¹⁴  will reap corruption ¹¹⁵  from the flesh, ¹¹⁶  but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

Ephesians

1:1 From Paul, ¹¹⁷  an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints [in Ephesus], ¹¹⁸  the faithful ¹¹⁹  in Christ Jesus. 1:2 Grace and peace to you ¹²⁰  from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

1:3 Blessed ¹²¹  is ¹²²  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed ¹²³  us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 1:4 For ¹²⁴  he chose us in Christ ¹²⁵  before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished ¹²⁶  in his sight ¹²⁷  in love. ¹²⁸  1:5 He did this by predestining ¹²⁹  us to adoption as his ¹³⁰  sons ¹³¹  through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure ¹³²  of his will – 1:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace ¹³³  that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son. ¹³⁴  1:7 In him ¹³⁵  we have redemption through his blood, ¹³⁶  the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 1:8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. 1:9 He did this when he revealed ¹³⁷  to us the secret ¹³⁸  of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth ¹³⁹  in Christ, ¹⁴⁰  1:10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up ¹⁴¹  all things in Christ – the things in heaven ¹⁴²  and the things on earth. ¹⁴³  1:11 In Christ ¹⁴⁴  we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, ¹⁴⁵  since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will 1:12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope ¹⁴⁶  on Christ, ¹⁴⁷  would be to the praise of his glory. 1:13 And when ¹⁴⁸  you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ ¹⁴⁹  – you were marked with the seal ¹⁵⁰  of the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁵¹  1:14 who is the down payment ¹⁵²  of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, ¹⁵³  to the praise of his glory.

1:15 For this reason, ¹⁵⁴  because I ¹⁵⁵  have heard ¹⁵⁶  of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love ¹⁵⁷  for all the saints, 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you ¹⁵⁸  in my prayers. 1:17 I pray that ¹⁵⁹  the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ¹⁶⁰  may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation ¹⁶¹  in your growing knowledge of him, ¹⁶²  1:18 – since the eyes of your ¹⁶³  heart have been enlightened ¹⁶⁴  – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, ¹⁶⁵  what is the wealth of his glorious ¹⁶⁶  inheritance in the saints, 1:19 and what is the incomparable ¹⁶⁷  greatness of his power toward ¹⁶⁸  us who believe, as displayed in ¹⁶⁹  the exercise of his immense strength. ¹⁷⁰  1:20 This power ¹⁷¹  he exercised ¹⁷²  in Christ when he raised him ¹⁷³  from the dead and seated him ¹⁷⁴  at his right hand in the heavenly realms ¹⁷⁵  1:21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 1:22 And God ¹⁷⁶  put ¹⁷⁷  all things under Christ’s ¹⁷⁸  feet, ¹⁷⁹  and he gave him to the church as head over all things. ¹⁸⁰  1:23 Now the church is ¹⁸¹  his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. ¹⁸² 

2:1 And although you were ¹⁸³  dead ¹⁸⁴  in your transgressions and sins, 2:2 in which ¹⁸⁵  you formerly lived ¹⁸⁶  according to this world’s present path, ¹⁸⁷  according to the ruler of the kingdom ¹⁸⁸  of the air, the ruler of ¹⁸⁹  the spirit ¹⁹⁰  that is now energizing ¹⁹¹  the sons of disobedience, ¹⁹²  2:3 among whom ¹⁹³  all of us ¹⁹⁴  also ¹⁹⁵  formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath ¹⁹⁶  even as the rest… ¹⁹⁷ 

2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 2:5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! ¹⁹⁸  – 2:6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 2:7 to demonstrate in the coming ages ¹⁹⁹  the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward ²⁰⁰  us in Christ Jesus. 2:8 For by grace you are saved ²⁰¹  through faith, ²⁰²  and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9 it is not from ²⁰³  works, so that no one can boast. ²⁰⁴  2:10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. ²⁰⁵ 

2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh – who are called “uncircumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” that is performed on the body ²⁰⁶  by human hands – 2:12 that you were at that time without the Messiah, ²⁰⁷  alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, ²⁰⁸  having no hope and without God in the world. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ²⁰⁹  2:14 For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one ²¹⁰  and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, 2:15 when he nullified ²¹¹  in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man ²¹²  out of two, ²¹³  thus making peace, 2:16 and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. ²¹⁴  2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 2:18 so that ²¹⁵  through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 2:19 So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 2:20 because you have been built ²¹⁶  on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, ²¹⁷  with Christ Jesus himself as ²¹⁸  the cornerstone. ²¹⁹  2:21 In him ²²⁰  the whole building, ²²¹  being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 2:22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus ²²²  for the sake of you Gentiles – 3:2 if indeed ²²³  you have heard of the stewardship ²²⁴  of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3:3 that ²²⁵  by revelation the divine secret ²²⁶  was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. ²²⁷  3:4 When reading this, ²²⁸  you will be able to ²²⁹  understand my insight into this secret ²³⁰  of Christ. 3:5 Now this secret ²³¹  was not disclosed to people ²³²  in former ²³³  generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by ²³⁴  the Spirit, 3:6 namely, that through the gospel ²³⁵  the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members ²³⁶  of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel ²³⁷  according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by ²³⁸  the exercise of his power. ²³⁹  3:8 To me – less than the least of all the saints ²⁴⁰  – this grace was given, ²⁴¹  to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ 3:9 and to enlighten ²⁴²  everyone about God’s secret plan ²⁴³  – a secret that has been hidden for ages ²⁴⁴  in God ²⁴⁵  who has created all things. 3:10 The purpose of this enlightenment is that ²⁴⁶  through the church the multifaceted wisdom ²⁴⁷  of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. 3:11 This was according to ²⁴⁸  the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access ²⁴⁹  to God ²⁵⁰  because of ²⁵¹  Christ’s ²⁵²  faithfulness. ²⁵³  3:13 For this reason I ask you ²⁵⁴  not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, ²⁵⁵  which ²⁵⁶  is your glory. ²⁵⁷ 

3:14 For this reason ²⁵⁸  I kneel ²⁵⁹  before the Father, ²⁶⁰  3:15 from ²⁶¹  whom every family ²⁶²  in heaven and on the earth is named. 3:16 I pray that ²⁶³  according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ²⁶⁴  3:19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to ²⁶⁵  all the fullness of God.

3:20 Now to him who by the power that is working within us ²⁶⁶  is able to do far beyond ²⁶⁷  all that we ask or think, 3:21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, ²⁶⁸  urge you to live ²⁶⁹  worthily of the calling with which you have been called, ²⁷⁰  4:2 with all humility and gentleness, ²⁷¹  with patience, bearing with ²⁷²  one another in love, 4:3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 4:8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured ²⁷³  captives; he gave gifts to men.” ²⁷⁴  4:9 Now what is the meaning of “he ascended,” except that he also descended ²⁷⁵  to the lower regions, ²⁷⁶  namely, the earth? ²⁷⁷  4:10 He, the very one ²⁷⁸  who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. 4:11 It was he ²⁷⁹  who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ²⁸⁰  4:12 to equip ²⁸¹  the saints for the work of ministry, that is, ²⁸²  to build up the body of Christ, 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to ²⁸³  the measure of Christ’s full stature. ²⁸⁴  4:14 So ²⁸⁵  we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. ²⁸⁶  4:15 But practicing the truth in love, ²⁸⁷  we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. 4:16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together ²⁸⁸  through every supporting ligament. ²⁸⁹  As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

4:17 So I say this, and insist ²⁹⁰  in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility ²⁹¹  of their thinking. ²⁹²  4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, ²⁹³  being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 4:19 Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁹⁴  4:20 But you did not learn about Christ like this, 4:21 if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus. 4:22 You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside ²⁹⁵  the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 4:23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 4:24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image ²⁹⁶  – in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. ²⁹⁷ 

4:25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, ²⁹⁸  for we are members of one another. 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; ²⁹⁹  do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. ³⁰⁰  4:27 Do not give the devil an opportunity. 4:28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. 4:29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, ³⁰¹  that it may give grace to those who hear. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 4:31 You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. 4:32 Instead, ³⁰²  be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. ³⁰³ 

5:1 Therefore, be ³⁰⁴  imitators of God as dearly loved children 5:2 and live ³⁰⁵  in love, just as Christ also loved us ³⁰⁶  and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering ³⁰⁷  to God. 5:3 But ³⁰⁸  among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, ³⁰⁹  or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. ³¹⁰  5:4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. 5:5 For you can be confident of this one thing: ³¹¹  that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

5:6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. ³¹²  5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them, ³¹³  5:8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are ³¹⁴  light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – 5:9 for the fruit of the light ³¹⁵  consists in ³¹⁶  all goodness, righteousness, and truth – 5:10 trying to learn ³¹⁷  what is pleasing to the Lord. 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather ³¹⁸  expose them. ³¹⁹  5:12 For the things they do ³²⁰  in secret are shameful even to mention. 5:13 But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. 5:14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: ³²¹ 

“Awake, ³²²  O sleeper! ³²³ 

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!” ³²⁴ 

5:15 Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 5:16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 5:17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise ³²⁵  by understanding ³²⁶  what the Lord’s will is. 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, which ³²⁷  is debauchery, ³²⁸  but be filled by the Spirit, ³²⁹  5:19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music ³³⁰  in ³³¹  your hearts to the Lord, 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other ³³²  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. ³³³ 

5:22 Wives, submit ³³⁵  to your husbands as to the Lord, 5:23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. 5:24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 5:25 Husbands, love your ³³⁶  wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 5:26 to sanctify her by cleansing her ³³⁷  with the washing of the water by the word, 5:27 so that he ³³⁸  may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ³³⁹  5:28 In the same way ³⁴⁰  husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 5:29 For no one has ever hated his own body ³⁴¹  but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 5:30 for we are members of his body. ³⁴²  5:31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become ³⁴³  one flesh. ³⁴⁴  5:32 This mystery is great – but I am actually ³⁴⁵  speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 5:33 Nevertheless, ³⁴⁶  each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, ³⁴⁷  and the wife must ³⁴⁸  respect ³⁴⁹  her husband.

6:1 Children, ³⁵⁰  obey your parents in the Lord ³⁵¹  for this is right. 6:2 “Honor your father and mother,” ³⁵²  which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, 6:3 “that it may go ³⁵³  well with you and that you will live ³⁵⁴  a long time on the earth.” ³⁵⁵ 

6:4 Fathers, ³⁵⁶  do not provoke your children to anger, ³⁵⁷  but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

6:5 Slaves, ³⁵⁸  obey your human masters ³⁵⁹  with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, 6:6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching ³⁶⁰  – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. ³⁶¹  6:7 Obey ³⁶²  with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord ³⁶³  and not people, 6:8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this ³⁶⁴  will be rewarded by the Lord.

6:9 Masters, ³⁶⁵  treat your slaves ³⁶⁶  the same way, ³⁶⁷  giving up the use of threats, ³⁶⁸  because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, ³⁶⁹  and there is no favoritism with him.

6:10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 6:11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes ³⁷⁰  of the devil. 6:12 For our struggle ³⁷¹  is not against flesh and blood, ³⁷²  but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, ³⁷³  against the spiritual forces ³⁷⁴  of evil in the heavens. ³⁷⁵  6:13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground ³⁷⁶  on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. 6:14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening ³⁷⁷  the belt of truth around your waist, ³⁷⁸  by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 6:15 by fitting your ³⁷⁹  feet with the preparation that comes from the good news ³⁸⁰  of peace, ³⁸¹  6:16 and in all of this, ³⁸²  by taking up the shield ³⁸³  of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation ³⁸⁴  and the sword ³⁸⁵  of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 6:18 With every prayer and petition, pray ³⁸⁶  at all times in the Spirit, and to this end ³⁸⁷  be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. 6:19 Pray ³⁸⁸  for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak ³⁸⁹  – that I may confidently make known ³⁹⁰  the mystery of the gospel, 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

6:21 Tychicus, my ³⁹¹  dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, ³⁹²  how I am doing. 6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances ³⁹³  and that he may encourage your hearts.

6:23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, ³⁹⁴  and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:24 Grace be ³⁹⁵  with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. ³⁹⁶ 

Colossians

1:1 From Paul, ³⁹⁷  an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 1:2 to the saints, the faithful ³⁹⁸  brothers and sisters ³⁹⁹  in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you ⁴⁰⁰  from God our Father! ⁴⁰¹ 

1:3 We always ⁴⁰²  give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 1:4 since ⁴⁰³  we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. 1:5 Your faith and love have arisen ⁴⁰⁴  from the hope laid up ⁴⁰⁵  for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel ⁴⁰⁶  1:6 that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel ⁴⁰⁷  is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing ⁴⁰⁸  among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. 1:7 You learned the gospel ⁴⁰⁹  from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave ⁴¹⁰  – a ⁴¹¹  faithful minister of Christ on our ⁴¹²  behalf – 1:8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, ⁴¹³  have not ceased praying for you and asking God ⁴¹⁴  to fill ⁴¹⁵  you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 1:10 so that you may live ⁴¹⁶  worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects ⁴¹⁷  – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of ⁴¹⁸  all patience and steadfastness, joyfully 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share ⁴¹⁹  in the saints’ ⁴²⁰  inheritance in the light. 1:13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, ⁴²¹  1:14 in whom we have redemption, ⁴²²  the forgiveness of sins.

1:15 ⁴²³ 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn ⁴²⁴  over all creation, ⁴²⁵ 

1:16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, ⁴²⁶  whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.

1:17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together ⁴²⁷  in him.

1:18 He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn ⁴²⁸  from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. ⁴²⁹ 

1:19 For God ⁴³⁰  was pleased to have all his ⁴³¹  fullness dwell ⁴³²  in the Son ⁴³³ 

1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, ⁴³⁴  whether things on earth or things in heaven.

1:21 And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your ⁴³⁵  minds ⁴³⁶  as expressed through ⁴³⁷  your evil deeds, 1:22 but now he has reconciled you ⁴³⁸  by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him – 1:23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, ⁴³⁹  without shifting ⁴⁴⁰  from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body – for the sake of his body, the church – what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. 1:25 I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship ⁴⁴¹  from God – given to me for you – in order to complete ⁴⁴²  the word of God, 1:26 that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. 1:27 God wanted to make known to them the glorious ⁴⁴³  riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 1:28 We proclaim him by instructing ⁴⁴⁴  and teaching ⁴⁴⁵  all people ⁴⁴⁶  with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature ⁴⁴⁷  in Christ. 1:29 Toward this goal ⁴⁴⁸  I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully ⁴⁴⁹  works in me.

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, ⁴⁵⁰  and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. ⁴⁵¹  2:2 My goal is that ⁴⁵²  their hearts, having been knit together ⁴⁵³  in love, may be encouraged, and that ⁴⁵⁴  they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ⁴⁵⁵  2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments ⁴⁵⁶  that sound reasonable. ⁴⁵⁷  2:5 For though ⁴⁵⁸  I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see ⁴⁵⁹  your morale ⁴⁶⁰  and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

2:6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, ⁴⁶¹  continue to live your lives ⁴⁶²  in him, 2:7 rooted ⁴⁶³  and built up in him and firm ⁴⁶⁴  in your ⁴⁶⁵  faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 2:8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you ⁴⁶⁶  through an empty, deceitful philosophy ⁴⁶⁷  that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits ⁴⁶⁸  of the world, and not according to Christ. 2:9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives ⁴⁶⁹  in bodily form, 2:10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 2:11 In him you also were circumcised – not, however, ⁴⁷⁰  with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal ⁴⁷¹  of the fleshly body, ⁴⁷²  that is, ⁴⁷³  through the circumcision done by Christ. 2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your ⁴⁷⁴  faith in the power ⁴⁷⁵  of God who raised him from the dead. 2:13 And even though you were dead in your ⁴⁷⁶  transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless ⁴⁷⁷  made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 2:14 He has destroyed ⁴⁷⁸  what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness ⁴⁷⁹  expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 2:15 Disarming ⁴⁸⁰  the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ⁴⁸¹ 

2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days – 2:17 these are only ⁴⁸²  the shadow of the things to come, but the reality ⁴⁸³  is Christ! ⁴⁸⁴  2:18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths ⁴⁸⁵  about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. ⁴⁸⁶  2:19 He has not held fast ⁴⁸⁷  to the head from whom the whole body, supported ⁴⁸⁸  and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God. ⁴⁸⁹ 

2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits ⁴⁹⁰  of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? 2:21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” 2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are ⁴⁹¹  on human commands and teachings. ⁴⁹²  2:23 Even though they have the appearance of wisdom ⁴⁹³  with their self-imposed worship and false humility ⁴⁹⁴  achieved by an ⁴⁹⁵  unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence. ⁴⁹⁶ 

3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your ⁴⁹⁷  life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. 3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: ⁴⁹⁸  sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, ⁴⁹⁹  evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. ⁵⁰⁰  3:7 You also lived your lives ⁵⁰¹  in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things ⁵⁰²  as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man ⁵⁰³  that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave ⁵⁰⁴  or free, but Christ is all and in all.

3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, ⁵⁰⁵  kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving ⁵⁰⁶  one another, if someone happens to have ⁵⁰⁷  a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. ⁵⁰⁸  3:14 And to all these ⁵⁰⁹  virtues ⁵¹⁰  add ⁵¹¹  love, which is the perfect bond. ⁵¹²  3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body ⁵¹³  to this peace), and be thankful. 3:16 Let the word of Christ ⁵¹⁴  dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace ⁵¹⁵  in your hearts to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

3:18 Wives, submit to your ⁵¹⁶  husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 3:21 Fathers, ⁵¹⁷  do not provoke ⁵¹⁸  your children, so they will not become disheartened. 3:22 Slaves, ⁵¹⁹  obey your earthly ⁵²⁰  masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 3:23 Whatever you are doing, ⁵²¹  work at it with enthusiasm, ⁵²²  as to the Lord and not for people, ⁵²³  3:24 because you know that you will receive your ⁵²⁴  inheritance ⁵²⁵  from the Lord as the reward. Serve ⁵²⁶  the Lord Christ. 3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, ⁵²⁷  and there are no exceptions. ⁵²⁸  4:1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. 4:3 At the same time pray ⁵²⁹  for us too, that ⁵³⁰  God may open a door for the message ⁵³¹  so that we may proclaim ⁵³²  the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁵³³  4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should. ⁵³⁴  4:5 Conduct yourselves ⁵³⁵  with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

4:7 Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave ⁵³⁶  in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ⁵³⁷  4:8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing ⁵³⁸  and that he may encourage your hearts. 4:9 I sent him ⁵³⁹  with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. ⁵⁴⁰  They will tell ⁵⁴¹  you about everything here.

4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him). 4:11 And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, ⁵⁴²  these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave ⁵⁴³  of Christ, ⁵⁴⁴  greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured ⁵⁴⁵  in all the will of God. 4:13 For I can testify that he has worked hard ⁵⁴⁶  for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 4:14 Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you. 4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters ⁵⁴⁷  who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her ⁵⁴⁸  house. ⁵⁴⁹  4:16 And after ⁵⁵⁰  you have read this letter, have it read ⁵⁵¹  to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea ⁵⁵²  as well. 4:17 And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”

4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. ⁵⁵³  Remember my chains. ⁵⁵⁴  Grace be with you. ⁵⁵⁵