Ephesians -1 Timothy Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints being in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

BLB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints being in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One having blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world for us to be holy and blameless before Him, in love ⁵ having predestined us for divine adoption as sons to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One, ⁷ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ having made known to us the mystery of His will according to His pleasure, which He purposed in Him ¹⁰ for the administration of the fullness of the times, to bring together all things in Christ—the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth— ¹¹ in Him, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His will ¹² for us, the ones having first trusted in Christ, to be to the praise of His glory, ¹³ in whom you also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel your of salvation, in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. ¹⁵ Because of this, I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus among you, and the love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes your of heart being enlightened, in order for you to know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us believing according to the working of the power of His might, ²⁰ which He worked in Christ, having raised Him out from the dead, and having set Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ above every principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this age, but also in the one coming. ²² And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of the One filling all in all. ² ¹ And you, being dead in your trespasses and sins— ² in which once you walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom we all also once lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the things willed of the flesh and of its thoughts; and we were by nature children of wrath even as the rest. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even we being dead in trespasses—by grace you are saved— ⁶ and He raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. ¹¹ Therefore remember that formerly you—the Gentiles in the flesh, the ones being called the uncircumcision by that being called the circumcision, made by hands in the flesh— ¹² that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, not having hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones once being far off, have become near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, having made both one and having broken down the barrier of the partition of hostility, ¹⁵ having annulled in His flesh the law of commandments in ordinances, so that He might create in Himself the two into one new man, making peace, ¹⁶ and He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, by it having slain the hostility. ¹⁷ And having come, He proclaimed the gospel: peace to you, the ones far off, and peace to those near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. ¹⁹ So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is increasing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. ³ ¹ For reason of this, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles... ² Surely you have heard of the administration of God’s grace, having been given to me toward you, ³ that He made known to me the mystery by revelation, just as I have written before in brief, ⁴ which, by reading, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as now it has been revealed in the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets, ⁶ that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, ⁷ of which I became servant according to the gift of God’s grace, having been given to me according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all saints, was given this grace: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ⁹ and to enlighten all what is the administration of the mystery having been hidden from the ages in God, the One having created all things, ¹⁰ so that now through the church the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹ according to the purpose of the ages, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access in confidence, by faith in Him. ¹³ Therefore I implore you not to lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. ¹⁴ ... for reason of this I bow my knees to the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in the heavens and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that He might give you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ for Christ to dwell in your hearts through faith, being rooted and being founded in love, ¹⁸ so that you may be fully able, with all the saints, to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge, so that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to the One being able to do exceedingly above all things that we ask or think, according to the power working in us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen. ⁴ ¹ Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling to which you were called, ² with all humility and gentleness; with patience bearing with one another in love; ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; ⁴ one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called into one hope of your calling; 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 Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸ Therefore it says: “Having ascended on high, He led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men.” ⁹ Now what is “He ascended,” except that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth? ¹⁰ The One having descended is also the same one having ascended above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things. ¹¹ And He gave some indeed to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, ¹² toward the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all may attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that no longer we might be infants, being tossed by waves and being carried about by every wind of teaching in the cunning, in the craftiness of men with a view to the scheming of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, we should grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being joined together and being held together by every ligament of its supply, according to the working in the measure of each individual part, the increase of the body makes for itself, to the building up of itself in love. ¹⁷ This therefore I say and testify in the Lord: You are no longer to walk as also the Gentiles are walking, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance being in them on account of the hardness of their heart, ¹⁹ who, having cast off all feeling, have given themselves up to sensuality for the working of all impurity, with greediness for more. ²⁰ But you have not learned Christ this way, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him just as the truth is in Jesus. ²² You are to have put off, concerning the former way of life, the old man, which is being corrupted according to its desires of deceit, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and to have put on the new man, having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth. ²⁵ Therefore having put off falsehood, let each one speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. ²⁶ “Be angry, and yet do not sin.” Let not the sun set upon your anger, ²⁷ neither give opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ The one stealing, let him steal no longer, but rather let him toil, working with the own hands what is good, so that he may have something to impart to the one having need. ²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome word go forth out of your mouth, but only good, for edification of the need, so that it may give grace to those hearing. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, and rage, and anger, and clamor, and slander, be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, as also in Christ God forgave you. ⁵ ¹ Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, ² and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, into an aroma of a sweet smell. ³ But let sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness not even be named among you, as also is proper to saints, ⁴ and filthiness, and foolish talking, or crude joking, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For this you know, realizing that any fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— ⁹ for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth— ¹⁰ discerning what is well-pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention the things being done by them in secret. ¹³ But everything being exposed by the light is made visible, for everything becoming visible is light. ¹⁴ Therefore it says: “Awake you, the one sleeping, and rise up out from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you.” ¹⁵ Therefore carefully take heed how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what is the Lord’s will, ¹⁸ and not to be drunk with wine in which is debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father. ²¹ Be submitting yourselves to one another in reverence of Christ: ²² wives, to the own husbands as to the Lord; ²³ for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church, He Himself Savior of the body. ²⁴ But even as the church is subjected to Christ, so also wives to the own husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love the wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶ so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ so that He might present to Himself the church in glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any of the such things, but that it would be holy and blameless. ²⁸ So also husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. The one loving his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one at any time hated his flesh. But he nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ also does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body. ³¹ “Because of this, a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will be into one flesh.” ³² This mystery is great; but I speak as to Christ and as to the church. ³³ However, you also, every individual, let each so love his wife as himself; and the wife, that she may respect the husband. ⁶ ¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your Father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise, ³ “that it may be well with you and you will be long-lived upon the earth.” ⁴ And fathers, do not provoke your children, but bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord. ⁵ Slaves, obey the earthly masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your heart as to Christ, ⁶ not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with good will as to the Lord and not to men, ⁸ knowing that each one, whatever good he might have done, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is slave or free. ⁹ And masters do the same things toward them, giving up threatening, knowing that also their master and yours is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with Him. ¹⁰ Henceforth be empowered in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the complete armor of God, for you to be able to stand against the schemes of the devil, ¹² because to us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Because of this, take up the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all things, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod the feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ besides all, having taken up 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 and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ through all prayer and supplication, praying in the Spirit in every season and unto this very thing, watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that in the opening of my mouth, divine utterance may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may be bold, as it behooves me to speak. ²¹ And that you also may know the things concerning me, what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things, ²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know the things concerning us, and he may encourage your hearts. ²³ Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those loving our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.

Philippians

¹ ¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus being in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always making the supplication with joy in my every supplication for all of you, ⁵ for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being persuaded of this very thing, that the One having begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ Accordingly, it is right for me to feel this about all of you, since I have you in the heart. Both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are fellow partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For God is my witness how I long after you all in the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ for you to approve the things being excellent, so that you may be pure and blameless unto the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. ¹² Now I want you to know brothers, that the things concerning me really have turned out to the advancement of the gospel, ¹³ so as for my chains in Christ to have become clearly known in all the palace guard and to all the rest; ¹⁴ and most of the brothers, trusting in the Lord by my chains, to dare more abundantly to speak fearlessly the word. ¹⁵ For some, even from envy and strife, are proclaiming Christ, but some also from goodwill— ¹⁶ the ones indeed out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; ¹⁷ but the others are proclaiming Christ out of selfish ambition, not purely, supposing to add tribulation to my chains. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayer and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for me to deliverance, ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that I will be ashamed in nothing, but in all boldness also now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² But if I am to live in flesh, this is the fruit of labor for me. And what shall I choose? I do not know. ²³ But I am pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, indeed very much better, ²⁴ but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. ²⁵ And having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy of the faith, ²⁶ so that through my coming to you again your boasting in me may abound to Christ Jesus. ²⁷ Only conduct yourselves worthily of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether having come and having seen you, or being absent, I might hear the things concerning you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not being frightened in anything by those opposing you, which is a demonstration of destruction to them, but of salvation to you—and this from God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you concerning Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer concerning Him, ³⁰ having the same conflict such as you saw in me and now hear of in me. ² ¹ Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions, ² fulfill my joy so that you may be of the same mind, having the same love, united in soul, minding the same thing, ³ nothing according to self-interest or according to vain conceit, but in humility be esteeming one another surpassing themselves, ⁴ each considering not the things of themselves, but each also the things of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider to be equal with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, having taken the form of a servant, having been made in the likeness of men. ⁸ And having been found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself, having become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also highly exalted Him, and granted to Him the name above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in the heavens and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ¹² Therefore my beloved, just as always you have obeyed, not only as in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For God is the One working in you both to will and to work according to His good pleasure. ¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings, ¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God unblemished in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding forth the word of life unto a boast to me in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ And likewise you also be glad and rejoice with me. ¹⁹ But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be encouraged, having known the things concerning you. ²⁰ For I have no one like-minded, who genuinely will care for the things relative to you. ²¹ For those all are seeking the things of themselves, not the things of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know his proven worth, that as a child with a father he has served with me in the gospel. ²³ Therefore indeed I hope to send him immediately, when I shall have seen the things concerning me. ²⁴ And I am persuaded in the Lord that I myself will also come soon. ²⁵ Now I esteemed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, ²⁶ since he was longing after you all and being deeply distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷ And indeed he was sick, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him alone but also on me, that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, that having seen him again, you may rejoice, and I might be less anxious. ²⁹ Therefore, receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor, ³⁰ because for the sake of the work of Christ he came near unto death, having disregarded his life so that he might fill up your deficit of service toward me. ³ ¹ Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you indeed is not troublesome to me, and is safe for you. ² Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the false circumcision! ³ For we are the circumcision, those worshiping in the Spirit of God, and glorying in Christ Jesus, and not trusting in the flesh— ⁴ though I have confidence even in the flesh. If any other thinks to trust in the flesh, I more: ⁵ circumcision on the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; according to the Law, a Pharisee; ⁶ according to zeal, persecuting the church; according to righteousness in the Law, having become faultless. ⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, these I have esteemed loss because of Christ. ⁸ But indeed, therefore, I also count all things to be loss because of the excelling knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, because of whom I have lost all things, and esteem them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is of the Law, but that which is through faith from Christ, the righteousness of God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from out of dead. ¹² Not that already I have obtained it or already have been perfected, but I am pursuing, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing indeed: Forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore as many as are mature should be of this mind. And if you are minded in anything differently, even this God will reveal to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to that which we have attained, we are to walk by the same. ¹⁷ Be imitators together of me brothers, and consider those walking thus, as you have us for a pattern. ¹⁸ For many are walking—of whom I have told you often and now I say even weeping—as enemies of the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose God is the belly and glory is in their shame, those minding earthly things. ²⁰ For our citizenship exists in the heavens, from whence also we are awaiting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our body of humiliation, conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working enabling Him even to subdue all things to Himself. ⁴ ¹ Therefore my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved. ² I exhort Euodia and I exhort Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you, true yokefellow, help these women who labored together with me in the gospel, 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 men. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, surpassing all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is venerable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if any excellence and if any praise—think on these things. ⁹ And what you have learned and have received and have heard and have seen in me, practice these things. And the God of peace will be with you. ¹⁰ But I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that now at last you have revived the caring for me, wherein also you were concerned, but you were lacking opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak as to destitution, for I have learned to be content in that which I am. ¹² I know also how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In everything, and in all things, I have learned the secret also to be full and to hunger, also to abound and to be deficient. ¹³ I have strength for all things in the One strengthening me. ¹⁴ But you did well, having fellowship in my affliction. ¹⁵ And you Philippians also know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I came out from Macedonia, not one church had partnership with me with regard to the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica, both once and twice, you sent for my needs. ¹⁷ Not that I seek after the gift, but I seek after the fruit abounding to your account. ¹⁸ But I have all things, and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you, an odor of a sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will fill up all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen. ²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, and especially those of the household of Caesar. ²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Colossians

¹ ¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, ² To the saints in Colossae and faithful brothers in Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. ³ We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying continually for you, ⁴ having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have toward all the saints, ⁵ because of the hope being laid up for you in the heavens, which you heard of before in the word of truth, the gospel, ⁶ the one being present unto you, just as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as also among you from the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth, ⁷ just as you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on behalf of us, ⁸ the one also having made known to us your love in the Spirit. ⁹ Because of this also, we from the day we heard, do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding ¹⁰ to walk worthily of the Lord: pleasing in all, bringing forth fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, unto all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks to the Father, the One having qualified you for the share of the inheritance of the saints in light, ¹³ who has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, ¹⁶ because in Him were created all things in the heavens and upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and unto Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, firstborn out from the dead, so that He might be holding preeminence in all things, ¹⁹ because all the fullness was pleased to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace by the blood of His cross through Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. ²¹ And you, being once alienated and hostile in mind, in the evil deeds, ²² but now He has reconciled in His body of flesh through death, to present you holy and unblemished and blameless before Him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, having been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I Paul have become a minister. ²⁴ Now I rejoice in the sufferings for you, and I am filling up in my flesh that which is lacking of the tribulations of Christ for His body, which is the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the administration of God having been given me toward you, to complete the word of God, ²⁶ the mystery having been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but now having been manifested to His saints, ²⁷ to whom God has willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, ²⁸ whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ. ²⁹ Unto this also I toil, striving according to His energy, working in me in power. ² ¹ For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. ⁴ I say this so that no one might delude you by persuasive speech. ⁵ Truly indeed, if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. ⁶ Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, ⁷ having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding with thanksgiving. ⁸ Take heed lest there will be anyone taking you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of the world and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily. ¹⁰ And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority, ¹¹ in whom also you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in the removal of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through the faith of the working of God, the One having raised Him out from the dead. ¹³ And you being dead in the trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ having blotted out the handwriting in the decrees against us, which was adverse to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed the rulers and the authorities, He made a show of them in public, having triumphed over them in it. ¹⁶ Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food, or in regard to drink, or in regard to a feast, or a New Moon, or Sabbaths, ¹⁷ which are a shadow the things coming. But the body is of Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one disqualify you, delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, detailing what he has seen, being puffed up vainly by his mind of the flesh, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, being supplied and being knit together by the joints and ligaments, increases with the increase of God. ²⁰ If you have died with Christ, away from the principles of the world, why as if living in the world do you submit to decrees: ²¹ “You should not handle! You should not taste! You should not touch!”?— ²² which are all unto decay with the use, according to the precepts and teachings of men, ²³ which having indeed an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility and harsh treatment of the body, are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. ³ ¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on the things above, not the things on the earth. ³ For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ your life may be revealed, then you also will appear with Him in glory. ⁵ Therefore put to death the members which are upon the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, ⁶ because of which things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you also once walked when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you also put off all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, foul language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his practices, ¹⁰ and having put on the new, the one being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one having created him, ¹¹ where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free; but Christ is all and in all. ¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with each other and forgiving each other. If anyone should have a complaint against another, even as also the Lord has forgiven you, so also you. ¹⁴ And beyond all these, put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with grace in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And all, whatever you might do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to the husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love the wives and do not be harsh toward them. ²⁰ Children, obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they might become discouraged. ²² Slaves, obey the earthly masters in all things, not with eye-services as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you might do, work from the soul, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that you will receive from the Lord the reward of the inheritance. You serve the Lord Christ! ²⁵ For the one doing wrong will be repaid for what he has done wrong; and there is no partiality. ⁴ ¹ Masters, give to the slaves that which is righteous and that which is equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. ² Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it, with thanksgiving, ³ praying at the same time also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which also I have been bound, ⁴ so that I should make it clear, as it behooves me to speak. ⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech be always in grace, having been seasoned with salt, to know how it behooves you to answer each one. ⁷ All the things concerning me, Tychicus will make known to you, the beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, ⁸ whom I sent to you for this very purpose, that you might know the things concerning us, and he may encourage your hearts, ⁹ with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things here. ¹⁰ Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him— ¹¹ and also Jesus called Justus, these being the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God among the circumcision, who have been a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras greets you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, always struggling for you in the prayers, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear witness to him that he has great concern for you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, and also Demas. ¹⁵ Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and also Nympha and the church in her house. ¹⁶ And when the letter shall be read among you, cause that it may be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you also may read the one from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to Archippus: “Take heed to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” ¹⁸ The greeting is in the own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

1 Thessalonians

¹ ¹ Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. ² We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention in our prayers, ³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and unceasing labor of love, and the endurance of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and with much full assurance, just as you know what we were among you on account of you. ⁶ And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so as for you to became an example to all the believing ones in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone abroad, so as for us to have no need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report concerning us what reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to await His Son from the heavens, whom He raised out from the dead—Jesus, the one delivering us from the coming wrath. ² ¹ For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you has not been in vain. ² But having previously suffered and having been mistreated in Philippi, just as you know, we had boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much conflict. ³ For our exhortation was not of error, nor of impurity, nor in trickery; ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, the One examining our hearts. ⁵ For never at any time were we with word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— ⁶ nor seeking glory from men, nor from you, nor from others, though having authority with weight to be, as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother would cherish her own children. ⁸ So yearning over you, we were pleased to have imparted to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you have become beloved to us. ⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: Working night and day in order not to burden any one of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God, how holily and righteously and blamelessly we behaved toward you, those believing, ¹¹ just as you know how each one of you, as a father his own children, ¹² we were exhorting and comforting you and charging unto you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory. ¹³ And because of this, we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received the word of God by your hearing from us, you accepted not the word of men, but even as truly it is, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God in Judea being in Christ Jesus. For the same as them, you also suffered from the own countrymen as they also did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who having killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and having driven us out, and not pleasing God, are also set against all men, ¹⁶ forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, so as always to fill up their sins. Now the wrath has come upon them to the utmost. ¹⁷ But we, having been bereaved of you, brothers, for the time of an hour—in face, not in heart—were more abundantly eager with great desire to see your face. ¹⁸ Therefore we wanted to come to you—indeed I Paul, both once and twice—and Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Or are not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His coming? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy. ³ ¹ Therefore, enduring no longer, we thought it best to be left in Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you concerning your faith, ³ that no one be moved in these tribulations. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ⁴ And indeed, when we were with you, we were telling you beforehand that we are about to suffer affliction, just as also it came to pass, and you know. ⁵ Because of this I also, enduring no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the one tempting had tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. ⁶ But presently, Timothy having come to us from you and having brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that always you have a good remembrance of us, longing to see us just as also we you, ⁷ because of this, brothers, we were encouraged as to you in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you are standing firm in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanksgiving are we able to give to God concerning you in return for all the joy that we rejoice before our God because of you, ¹⁰ night and day imploring exceedingly for us to see your face and to supply the things lacking of you in faith? ¹¹ Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord make you to increase and to abound in love toward one another, and toward all, just as also we toward you, ¹³ in order to strengthen your hearts, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen. ⁴ ¹ Finally then, brothers, we implore and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that just as you have received from us in what manner it behooves you to walk and to please God, just as even you walk now, so you should abound more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: You are to abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ each of you to know how to win mastery over his own vessel in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust, as also the Gentiles, not knowing God; ⁶ not to go beyond and to overreach his brother in the matter, because the Lord is avenging concerning all these things, just as also we told you before and thoroughly warned. ⁷ For God has not called us to impurity, but into holiness. ⁸ So then, the one rejecting this does not disregard man but God, the One also giving His Holy Spirit to you. ⁹ Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God in order to love one another. ¹⁰ And indeed you are doing this toward all the brothers, the ones in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, to abound more and more, ¹¹ and to strive earnestly to live quietly and to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, just as we commanded you, ¹² so that you may walk properly toward those outside, and may have need of no one. ¹³ But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those having fallen asleep, so that you should not be grieved, just as also the rest, those having no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those having fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you in the word of the Lord, that we the living, remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those having fallen asleep, ¹⁶ because the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we, the living remaining, will be caught away together with them in the clouds for the meeting of the Lord in the air; and so we will be always with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words. ⁵ ¹ Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to be written to you. ² For you yourselves fully know that the day of the Lord comes in this manner, as a thief by night. ³ For when they might say, “Peace and security,” then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as the labor pains to her having in womb; and they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all sons of light and sons of day; we are not of night nor of darkness. ⁶ So then we should not sleep as the others, but we should watch and we should be sober. ⁷ For those sleeping, sleep by night; and those becoming drunk, get drunk by night. ⁸ But we being of the day should be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet, the hope of salvation, ⁹ because God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ the One having died for us, so that whether we might watch or we might sleep, we may live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as also you are doing. ¹² But we implore you, brothers, to appreciate those toiling among you, and taking the lead over you in the Lord, and admonishing you, ¹³ and to esteem them exceedingly in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we exhort you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient toward all. ¹⁵ See that no one has repaid to anyone evil for evil, but always pursue the good also toward one another and toward all. ¹⁶ Rejoice always. ¹⁷ Pray unceasingly. ¹⁸ Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God toward you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test all things. Hold fast to the good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil. ²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved, entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The One calling you is faithful, who also will do it. ²⁵ Brothers, pray also for us. ²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I adjure you by the Lord, this letter to be read to all the brothers. ²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

2 Thessalonians

¹ ¹ Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ We ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers, just as it is fitting, because your faith is increasing exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all to one another is abounding, ⁴ so as for us ourselves to boast in you in the churches of God about your endurance and faith in all your persecutions, and in the tribulations that you are bearing. ⁵ This is a plain token of the righteous judgment of God, for you to be accounted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which also you suffer. ⁶ For indeed it is righteous with God to repay those oppressing you with affliction, ⁷ and to you being oppressed, repose with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with His mighty angels, ⁸ in a fire of flame, inflicting vengeance on those not knowing God and on those not obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus, ⁹ who will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when in that day He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all those having believed because our testimony to you was believed, ¹¹ for which also we pray always for you, that He may count you worthy of the calling of our God, and He may fulfill every good pleasure of goodness and work of faith with power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. ² ¹ Now we implore you, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto Him, ² for you not quickly to be shaken in mind, nor to be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as if by us, as that day of the Lord is present. ³ No one should deceive you in any way, because it is not until the apostasy shall have come first, and the man of lawlessness shall have been revealed—the son of destruction, ⁴ the one opposing and exalting himself above every so-called god or object of worship—so as for him to sit down in the temple of God, setting forth that he himself is God. ⁵ Do you not remember that, being yet with you, I was saying these things to you? ⁶ And now you know that which is restraining for his being revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is working already; there is only the one at present restraining it, until he might be gone out of the midst. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of His mouth and will annul by the appearing of His coming, ⁹ whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in every power, and in signs, and in wonders of falsehood, ¹⁰ and in every deception of wickedness unto those perishing, in return for which they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved. ¹¹ And because of this, God will send to them a working of delusion, for them to believe what is false, ¹² in order that all those not having believed the truth but having delighted in unrighteousness should be judged. ¹³ But we ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers beloved by the Lord, that God has chosen you from the beginning unto salvation in the sanctification of the Spirit, and by faith of the truth; ¹⁴ to this also He called you through our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, whether by word, or by letter from us. ¹⁶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, the One having loved us and having given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ may He encourage your hearts and may He strengthen them in every good work and word. ³ ¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and may be glorified, just as also with you, ² and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all are of the faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and will keep you from evil. ⁴ And we are persuaded in the Lord as to you, that both you are doing and you will do the things that we command. ⁵ And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. ⁶ Now we warn you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are to withdraw from every brother walking idly and not according to the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how it behooves you to imitate us, because we were not idle among you, ⁸ nor did we eat bread from anyone without payment, but in labor and toil, working night and day in order not to be burdensome to any of you, ⁹ not that we do not have the right, but that we may offer ourselves as an example to you for you to imitate us. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we were commanding you this, that “if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.” ¹¹ For we hear some among you are walking idly, not working at all, but being busybodies. ¹² Now we command and exhort to such by our Lord Jesus Christ so that, working with quietness, they may eat their own bread. ¹³ Now you, brothers, shall not grow weary in well-doing. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our instruction through the letter, take note of this man, not to mix with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ And yet do not esteem him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. ¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace through all, in every way. The Lord be with all of you. ¹⁷ The greeting is in my own hand—Paul, which is my sign in every letter. In this manner I write. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

1 Timothy

¹ ¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, ² To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ³ Just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus when I was going to Macedonia, so that you might warn certain men not to teach other doctrines, ⁴ nor to give heed to myths and endless genealogies, which bring speculations rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith. ⁵ Now the goal of our instruction is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith, ⁶ from which some, having missed the mark, have turned aside to meaningless discourse, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they are saying nor that about which they confidently assert. ⁸ Now we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this, that law is not enacted for a righteous one, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for slayers of man, ¹⁰ for the sexually immoral, homosexuals, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and if anything other is opposed to being sound in the teaching, ¹¹ according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. ¹² I have thankfulness for the One having strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, that He esteemed me faithful, having appointed me to service, ¹³ being formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and insolent; but I was shown mercy, because I did it in unbelief, being ignorant. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord surpassingly increased with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Trustworthy is the saying, and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶ But because of this I was shown mercy, that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might display perfect patience, as a pattern for those being about to believe on Him to eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King of the ages, the immortal, invisible, only God, be honor and glory to the ages of the ages. Amen. ¹⁸ I commit to you this charge, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies going before as to you, that by them you might wage the good warfare, ¹⁹ holding faith and a good conscience, which some, having cast away, have caused a shipwreck concerning the faith, ²⁰ among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, that they may be disciplined not to blaspheme. ² ¹ First of all, therefore, I exhort entreaties, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, to be made on behalf of all men ² for kings and all those being in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. ³ This is good and acceptable before God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ the One having given Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony in their own proper times, ⁷ in regard to which I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am speaking the truth; I do not lie—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. ⁸ Therefore I desire the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, apart from anger and dissension. ⁹ Likewise also women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, ¹⁰ but with what is becoming to women, professing the fear of God through good works. ¹¹ Let a woman learn in quietness, in all submissiveness. ¹² But I do not permit a woman to teach, nor to use authority over a man, but to be in quietness. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ¹⁴ And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, has come into transgression. ¹⁵ But she will be saved through childbearing, if they abide in faith and love and holiness, with self-restraint. ³ ¹ Trustworthy is the saying: If anyone aspires to overseership, he is desirous of a good work. ² Therefore it behooves the overseer to be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money, ⁴ managing the own house well, having children in submission, with all dignity— ⁵ but if one does not know how to manage the own household, how will he care for the church of God?— ⁶ not a novice, lest having been puffed up, he might fall into the judgment of the devil. ⁷ And it behooves him also to have a good testimony from those outside, so that he might not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ⁸ Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not being given to much wine, not greedy of dishonest gain, ⁹ holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And these also, let them be tested first; then let them serve, being blameless. ¹¹ Women likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, clear-minded, faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons be husbands of one wife, managing the children and the own households well. ¹³ For those having served well acquire a good standing for themselves and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you in a short time, ¹⁵ but if I should delay, so that you may know how it behooves one to conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth. ¹⁶ And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: Who was revealed in the flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. ⁴ ¹ But the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² in the hypocrisy of liars, having been seared in the own conscience, ³ forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from foods that God created for reception with thanksgiving by the faithful and those knowing the truth. ⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, being received with thanksgiving, ⁵ for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. ⁶ Laying before the brothers these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good teaching that you have closely followed. ⁷ But refuse profane and silly fables. Rather, train yourself to godliness. ⁸ For bodily exercise is of a little profit, but godliness is profitable for everything, holding the promise of the present life and of the one coming. ⁹ Trustworthy is the saying, and worthy of full acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this we toil and strive, because we have hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. ¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Let no one despise your youth, but be a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come, give heed to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not be negligent of the gift in you, which was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elderhood. ¹⁵ Ponder these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. ¹⁶ Give heed to yourself and to the teaching. Continue in them; for doing this, you will save both yourself and those hearing you. ⁵ ¹ Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; younger men as brothers; ² elder women as mothers; and younger women as sisters, in all purity. ³ Honor widows who are truly widows. ⁴ But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to be devout first to the own household and to give recompense to parents; for this is pleasing before God. ⁵ Now she who is a widow indeed, and being left alone, has hope in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she living in self-indulgence is dead while living. ⁷ Also command these things, so that they should be above reproach. ⁸ Now if anyone does not provide for the own, and especially his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ⁹ Let a widow be enrolled, being not less than sixty years old, the wife of one man, ¹⁰ being borne witness to in good works: if she has brought up children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has imparted relief to those being oppressed, if she has followed after every good work. ¹¹ But refuse younger widows; for when they might grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, ¹² incurring judgment, because they have cast off the first faith. ¹³ And at the same time also, going about house to house, they learn to be idle; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things not being proper. ¹⁴ Therefore I want the younger ones to marry, to bear children, to manage their households, to give the one opposing no occasion on account of reproach. ¹⁵ For already some have turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman has dependent widows, let her impart relief to them, and let the church not be burdened, so that it may impart relief to those who are truly widows. ¹⁷ Let the elders ruling well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those laboring in the word and the teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox treading out grain,” and, “The workman is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except upon two or three witnesses. ²⁰ But those sinning, rebuke before all, so that the rest might have fear as well. ²¹ I earnestly testify before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels that you should keep these things apart from prejudice, doing nothing out of partiality. ²² Lay hands on no one hastily, nor share in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. ²³ No longer drink only water, but use a little wine, because of the stomach and your frequent ailments. ²⁴ The sins of some men are manifest, going before them to judgment; but of some also they appear later. ²⁵ Likewise also, the good works are evident, and even those being otherwise are unable to be concealed. ⁶ ¹ As many as are under a yoke as slaves, let them esteem the own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching should not be blasphemed. ² Now those having believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers; but rather, let them serve them, because those being helped by the good service are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. ³ If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not draw near, being sound in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching according to godliness, ⁴ he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but unhealthy about controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant frictions among men corrupted in mind and destitute of the truth, holding godliness to be a means of gain. ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, because neither are we able to carry out anything. ⁸ But having sustenance and coverings, with these we will be content. ⁹ But those desiring to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils, which some, stretching after, have been seduced away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many sorrows. ¹¹ But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and also did confess the good confession before many witnesses. ¹³ I charge you before God, the One giving life to all things, and Christ Jesus, the One having testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ for you to keep the commandment, without stain, above reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will display in the own seasons, blessed and alone Sovereign, the King of those being kings, and the Lord of those being lords, ¹⁶ alone having immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one of men has seen nor is able to see, to whom be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. ¹⁷ Instruct the rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to have hope in the uncertainty of riches, but on God, the One richly providing us all things for enjoyment; ¹⁸ to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous in distributing, ready to share, ¹⁹ treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is indeed life. ²⁰ O Timothy, guard the deposit committed to you, avoiding profane, empty babblings, and opposing arguments falsely called knowledge, ²¹ which some professing, have gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you all.