2 Thessalonians Cross References - JMNT

¹ Paul, Silvanus (or: Silas), and Timothy, to the called-out community of [the] Thessalonians within God our Father, even (or: and) [the] Lord (or: in union with God, our Father and Lord), Jesus Christ: ² Grace and peace (or: Favor and harmony) to you from God, our Father and Lord (or: our Father, and [the] Lord), Jesus Christ ([the] Anointed)! ³ We continue being indebted to be constantly expressing gratitude to God (or: We are continually owing [it] to be habitually acknowledging the goodness of grace and the well-being from the favor in God) – always – concerning you, brothers (= fellow believers; = Family members), according as it is continually valuable (pushes the scales down; is worthy), because your faith (or: trust; conviction; loyalty) is constantly flourishing (growing above; over-growing; exceedingly increasing) and the love of each one of you all continuously abounds (exists in abundance) unto and into the midst of each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast in you folks among God's summoned-forth ones (among those called-out of God; or: in union with God’s called-out communities) over your steadfast remaining under to give support (or: persistent patient endurance) and faith (or: loyalty; trust) within all your pursuits (or: chasings; or: persecutions; harassments) and the pressures (squeezings; constrictions; contractions; tribulations; oppressions; ordeals) which you habitually have again (or: sustain; hold up). ⁵ [This is] a display-effect (result of pointing-out; demonstration) of God's fair and equitable (just; in accord with the Way pointed out) deciding (separating for an evaluation or a judging), [leading] unto your being accounted worthy (deemed of equal value) of God's kingdom (or: the sovereign reign which is God), over (or: on behalf of) which you are also constantly having sensible experiences (or: normally feeling emotions; or: repeatedly suffering), ⁶ since in regard to a person who observes the Way pointed out – a rightwised person – [it is right] in the presence of God (or: if [it is], after all, the right thing with and beside God [= on God's part]), to repay pressure (or: squeezing and oppression; ordeal; trouble) to those continuously pressuring (squeezing; oppressing; troubling) you folks, ⁷ and to (or: for; in) you – the folks being continuously pressed – relaxation (ease; a relaxing of a state of constriction; relief), together with us, within the midst of the uncovering (the unveiling; the laying bare; the revelation; the disclosure) of the Lord Jesus from [the] atmosphere (or: sky; heaven), along with agents of His power (or: with His agents of ability) – ⁸ within a fire, of flame [with other MSS: in union with a blaze of fire] continuously giving justice (or: repeatedly imparting the effects of fair and equitable dealings from out of the way pointed out, and the maintaining of right) among (or: for; in; with; to) those not knowing (or: perceiving) God, even among (or: for; in; with; to) those not continuously listening to or paying attention and obeying the message of goodness and well-being, which is our Lord, Jesus (or: which comes from and pertains to our Master and Owner: Jesus). ⁹ These certain folks who will proceed paying the thing that is right (incur justice, fairness and equity): ruin pertaining to the Age [of Messiah] (or: an unspecified period of ruin or destruction; or: ruin for an age; eonian destruction having the character of the Age) [coming] from the Lord's face [= the Christ's or Yahweh’s presence], even from the glory of His strength (or: spreading from the manifestation which calls forth praise regarding, and having the character of, His strength) – ¹⁰ whenever He may come and go, to be made glorious within (to be glorified in union with; to have a reputation within) His set-apart folks (holy and sacred people), and to be wondered at (marveled at; admired) within all the folks believing in that day, seeing that our testimony (or: evidence), [being placed] on you, was believed (received with faith) and is trusted. ¹¹ Unto which end we always continuously pray (think or speak toward having goodness, ease and well-being), also, concerning you in order that our God would account you worthy of the calling (or: of equal value to the invitation) and would fill (or: make full) every delight (pleasure, good thought) of virtue (excellence; goodness) and work of faith in power (or: and may make every good disposition of excellence and action of trust full, in union with ability), ¹² so that the Name of our Lord, Jesus [other MSS add: Christ], may be invested with glory (glorified; made to be a manifestation and a reputation which calls forth praise) within you folks, and you within Him, according to (down from; in line with; on the level of) the grace and favor of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: from our God, and [the] Owner, Anointed Jesus).

¹⁰ "Those being ones having been pressed forward, chased or persecuted for the sake of fairness, equity, [covenant] relationships or justice which comes from the Way pointed out [are] happy and blessed because the reign of the heavens continually belongs to them (or: for the kingdom of the heavens is continuing to pertain to them; because the reign and sovereign activities from the atmosphere and sky is being a source in and for them)! ¹¹ "You folks are and continue to be happy (and: blessed) people! Now whenever people may denounce, reproach, heap insults on and persecute or chase you folks, and while continuously lying, may even say every bad thing (spreading malicious gossip; [other MSS: every misery-gushed utterance]) down against you – for the sake of Me, ¹² be continuously rejoicing and repeatedly express extreme exultation, because your wage (compensation; reward) [is] much (large; great), within the heavens (or: atmospheres [that surround you])! You see, they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

²² "Within (or: On) That Day many will repeatedly say to Me, 'Lord! O Lord! do (or: did) we not prophesy in (or: by) Your Name? And do (or: did) we not cast out demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences) in (or: by) Your Name? And do (or: did) we not perform many works of power and ability in (or: by) Your Name? ²³ "And at that time I will repeatedly confess assuredly to them, 'I never came to know or became acquainted with you folks (or: I not even once had intimate, experiential knowledge of you). Those people habitually working (performing; or: making a trade of; making a living in) the lawlessness are now to go off to a space (or: territory) away, and proceed in giving way to Me and making room for Me.' [Ps. 6:9]

³⁹ "And now the enemy (the hostile person) – the person sowing them – is the adversary (the person who will thrust something through you; or: the "devil"). And then [the] harvest is [the] bringing of the parts together to one destined end (or: a combined final act; a purposed consummation; a putting together of the final product; a joining of all aspects into the fruition of the goal) of an age, but the harvesters (reapers) are agents (messengers; folks with the message). ⁴⁰ "Therefore, just as the weeds (darnel) are periodically collected together and are normally burned down (or: up) in a fire, thus will it be within the conclusion (the combined final act; the joining of all parts and aspects to one end and goal) of the age [other MSS: this age]. ⁴¹ "The Son of the Man will progressively send off His agents (messengers; folks with the message) as emissaries, and they will continue gathering together out of His kingdom (collect and cull out of His reign) all the snares and things which entrap, as well as the folks habitually producing (or: doing; constructing; practicing; creating) the lawlessness. ⁴² "Next they will continue throwing them into the furnace (oven; kiln) of The Fire [note: a figure of being dealt with in, and by, God]: 'the weeping (crying and lamentation) and the grinding of teeth' will continue being in that situation (or: place). ⁴³ "At that time, the fair and equitable folks – who live in the pointed-out Way of right relationships, rightwised behavior and justice – will be progressively giving out light, as from lamps (or: will shine forth from out of the midst), in the same way as the sun, in union with the reign, and within the kingdom, of their Father. Let the person having ears to hear continue listening and be constantly hearing!

²⁷ You see, the Son of the Man (or: mankind's son; or: = the Son of Adam; or: [the eschatological Messianic figure]; or: the Human Being) is presently about to continue progressively coming within the glory (the manifestation which calls forth praise) of His Father, with His agents (messengers). And at that time, He will proceed giving back (or: repaying; recompensing) to each one in corresponding accord with his practice, behavior and operation of business.

¹³ "At that point, the king said to the servants, 'Upon binding his feet and hands, you men throw him out into the darkness (dim obscurity) which is farther outside. In that place there will continue being the weeping (or: lamenting) and the grinding of the teeth.' [comment: compare the binding of feet in Hos. 11:1-4, LXX:
1. Because Israel [is] a young child, I Myself also love him, and I once called his children together from out of Egypt.
2. The more I called them [to Me], the more they distanced themselves and kept away from My face (or: immediate presence). They sacrificed to the Baals, and then burned incense to the carved and chiseled images (= idols).
3. And so I, Myself tied the feet of Ephraim together (i.e., restrained him; = hobbled him to keep him from wandering) [then] I took him up upon My arm – and yet they did not realize (or: know) that I had healed them.
4. In the thorough ruin and destruction of humans I stretch out to them and lay [My hand] on them in binding ties (or: bonds) of My love. And so I will be to them as a person slapping (or: striking) [someone] on his cheek, then I will look upon him (= either: keep an eye on him; or: give respect to him). I will prevail with him and then give ability and power to him.]

³⁰ "And at that time, the 'sign' which is the Son of the Man (= Adam's son; the son who has the [true] character and qualities of humanity; or: = the expected Messianic figure; the Human Being) will be made progressively visible (be brought to light and made to shine), in union with heaven (or: within the midst of [the] atmosphere), and at that point ‘all the tribes of the land (or: earth) will continue beating themselves (= a figure of striking one's breast in grief and remorse; or: as when grain is being threshed; or: give themselves to wearisome toil; or: cut themselves off, as when harvesting grain),’ [Zech. 12:10, 14] and they will proceed in seeing for themselves ‘the Son of the Man progressively coming upon the clouds of the atmosphere (or: sky),’ [Dan. 7:13-14] with power and ability, as well as much glory (= many manifestations which call forth praise; an extensive good reputation).

³⁶ "Now concerning that day and hour, no one has seen or known – neither the folks with the message from the heavens (or: agents of the atmospheres; messengers who pertain to, or which are, the heavens), nor even the Son – only the Father [being] the exception.

³¹ "Now whenever the Son of the Man (= Adam's son; = the eschatological messianic figure; = the representative human) may come within His manifestation which calls forth praise (His glory; His good reputation) – as well as all the [other MSS add: set-apart (holy)] agents (folks with the message; messengers) with Him – at that time He will proceed sitting down upon a throne which has the quality and character of His praise-inducing manifestation (or: which has His glory as its source; or: which is His glory; or: which pertains to His good reputation).

⁴¹ "At that point, He will also proceed saying to those at the places on [His] left, ' [You] folks having been brought under the curse, continue proceeding on your way, away from Me, into the eonian fire (or: fire for an undetermined period of time; the fire which comes with the Age [of Messiah]; the fire pertaining to and having its source in the Age; the age-lasting fire; the fire having the quality and characteristics of the Age) – the one having been prepared and made ready in (or: by; with; for) the person who thrusts [something] through [folks] (the adversary; one who casts [something] through the midst and causes division; the 'devil') as well as in (or: by; with; for) his agents (messengers).

⁴⁶ "And so, these folks will continue going off (or: coming away) into an eonian pruning (a lopping-off which lasts for an undetermined length of time; an age-lasting correction and rehabilitation; a pruning which brings betterment and which has its source and character in the Age; a cutting off during the ages), yet the fair, just and rightwised folks who are in right relationship with people and are in accord with the Way pointed out [continue going off or coming away] into eonian life (life which has its source and character in the Age [of the Messiah]; life pertaining to the Age; or: the life of and for the ages).

²⁴ "On the one hand, the Son of the Man (= Adam's son; = the representative human; = the eschatological messianic figure) is progressively leading the way under (or: is now going away) – just as (correspondingly as) it has been written about and concerning Him. Yet tragic will be the fate for THAT MAN through whom the Son of the Man is in the process of being turned over. It was continuing being beautiful for Him [i.e., for the Son of the Man] (or: It was being ideal to Him; It was existing fine for Him) – if THAT MAN was not brought to birth (or: had [just] not been born)!"

⁶⁴ Jesus is then saying to him, "You yourself are saying [it] (or: are [so] saying)! Moreover, I am now saying to you people, from now (this present moment) on you folks will proceed to be seeing ‘the Son of the Man (= Adam's son; the eschatological Messiah figure; the representative human) continuously sitting at the right [hand] ’ of the Power, and ‘progressively coming (or: repeatedly coming and going) upon the clouds of the atmosphere (or: sky; heaven).’" [Dan. 7:13; Ps. 110:1]

²⁸ "Spontaneously (Furiously, eagerly and with purpose in itself; Automatically and with self-excitement) the ground (soil; earth; land) progressively bears fruit and produces a crop: first a sprout (or: [the] blade of grass; herbage), then a stalk head (ear) and finally a full grain within the stalk head (ear).

³⁸ "Furthermore, whosoever may be ashamed of or embarrassed because of Me and My messages (Words; Thoughts; Ideas) within the midst of this adulterous and erring (failing; mis-shooting; sinful; deviating) generation, the Son of the Man (or: the son of mankind; the Human Son) will also continue being ashamed of and embarrassed because of him – whenever (at the time that) He may come within the midst of His Father's glory (or: in a manifestation which calls forth praise for His Father) along with the set-apart agents (or: holy messengers; sacred folks with the message)."

⁴³ "Further, if ever your hand should at some point be entrapping you (be giving cause for stumbling or becoming captured, trapped, held in bondage or enslaved), at once cut it off! It is ideal [for] you, yourself, to enter into the Life maimed, than, having the two hands, to go off into the Valley of Hinnom (or: Gehenna; [note: this is a ravine south of Jerusalem where fires were kept burning to consume the dead bodies of animals, criminals and refuse]) – into the fire which is not extinguished. [note: Nestle-Aland, Westcott & Hort, Tasker, and Panin texts, following the oldest MSS, omit vss. 44 and 46, which are the same as vs. 48; MSS A D and others contain them: "'where their maggot (or: worm) continues not coming to the end [of its food], and the fire continues not being extinguished.']

⁴⁵ "And if your foot should begin repeatedly entrapping you in some snare, at once cut it off! It is ideal [for] you, yourself, to enter into the Life lame and crippled, than, having the two feet, to be thrown into the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna: the city dump).

⁴⁷ "And if your eye should begin repeatedly entrapping you in some snare, throw (or: cast) it out! It is ideal [for] you, yourself, to enter into God's kingdom (reign, activities and influence) one-eyed, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into Hinnom's ravine (Greek: Gehenna; = the city dump outside Jerusalem), ⁴⁸ "'where their maggot (or: worm) continues not coming to the end [of its food], and the fire continues not being extinguished.' [Isa. 66:24] ⁴⁹ "Indeed, everyone (all humanity) will be salted (seasoned and preserved) in (with; by) fire! [some MSS add: – even every sacrifice is to be salted with salt]

⁶² Now Jesus said, "I am (or: I, Myself, am [He]) [some later MSS and quotes by Origen, read: You are saying that I am])! And furthermore, you men will proceed seeing the Son of the Man (the human's son; the Human Being) by habit (or: continue) sitting at (or: forth from the midst of) [the] right [hand; section] of the Power, and progressively (or: repeatedly; as by habit) coming (or: coming and going) with the clouds of the atmosphere (or: the sky; the heaven)." [Dan. 7:13; Ps. 110:1]

¹² "I am now saying to folks, that within that Day it will be more able to hold up in (or: endurable and bearable for) Sodom than in (or: for) that town or city.

³² "Stop fearing (or: Do not continue being wary), little flock, because it delights the Father (or: because the Father thought it good, and thus, approved) to give the rule (reign; kingship; kingdom; sovereign influence and activities) to you folks.

²⁷ "And yet, he will continue declaring, 'I am now saying to you, I have not seen, and thus do not know, from where you are. Stand off away from me, all [you] workers of injustice (laborers in that which is not right; unfair workmen; folks whose actions do not accord with the Way pointed out; workers void of rightwised relationships)!'

³² "'But it continued being binding and necessary to at once be in a good and easy frame of mind (or: be given thoughts of well-being, cheer and celebration) and to rejoice, because this one – your brother – was existing being dead, and now he comes to life; and was one having been lost and destroyed – and now he is found!'"

²⁵ "But Abraham said, 'Child (or: Born one; or: Descendant), be reminded that within your life (or: lifetime) you took away (or: received from; or: got in full) your good things (or: the good things that pertain to you; the good things that had their source in you), and Lazarus likewise the bad things (the [experiences] of poor quality; the worthless things; the harmful and injurious [treatments]; the [conditions] as they ought not to be). But at the present time, here he continues being called alongside and given relief, aid, comfort and consolation, yet you yourself continue being given pain.

²⁵ "But Abraham said, 'Child (or: Born one; or: Descendant), be reminded that within your life (or: lifetime) you took away (or: received from; or: got in full) your good things (or: the good things that pertain to you; the good things that had their source in you), and Lazarus likewise the bad things (the [experiences] of poor quality; the worthless things; the harmful and injurious [treatments]; the [conditions] as they ought not to be). But at the present time, here he continues being called alongside and given relief, aid, comfort and consolation, yet you yourself continue being given pain. ²⁶ "'Furthermore, in the midst of all these things [and conditions] a great, yawning chasm (or: gaping opening) has been set firmly in position and is now established between us and you people, so that folks presently wanting or intending to step through from here toward you people would continue being unable [to do so] – neither could folks pass over from there toward us.'

⁵ And later, the commissioned ones (the emissaries; the sent-ones) said to the Lord, "Apply faith for us (= Be our faith; or: Apply trust in us; = Trust us; or: Put faith toward us; = Give us faith; or: Add faith to us; Increase trust in us; or: Deliver loyalty and faithfulness to us; or: Attribute reliability to us; Set us toward confidence)."

³⁰ "Down from and in accord with the very same things will it proceed being – on the Day in which the Son of the Man (= Adam's Son; = the eschatological messianic figure) is being progressively unveiled (revealed; disclosed).

³⁵ "Yet those folks being considered worthy (of complete equal value) of that Age – even to hit the target of the resurrection, the one out from among [the] dead folks – are neither normally marrying nor are being habitually given in marriage,

³⁶ "So you people be constantly staying awake, alert and watchful – in each season and every situation (or: in union with every fertile moment and on every occasion) – repeatedly asking with urgency, or begging, so that you can be fully strong to flee out and escape all these things being presently and progressively about to be happening, and then to be placed (or: cause to stand) in front of the Son of the Man (the Human Being; = Adam's Son; = the eschatological messianic figure)."

³ All things (or: All humanity; [The] whole) come to be (or: was at some time birthed; occur; or: came to be; were birthed; or: suddenly happened) through and by means of It (i.e., the Word; or: Him), and apart from It (or: Him) not even one thing comes into being (occurs; was birthed; came into being; happens) which has come into being (which has occurred; which has happened).

⁵¹ And He is further saying to him, "It is certainly true (or: Amen, amen; Most truly; Count on it). I am presently saying to you folks, you will proceed seeing the heaven (or: atmosphere; sky) being one that is opened back up again, and 'God’s agents repeatedly (progressively; continuously) ascending (stepping back up again) and habitually (progressively; continuously; repeatedly) descending (stepping down) ' [Gen. 28:12] upon the Son of the Man (or: Mankind’s Son; the Son of humanity; the Human Son; = the Human Being; = the eschatological Messianic figure)."

¹⁹ "Now this continues being the (or: So there continues being the same) process of the sifting, the separation and the decision (the evaluation; the judging), because the Light has come (or: has gone) into the world (the aggregate of humanity; the ordered system and arrangement of religion, culture and government; or: the system of control and regulation), and yet the humans love the darkness (or: the men [= the leadership] love the dimness of obscurity and gloom; or: mankind loved the shadow-realm) rather than the Light, for their works (deeds; actions) were continuing to be bad ones (unsound ones; wicked ones; laborious ones; toilsome ones that created bad news; wrongful ones),

¹⁴ After these things, Jesus is presently finding him within the temple grounds (or: courts), and says to him, “Consider (See; Take note), you have come to be sound and healthy! No longer continue in error (or: Do not further make it a habit to stray from the goal), so that something worse may not happen to you (or: to the end that something worse should not come to be in you).”

²⁷ "Stop continuously working or doing business for the food which is continuously disintegrating of itself (loosing itself away; destroying itself), but rather [for] the Food continuously remaining (abiding; dwelling) into eonian Life (life originating from, existing in, having the characteristics and qualities of, the Age; age-enduring and eon-lasting life) which the Son of the Man (of Humanity; of the human; of mankind; or: = the Human Being) will continue giving to you (or: in you; for you) folks, for This One (or: This Man) Father God seals (or: for God, the Father, put [His] seal [showing ownership and/or approval and/or authority] upon a person [doing] this; or: you see, this One the Father sealed: God)." ²⁸ Then they said to Him, "What should we be habitually doing, so that we would be habitually working God’s works (or: actions having the character of God; or: the deeds which have their source in God; or: = the things God wants us to do)?" ²⁹ Jesus considered and answered, saying to them, "This is God’s work (the work whose source is God): that you folks would continuously trust and progressively believe into that One whom He sends forth with a mission (or: into the One Whom That One sent forth as an Emissary)."

¹⁹ Therefore they went on saying to Him, " [So] where is your father?" Jesus decidedly answered, "You folks have neither seen or known Me, nor My Father. If you had seen and knew (or: were acquainted with) Me, you would also have seen and know (or: be acquainted with) My Father."

⁴ Now Jesus, hearing [this], said, "This weakness (sickness; infirmity) is not directed or leading toward death, but to the contrary [is] over [the issue of] God's glory (or: reputation), to the end that through it God's Son would be glorified (may receive a good reputation and a manifestation which calls forth praise)."

² "Every tender branch (shoot or twig which can easily be broken) within Me not habitually bearing (bringing forth; = producing) fruit He regularly lifts up and takes it away. And every one consistently bearing the fruit He periodically clears (or: seasonally cleanses) by pruning, to the end that it can continue bearing more (a greater amount of) fruit.

¹⁰ "because they continuously exist (or: are) in You (or: by You; for You; with You). So all things and all mankind that are Mine are Yours, and Your things are Mine, and I have been – and remain – glorified (made to be a manifestation which calls forth praise) within, and in union with, them.

²¹ "to the end that all mankind may (or: everyone would) continuously exist being one, correspondingly as You, O Father [other MSS: Father], [are] within the midst of Me, and I [am] within the midst of You – so that they, themselves, may and would also continuously exist being within the midst of Us, to the end that the System (world of culture, religion and government; or: secular society) can (may; would) continuously trust and progressively believe that You sent Me forth as an Emissary with a mission. ²² "And I Myself have given to them (or: in them), and they now possess, the glory (the notion; the opinion; the imagination; the reputation; the manifestation which calls forth praise) which You have given to Me, and which I now possess, to the end that they may continuously exist being one correspondingly as (just as; according as; on the same level as; in the same sphere as) We [are] one: ²³ "I within the midst of and in union with them and You within the midst of and in union with Me, to the end that they may (or: could; would) continuously exist being folks having been perfected (brought to the destined goal; finished; completed; matured and purposed) into one – so that the System (world of culture, religion, economics and government) can (or: could; would) progressively come to know through experience that You commissioned and sent Me forth, and You love them correspondingly as (or: just as; in the same sphere and to the same level as) You love Me. ²⁴ "Father, I continue purposing and intending (or: willing; wanting) that those also, whom You have given to Me and that I now possess, would continuously exist being with Me where I, Myself, am (continuously exist being), so that they can (or: may; could; would) constantly look upon and keep on contemplatively watching My glory (the appearance of My manifestation which calls forth praise), which You have given to Me as a possession because You loved Me before [the; a] casting-down (or: founding; sowing; [note: figure of ‘conceiving’]) of [the; a] universe (or: world; or: organized system). ²⁵ "O fair and equitable Father (Father who is the paradigm of justice, uprightness and rightwised relationship), though the ordered System (world of culture, religion, economy and government) does not have experiential knowledge of You, yet I Myself experientially and intimately know You (or: the world, also, did not know you by experience, yet I personally knew You), and these people personally know and recognize that You sent Me forth as an Emissary with a mission, ²⁶ "and I made Your Name intimately known to them – and I will continue making It experientially known, to the end that the love [in; with] which You love Me can (would; may; could) continuously be (or: exist) within the midst of and among them – and I Myself within the midst of, among, and in union with them."

¹¹ who also said, "Men! Galileans! Why do you stand continuously looking into the sky (or: the atmosphere; heaven)? This Jesus – the One being taken (or: received; taken in hand) back up away from you folks into the atmosphere (or: the sky; heaven) – will thus be periodically coming and going, [in the] manner [in] which you gaze at Him progressively going His way into the atmosphere (or: will in this way be continuing to go, [by] which [in] turning, you watched Him continue journeying into the heaven)."

⁷ And so the Word of God (or: God's thought, idea, message and Logos) kept on progressively growing and increasing (also: = God's Reason was spreading out like a growing Vine), and thus the number of disciples (students; learners; apprentices) continued tremendously multiplying (= increasing in number) within Jerusalem. Furthermore, a vast throng of the priests [note: these would have been Sadducees] kept on submissively listening to and hearing (thus: paying attention to and obeying) the Faith [note: noun with the article, thus this would signify trust and belief in the resurrected Jesus as the Christ – the message of faith that was then being proclaimed].

⁴⁶ Continuing bold, expressing the inherent right to speak the whole truth publicly with freedom from reprisal, both Paul and Barnabas said, "It was a matter of constraint, compulsion, and pressed indispensability [for] God's Logos (Word; message; idea) to be spoken to you folks first! Yet since you folks continue to push it away from yourselves, and are repeatedly judging (or: deciding) yourselves [to be] not worthy of the eonian life (the life pertaining to the Age [of Messiah]; the life whose source and character is from the Age), look! We are now being turned (or, as a middle: progressively turning ourselves) unto the nations (the ethnic multitudes; the Gentiles; the non-Jews).

²² progressively establishing (fixing and making to stand) the souls (inner lives) of the disciples (or: students), repeatedly calling [them] alongside to give relief, aid and comfort while encouraging [them] to continue abiding and remaining within the midst of the faith (or: trust; confidence; loyalty; reliance; conviction; assurance), and [saying] that, "It continues binding and necessary for us to enter into the reign of God (or: God's kingdom; the sovereign activities which are God) through the midst of many pressures, squeezings, tribulations, afflictions and oppressions."

¹ So [with D: after going through these ethnic (= non-Jewish) countries,] he came down into, and arrived at, Derbe, and then at Lystra – and now consider this! – a certain disciple (student; apprentice) was there, named Timothy – [the] son of a faithful (loyal; trusting; believing) Jewish woman, yet of a Greek father –

⁵ through Whom we receive grace, as well as a sending off with a mission [leading] unto faith’s obedience (or: obedience that springs from trust and loyalty; [the] paying attention associated with loyal allegiance; or, as apposition: "obedience which faith is" – Rudolf Bultmann) among all the ethnic multitudes, over [the essence, reality and power of] His Name (or: through means of Whom we at one point received a joy-producing act of favor, and then suddenly took in hand a commission as emissaries with a view to a humble and submissive hearkening – along with an appropriate response, which is faith – and a giving-of-the-ear from beneath [Him], with compliant listening and paying attention that has its source in trust and involved commitment, within all the non-Jewish nations for the sake of and in behalf of His Name [and reputation]),

⁷ to (or: for) all those being in Rome: God’s loved ones (folks dearly loved of God), set-apart (holy) called ones, joyous grace and peace to you (or: favor and harmony [= shalom] [are] in and with you) from God, our Father and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: from our Father God, and [the] Master, Jesus Christ; or: from God our Father, even [the] Owner – [the] Anointed Jesus). ⁸ First, indeed, I am constantly giving thanks to my God (or: expressing the well-being and goodness in the grace and favor by my God) – through Jesus Christ – about (with reference to; concerning) all of you folks, because (or: that) your faith and trust are being repeatedly proclaimed (or: announced) down within (= throughout the midst of) the whole ordered System (world of culture, economy, government and religion; or: = the Roman Empire). ⁹ For you see, God is my Witness (or: continuously exists being my Evidence) – to and in Whom I continuously render service (or: for Whom I am hired to constantly work), within my spirit (or: in union with my Breath-effect; in my attitude), within His Son’s good news (or: in union with the message of goodness, ease and well-being pertaining to, coming from, having the character of, and which is, His Son) – how unintermittingly (without intervals in between; unceasingly) I am habitually constructing a memory (or: producing a recollection) pertaining to you (or: making mention of you folks),

²⁸ And then, correspondingly as they did not (or: to the same degree as they do not) put God to the proof and so approve [Him] as fit and suitable, to be continuously holding [Him] within full experiential knowledge (or: having [Him] in union with added intimate insight; or: possessing [Him] in recognition and acknowledgment), God gave them over (hands or delivers them) into a mind which fails to meet the test (a disqualified mind) to continuously do (practice; make) things that consistently are not fitting (not reaching the proper level),

⁵ Yet down from your hardness (or: in line with and in accord to your obstinacy) and an unrepentant heart (= unchanged thinking and affection in the center of your being) you habitually collect and lay up stores of personal emotion in yourself (or: progressively treasure up to yourself inherent fervor, passionate impulse and a mental bent or a disposition; or: periodically bank for yourself anger, indignation or wrath) within a day of personal emotion (fervor; passion; anger; etc.) and of an unveiling of a decision of rightwising from God (or: of a revealing of God’s verdict regarding fair and equitable dealing; of an uncovering of a just judgment which is God; of a disclosure of a separation for a decision having the character of the Way pointed out from God; disclosure from God's right evaluation),

⁷ in those (to those; for those), on the one hand, in accord with [the] patient endurance (humbly remaining under for persistent support) of a good work (or: virtuous action) [who] are constantly seeking glory (a good reputation; a manifestation of that which calls forth praise) and honor (value; worth) and incorruptibility (or: incorruption) – life which belongs to, is connected with, and is proper to the Age (or: eonian life; the life of and for the ages).

⁷ in those (to those; for those), on the one hand, in accord with [the] patient endurance (humbly remaining under for persistent support) of a good work (or: virtuous action) [who] are constantly seeking glory (a good reputation; a manifestation of that which calls forth praise) and honor (value; worth) and incorruptibility (or: incorruption) – life which belongs to, is connected with, and is proper to the Age (or: eonian life; the life of and for the ages). ⁸ Yet, on the other hand, in those (to those; for those) out of a work for ambitious, factious or contentious purposes, and in (or: by) being continuously incompliant (disobedient; unwilling to be persuaded) to (or: by) the Truth (reality; veritable essence), but constantly compliant (obedient; persuaded) in, to, by and for the injustice (inequity; that which is not in accord with the Way pointed out), [there will be] personal emotion (or: inherent fervor; passionate impulse; anger; indignation; wrath; a habit of mind; a mental bent or disposition) and rushing of feelings (or: intense passion of the mind; violent breathing; glowing animation; turbulent commotion of the mind; or: rage; fury),

³ So not only this, but further, we also keep on being proud of and boasting within the pressures, while exulting in ordeals, afflictions and tribulations, having seen and thus knowing that the pressure (or: the ordeal, affliction or tribulation) is habitually producing (working down; accomplishing) a relentless remaining (or: abiding and dwelling) under [situations and circumstances] (or: humble and persistent endurance and fortitude as we get through it, as well as the patient ability to give support). ⁴ Yet the remaining and abiding under [produces] a quality of being approved by testing (= maturity of character); in turn, the quality of being approved by testing [produces] expectation and hope. ⁵ Now the expectation (or: expectant hope) does not habitually bring down shame (disgrace; dishonor; thus: disappointment), because God’s love (the urge toward reunion and the unambiguous, uniting acceptance from God) has been poured out in a gush and shed forth so that it now floods within our hearts, permeating the core of our being, through the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; Sacred Attitude) being given to us (in us; for us).

¹⁶ Have you not seen and thus know (Are you not aware) that to whom (for whom; or: in what) you habitually place yourselves alongside, presenting and providing yourselves as slaves into submissive, obedient hearing, you folks are, and continue being, [his or its] slaves – to whom (in what; for which) you habitually submit in obedient hearing – whether of failure (of sin; of missing the target) into death, or of submissive, hearing obedience into fair and equitable dealings of rightwised relationship in the Way pointed out ([covenant] justice).

¹⁷ Now since children (or: Yet if ones born by natural descent), also heirs (possessors and enjoyers of an allotted inheritance; those who hold sway over the allotted portion): on the one hand, God’s heirs, on the other, Christ’s joint-heirs (or: indeed possessors and enjoyers of an allotment pertaining to God and from God, yet possessors and enjoyers together in an allotment pertaining to Christ and belonging to Christ) if so be (or: provided) that we are continually affected by sensible experiences together – feeling together; receiving impressions, undergoing passion or suffering together – to the end that we may also be glorified together (or: can be given a shared appearance; would together receive a manifestation of that which calls forth praise; should be given a joint-approval and a joint-reputation; may be thought of and imagined together [in covenant relationship]).

²⁵ Yet since (or: even if) we continue expecting what we are not seeing (or: observing), we continue taking away and accepting from out of it through remaining under [our present situation and circumstances] (or: through patient, humble, persistent, supportive endurance).

³⁰ Now [in fact, consider this]: those whom He at one point before-marked-out (or: designates beforehand; [A reads: knew from prior intimate experience]), these He also at once called (or: calls; invited), and whom He called (or: calls; invites), these He also in one stroke rightwised (or: makes right, frees from guilt while making them fair and placing them in [covenant] relationships in the Way pointed). Now further, those whom He rightwised (or: rightwises; turns in the right direction; = included in covenant), these He also instantly glorified (or: makes of reputation which calls forth praise; gives a splendid appearance; gives honorable thoughts and imaginations; clothes with splendor).

²³ [it is] to the end that He could and would (or: may) also at some point make known by intimate experience the wealth of His glory (or: of His manifestation of that which calls forth praise; of the glory which is Him; which pertains to His reputation; from His imagination and opinion) upon containers of mercy (instruments of mercy), which He beforehand prepares into [being] (or: made ready and provides into the midst of) a manifestation of [that] glory ²⁴ – even us, whom He calls (or: at one point summoned; invites), not only from out of the Jews, but further, even from out of the nations (or: out of the ethnic multitudes, also; forth from the Gentiles, too).

¹⁶ But, to the contrary, everyone did not put the ear under hearing obedience (or: However, not all listen in obedience) to the good news (or: message of goodness, ease and well-being). For Isaiah is saying, "O Lord [= O Yahweh], who believes (which one adhered and trusted) in our hearing (or: by our hearing; in the thing heard from us)?" [Isa. 53:1]

¹² In and with expectation (or: By expectant hope) [be] people continuously rejoicing; in pressure (squeezing; tribulation; compression) [be] folks constantly remaining under to give support (or: humbly enduring); in thinking or by acting, and with speaking, toward having goodness, ease and well-being (or: by and with prayer) [be] people habitually persevering (persisting in adherence and engagement).

¹⁸ You see, I will not venture to speak (or: tell) anything of which (or: what) Christ does not (or: did not) work down, produce and bring into effect through me [leading] into a submissive giving of the ear (or: humble, obedient hearing and paying attention) from [the] ethnic multitudes (or: of non-Jews, nations and pagans) by an arranged speech and message as well as by a work (or: in word and in action or deed) – in a power of signs and of miracles, [that is], in [the] power of God's Spirit (or: in union with an ability from God's Breath; in an ability from an Attitude which is God [other MSS: in the midst of set-apart Breath-effect]) –

²⁶ but now is being brought to light and manifested, and through prophetic Scriptures, down from (in accord with, on the level of and in line with) a command of the eonian God (from the God Who exists through and comprises the ages; of God in relation to the ages; or: = from the God who created, inhabits, owns and rules the ages), [which leads] into hearing obedience from faith as well as a humble listening and paying attention belonging to trust, pertaining to confidence and which comprises loyalty – suddenly being made known unto all the ethnic multitudes (nations; Gentiles; pagans; non-Israelites),

³ Grace (the influence and boon of undeserved favor, kindness, joy and goodwill) and peace (or: harmony; = shalom), from God, our Father and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: from our Father, God, and [the] Owner, Jesus [the] Anointed). ⁴ I always and progressively give thanks to (or: for) my God (or: experience gratitude in my God; express the ease of grace by my God; experience the happy fortune of abundant favor with my God; observe my God's competent and prosperous grace), upon the basis of God's grace (favorable influence) [which is] being given to you folks within and in union with Christ Jesus,

⁶ correspondingly and in proportion as Christ's witness (or: the testimony pertaining to and whose origin is the Anointed One; or: the evidence of the Anointing) was made certain, stable and established on good footing (or: validated, warranted and confirmed) within you folks,

⁸ Who will be making you folks stable, certain and established on good footing until maturity (until attainment of the purposed goal; until accomplishment of the intended and destined results): people not [being] open to accusation (or: those not in the midst of a [legal] charge, not being called into account, or considered in some category; unimpeachable ones), within the midst of and in union with the Day of our Lord [Christ or Yahweh] – Jesus Christ! ` (or: in the Day which is our Lord, Jesus Christ; or: in the day of [Yahweh], which is our Master, Jesus [the] Anointed.) [comment: the phrase "the day of the LORD" was used by the prophets to signify God's influence and activity upon people]

¹³ each one's work will make itself to be visible in clear light (or: will become apparent), for the Day will make [it] evident (show [it] plainly). Because it is being progressively unveiled (continually revealed) within the midst of Fire, and the Fire, Itself, will test, examine and put to the proof (or: prove by testing) what sort of work each one's exists being.

¹⁷ And thus am I habitually arranging throughout (or: thoroughly setting in order; fully prescribing or distributing; or: arranging the troops) – within the midst of (or: in union with) all the called-out communities (or: among all the summoned-forth folks).

³⁴ Sober up by returning your senses into the Way pointed out, with fairness, equity and rightwised relationships, and stop sinning (do not continue in error or failure), for some (or: certain folks) continue holding an absence of an intimate knowledge of God (or: habitually possess an ignorance pertaining to God). I am now saying this with a view toward a turning back within [the situation] by you people (or: facing shame and humiliation for you folks).

¹⁹ for the Son of God, Jesus Christ [= Jesus the Messiah] – the One within the midst of, among and in union with you folks – being heralded and publicly proclaimed through us, [i.e.,] through Silvanus [this may = Silas], Timothy and me – did not come to be (or: was not birthed) "Yes," and yet, "No," but to the contrary, [the divine] "Yes" has been birthed and remains in existence within Him (or: in union with Him, "Yes" has happened and continues being; or: within the midst of Him, [the] "Yes" has come into being and remains)!

¹⁷ So you see, the momentary light [aspect or character] (or: lightness) of the pressure and squeezing (the affliction, oppression and tribulation) is progressively working down in us a corresponding and consecutively transcending eonian weight of glory (or: is repeatedly producing for us a heavy burden of glory, down from one over-casting on into another over-cast, each of which pertains to the Age; or: is now accomplishing with us an according, age-lasting weight of a good reputation – [each] a transcending one [leading] into [another] transcending one; or: is continuously effecting in us – on the level of “surpassing leading into surpassing” – a weight which has the quality of the realm of [Messiah's] Age, and which belongs to a manifestation which calls forth praise),

¹⁴ because if I have made any boast to him, over you folks, I have not been brought down in shame or disgrace, but to the contrary, as we speak all things in truth and reality, thus also our boasting on Titus came to be truth (was birthed into reality).

⁹ For you people continue knowing by experience the grace of Jesus Christ (or: the favor whose source and being is Jesus [the] Anointed), our Lord (Master; Owner), that although continuously existing being rich (wealthy), because of and for the sake of you folks He became destitute and led the life of a beggar, to the end that by and in the destitution and poverty of That One, you yourselves could (or: should; may; would) come to be rich (wealthy).

² For I have seen, and thus know, your eagerness (fore-spiritedness; forward bent in passions and emotions) – concerning which I am constantly boasting over you folks to [the] Macedonians – that "Achaia has prepared itself and stands ready since last year (from a year ago)," and your zeal stimulates the majority [of them].

⁴ lest by any means, if Macedonians should come with me and they should find you folks unprepared, we ourselves – not that we should proceed to mention you folks! – should be completely brought down in disgrace and be embarrassed in this underlying assumption (or: substructure) of boasting.

⁵ progressively tearing down and demolishing conceptions (concepts; the effects of thoughts, calculations, imaginations, reasonings and reflections) and every height (or: high position; high-effect) and lofty [attitude, purpose or obstacle] that is habitually lifting itself up against (or: elevating itself up on so as to put down) the intimate and experiential knowledge of God, and then taking captive every thought – one after another – and leading them prisoner into the hearing obedience of the Christ (or: the humble attentive listening, which comes from the Anointed One; or: the submissive paying attention, which is the Anointing),

⁴ For even though He was crucified from out of weakness (or: put to death on a torture stake forth from the midst of weakness), yet in contrast He is continuously living from out of the midst of God's power and ability. For you see, we ourselves also continuing being weak within (or: in union with) Him, but still we shall continue living together with Him from out of the midst of God's power and ability [which is also directed] into you folks.

²⁴ And in me [i.e., in my case or situation] they kept on glorifying God (or: began giving credit to God and expanding His reputation; or: So they began presuming, imagining and then continued regarding God [as being] within the midst of, and in union with, me).

¹ O senseless, unreflecting and foolish Galatians! Who suddenly harmed you with malicious words, or bewitched you folks with the evil eye – before whose eyes Jesus Christ was graphically placarded (= as though portrayed in writing before your own eyes) one having been crucified on a stake?

⁸ But on the other hand, at that time, in fact, having not perceived and thus not knowing God, you folks were, and performed as, slaves to (or: for) those [who], by nature, are not gods.

² Grace and peace [= shalom] to you (or: Favor and harmony [are] in and with you folks) from God, our Father and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: from our Father-God, even the Owner, Jesus [the Messiah]; or: from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ).

⁵ In love [He was] marking us out beforehand (or: definitively appointing us in advance; before-setting our boundaries and defining us, with a designation) [and directing us] into a placing in the condition of a son (or: a deposit of the Son; a setting in place which is the Son; the constituting as a son; a placing in the Son) through and by means of Jesus Christ [moving us] into Himself, according to (or: down from; in correspondence with; following the pattern of) the good thought, the intention of well-being, and the well-imagined delight of His will (determined purpose). ⁶ [This was] with a view unto praise of His grace's glory (or: This [led] into [the] praise of [the] reputation and honorable consideration of His favor) with which He graced us (or: favors and gifts us with grace) within the One having been, and continuing being, loved (or: the Beloved One; or: the One having been given and now expressing the essence and qualities of love; [some MSS: within His beloved Son]),

⁹ [This occurred] while making known to us (acquainting us by intimate, experiential knowledge; suddenly making us to realize) the secret (mystery; hidden knowledge) of His will (determined purpose; resolve) in accord with (or: down from and following the pattern of; corresponding to; in line with) His good thought which He before placed within Himself (or: corresponding to the measure of His pleasing imagination and intent of well-being which He designed beforehand and determined by setting it forth within Himself),

¹² [and progressing] into the [situation for] us to continuously be (or: exist) [oriented and moving] into [the] praise and approval of His glory and reputation [we] being the ones having before placed expectation within the Christ and who have left our expectation there (or: the folks who have continued expectantly hoping in advance [of others]).

¹⁴ Which is continuously a pledge of our inheritance (or: Who remains being an earnest payment, a security and the first installment of our portion which was acquired by lot) [and brought] into a redemption (a release into freedom, procured by the payment of a ransom,) from that which was made to surround [you] (or: of the encircling acquisition; or: which is that which has been constructed as a perimeter around [us]), [leading] into the praise and approval of His glory (or: the praise from His manifestation which calls forth admiration and which yields a good opinion and reputation; the approval which pertains to His imagination)!

¹⁶ [I] do not pause (or: cease; stop myself) in continuously giving thanks over you (or: speaking good favor on your behalf; or: expressing the well-being of grace because of your [situation or condition]), constantly making mention (constructing a recollection; producing for myself a mental image) upon the [occasions] of my speaking and thinking toward having wellness and goodness (or: imparted desires; prayers),

¹⁸ the eyes of your heart (= the insights and perceptions of the core of your being) having continued being enlightened (or: being progressively illuminated into a state of enlightenment) into the [situation for] you folks to have seen and thus perceive and know what is the expectation (or: expectant hope) of His calling (or: from HIS calling; belonging to His summons; from the invitation which is Him) and what [is] the wealth and riches from the glory (or: of the imagination and opinion; pertaining to the reputation) of and from the enjoyment of His lot-acquired inheritance within, in union with, and among the set-apart, sacred people. ¹⁹ And further, [I pray that you may know] what [is] the continually surpassing greatness (or: the constantly transcendent, repeatedly overshooting and thrown-beyond huge extent) of His ability and power [being given] unto, and into, us the people continuously believing, progressively trusting and constantly loyal in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to) the operation (or: energizing; internal working) of force (or: might) of His strength, ²⁰ which is operative (or: which He exerted and inwardly worked) within the Christ (the Anointed One; = the Messiah), awakening and raising Him forth from out of the midst of dead folks and then seating Him within (or: = at) His right [hand] (or: in union with the place of honor, strength and receiving which is Him), within the things (or: among the folks, places or realms) situated upon the heavens (or: in the super-heavenlies; within the full, perfected heavenlies; in union with the celestials; among the folks [residing] upon the atmospheres),

⁷ to the end that within the continuously oncoming ages (the indefinite time periods continually and progressively coming upon and overtaking [us]) He may exhibit (display; point out; give proof of) the continuously transcending (being cast beyond; overshooting) riches and wealth of His grace and favor, in useful goodness (beneficial kindness) [flooding] upon us, within Christ Jesus (or: in union with [the] Anointed Jesus).

¹⁰ to the end that now (at this present time), in union with the highest heavens, God's greatly diversified (exceedingly varied in colors, as a tapestry that depicts a scene; or: = many-phased) wisdom could be made known through the called-out community to the governments (or: rulers; sovereignties; chief ones) as well as to the authorities and folks with privilege among those situated upon elevated positions (or: made known through the summoned and gathered congregation: by the original members and the folks who have the right, that is, among the upper-heavenly folks; or: made known by means of the ecclesia with the founders and people having the privilege in union with these celestial ones and within the midst of the things situated upon the atmospheres),

¹⁴ On account of this I continually bend my knees (= in loyalty, respect and reverence) to (toward; or: face-to-face with) the Father [other MSS add: of (or: Who is) our Lord Jesus Christ], ¹⁵ forth from Where (or: out of the midst of Whom) every family (lineage; kindred; descent; paternal group) within heaven and upon earth (or: in [the] sky or atmosphere, and on [the] land) is one after another being named (or: spoken of, or to, by name; or: designated), ¹⁶ to the end that He would give to you folks, in accord with (or: down from; in correspondence to and on the scale of) the riches of His glory (or: the wealth of the glory which is Him), to be strengthened (rendered strong; reinforced; made to grow strong and acquire strength) inpower and with ability through His Breath-effect for the interior person (or: by means of the Spirit, which is Him, [proceeding] into the midst of the humanity within,)

¹⁶ to the end that He would give to you folks, in accord with (or: down from; in correspondence to and on the scale of) the riches of His glory (or: the wealth of the glory which is Him), to be strengthened (rendered strong; reinforced; made to grow strong and acquire strength) inpower and with ability through His Breath-effect for the interior person (or: by means of the Spirit, which is Him, [proceeding] into the midst of the humanity within,) ¹⁷ to inhabit (dwell down in; take up permanent abode in) the Christ (or: to house the Anointed One), through the faith and trust within your hearts, being folks having been rooted (or: having taken root) and now established and placed on a foundation within the midst of and in union with Love (or: having been grounded and rendered firm, centered in love). ¹⁸ To this end, may you folks be fully powerful and thus act out of strength to grasp (receive down for yourselves; take possession of so as to comprehend), together with all the set-apart folks (saints; holy ones), what [is] the width and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and thus to know and gain insight by intimate experience the love of, from, and which is, Christ [that is] continuously transcending (overshooting; being thrown over and beyond; surpassing) personal experiential knowledge and insight, so that you folks would be filled unto all the effect of the fullness of God and the result of the filling from God (or: could be filled up, unto the saturation point, with the result from the entire contents of God; or: into all God's full extent; or: unto all the effects pertaining to God's filling [you]). ²⁰ But by (or: Now in) the One being continuously able and powerful to do (make; form; create; produce) above and beyond all things surpassingly above, over and beyond things which we are repeatedly asking for ourselves or are normally grasping with the mind (apprehending; imagining; considering; conceiving) in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to) the power and ability [which is] continuously operating (making itself effective; energizing itself; working and developing) within us, and in union with us, ²¹ y Him (to Him; for Him; in Him; with Him) [is] the glory (the manifestation which calls forth praise) within the called-out community (the summoned-forth congregation) as well as within Christ Jesus: unto (or: [proceeding] into) all the generations (births; progenies) of the Age of the ages (= the most significant, or crowning, Age of all the ages)! Make it so (or: Amen)!

¹ I myself the prisoner (or: bound one; captive) within, and in union with, [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] am therefore repeatedly calling you folks, as it were, alongside: exhorting, admonishing, imploring and entreating youto walk [your path] (= behave; = live your life) worthily pertaining to (or: in a manner suitable to the value of) the callingand invitation in regard to which you folks arecalled (or: from which you were summoned),

²⁰ constantly giving thanks (expressing gratitude; or: speaking of the well-being that is in grace and favor) to God, even [the] Father [p46 & others: to the Father, even God] at all times (or: always; = on all occasions) concerning all things (or: for everything; or: over all mankind), within the midst of and in union with the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ [= the Messiah],

⁶ being persuaded and convinced of this very thing: that the One inwardly beginning (making an inward start; inciting; inwardly originating [note: in the context of sacrifices, this word meant “to begin the offering”]) a good work, a virtuous action or an excellent deed within you people (or: among you folks; or: in union with you [all]), will fully bring it to the goal (will be bringing perfection upon it; shall continue upon it to the final act and finished product: its completion; will bring upon its destiny; [note: this was a technical term for the ending of the sacrifice]) – until (or: right up to) [the] Day of or from Christ Jesus [with other MSS: as far as {the} Day which is Jesus Christ]! – ⁷ just as (or: correspondingly as) it is fair for me (or: it is right in me; it accords with the Way pointed out to me) to habitually think this regarding all of you folks (or: to continuously have this opinion and disposition over you all), because of the [situation for] me to constantly hold (or: have) you folks within my heart, both within my bonds (fetters; chains) and within the verbal defense (a word spoken from and on behalf of) and legally valid confirmation (the placement on a good footing to establish and make firm and steadfast) of the message of goodness and well-being – you all being my co-participants (common partners; fellow-sharers together) of the grace and joyous favor! (or: ... to continuously possess you people in the midst of the core of my being – you all being my joint-partners of this grace, both in union with my imprisonments and in verification of the good news!)

⁹ And this I habitually think and speak toward having things be well (or: pray): that your love may continually grow with excess and would progressively encompass [you and your world] with surpassing abundance still more and more, within full and accurate experiential and intimate knowledge and all insight and sensible perception,

⁹ And this I habitually think and speak toward having things be well (or: pray): that your love may continually grow with excess and would progressively encompass [you and your world] with surpassing abundance still more and more, within full and accurate experiential and intimate knowledge and all insight and sensible perception, ¹⁰ into the [situation for] you folks to habitually test, examine, distinguish and determine (or: make sure by proving) the things that carry through and are thus of consequence or make a difference, so that you may constantly be (continually exist being) folks judged by the light of the sun (thus: clearly sincere and with integrity) and ones [that are] not stumbling or jarring against [anything] nor striking toward [someone] and causing trouble, on into the Day of Christ, ¹¹ being people having been filled full with [the] Fruit of fair and equitable dealings which bring right relationship within the Way pointed out (or: = from covenant inclusion): the one [that is] through Jesus Christ [that is] leading into God's glory (good reputation and manifestation of that which calls forth admiration) and praise (approval and commendation) (or: being those filled full of fruit of a rightwised nature through Jesus Christ, which proceeds into glory and praise that belongs to and pertains to God; or: ... through Jesus Christ, with a view to inhabiting the qualities and characteristics of God's reputation and praise).

²⁸ even constantly being folks [that are] in nothing startled, intimidated or frightened by (or: under) the opponents (the ones continuously lying in the opposing position) – which is a public indication (a pointing-out as of display; or: a showing within) of loss (ruin; destruction) for (or: to) them, yet of deliverance (wholeness, health, rescue and salvation) to, for and among you folks [other MSS: in and among us; other MSS: of your deliverance], and this [is] from God,

⁹ For this reason, God also lifts Him up above (or: highly exalted Him; elevates Him over) and by grace gives to Him (or: joyously favors on Him) the Name – the one over and above every name! – ¹⁰ to the end that within The Name: Jesus! (or: in union with the name of Jesus; in the midst of the Name belonging to [Yahweh-the-Savior]), every knee (= person) – of the folks upon the heaven (of those belonging to the super-heaven, or [situated] upon the atmosphere) and of the people existing upon the earth and of the folks dwelling down under the ground (or: on the level of or pertaining to subterranean ones; [comment: note the ancient science of the day – a three-tiered universe]) – may bend (or: would bow) in worship, prayer or allegiance, ¹¹ and every tongue (= person) may speak out the same thing (should and would openly agree, confess, avow and acclaim) that Jesus Christ [is] Lord (Master; Owner) – [leading] into [the] glory of Father God (or: unto Father God's good reputation; [progressing] into a manifestation which calls forth praise unto God [the] Father)!

¹³ for you see, God is the One habitually being inwardly active, constantly working and progressively effecting [results] within you folks – both the willing (intending; purposing; resolving) and the [situation] to be continuously effecting the action and inward work – above the thing that pleases (or: over [the situation of] well-thinking and delight; for the sake of [His] good pleasure).

⁹ and may be found within Him (or: in union with Him) – not continuing having (or: holding) my pointed-out way (my fairness and equity; my relationships; my basis for what is right; my own righteousness) from out of the Law or custom, but to the contrary, the [fairness and equity which accord with the Way pointed-out] through means of Christ's faithfulness (or: the trust-conviction which is Christ; the faith of and from [the Messiah]): the [covenant] fairness and equity in right relationships from being rightwised within the Way pointed out [which is] forth from out of the midst of God as a source [and is placed and thus based] upon that faith, confidence and trust –

¹⁴ I am continuously pressing forward, pursuing down toward [the; or: an] object in view (a mark on which the eye is fixed): into the awarded contest prize of God's (or: the award which is God's) invitation to an above place (or: an upward calling having the source from, with qualities and characteristics of, God) within the midst of and in union with Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ whose goal (eventual end; closing act; final stage; result; finished discharge) [is] ruin and loss (or: waste and destruction), whose god [is their] cavity (or: belly) and [whose] reputation (or: glory; opinion) resides within their shame (disgrace; embarrassment) – people continually thinking about (habitually being intent on; constantly minding) the things existing upon the earth (or: = folks whose minds are earthbound).

⁹ And because of this (or: So that is why) we, from the day on which we heard, are not ceasing constant praying (thinking and speaking toward having things being well) over your [situation] and asking (or: making a request) on behalf of you folks, to the end that you may (or: would) be filled full with the entire contents of the accurate, full, experiential, intimate knowledge and insight of His will (His design, purpose, plan and intention; or: so that you may know and experience all that He wants you to know and experience) within the sphere of all wisdom and spiritual understanding (comprehension; a junction of that which is sent together; discernment; being able to make the pieces fit together). ¹⁰ [Thus we pray for you] to walk about worthily (i.e., to live your life with corresponding value) with regard to the Lord (the Owner; [= Yahweh or Christ]) [progressing] into all pleasing (or: into every desire to please; into the midst of entire pleasure) within every good work or virtuous action, while habitually bearing fruit and constantly being folks [that] are being progressively caused to grow and increase in the full, accurate, experiential and intimate knowledge of God (or: with God's full experience of intimate knowledge and insight; or: by the added insight and experiential knowledge which is God), ¹¹ being continuously empowered in every ability (being ones progressively enabled within all power) corresponding to the strength of His glory (or: down from and in the sphere of the might pertaining to and having its source in His reputation or His manifestation of that which calls forth praise; or: = the strength coming from His manifested presence [= His Sh'khinah]) [leading] into every [situation of] persistent remaining under [difficulties] to humbly give patient support (or: unto all relentless endurance) and long-waiting before rushing into emotions (or: long endurance; a long time before breathing violently with passion; or: perseverance; tolerance towards others), accompanied by (or: together with) joy. ¹² [We are folks who are] constantly giving thanks to the Father: the One calling you [other MSS: us] – as well as making [you; us] competent (sufficient; qualified; fit; suitable) – into the divided share of the lot of the inheritance (or: into the part and portion of the allotted possession) of the set-apart folks (or: pertaining to the holy ones; belonging to the saints; from the sacred people; which is the different-from-the-ordinary folks) within the Light;

¹² [We are folks who are] constantly giving thanks to the Father: the One calling you [other MSS: us] – as well as making [you; us] competent (sufficient; qualified; fit; suitable) – into the divided share of the lot of the inheritance (or: into the part and portion of the allotted possession) of the set-apart folks (or: pertaining to the holy ones; belonging to the saints; from the sacred people; which is the different-from-the-ordinary folks) within the Light; ¹³ He who drags us out of danger (or: rescued us) forth from out of the midst of the authority of the Darkness (from Darkness's jurisdiction and right; from existing out of gloomy shadows and obscure dimness; = the privilege of ignorance), and changes [our] position (or: transported [us], thus, giving [us] a change of standing, and transferred [us]) into the midst of the kingdom and reign of the Son of His love (or: into the midst of the sovereign influence of the Son Who has the characteristics and qualities of His accepting love; into union with the sovereign activities of the Son Whose origin is His love; or: into the sphere of the reign of the Son of the Love which is Him; into the center of the kingdom of the Son, which is His love),

¹⁶ because within Him was created the whole (or: in union with Him everything is founded and settled, is built and planted, is brought into being, is produced and established; or: within the midst of Him all things were brought from chaos into order) – the things within the skies and atmospheres, and the things upon the earth (or: those [situations, conditions and/or people] in the heavens and on the land); the visible things, and the unseen (or: unable to be seen; invisible) things: whether thrones (seats of power) or lordships (ownership systems) or governments (rulers; leadership systems; sovereignties) or authorities – the whole has been created and all things continue founded, put in order and stand framed through means of Him, and [proceeds, or were placed] into Him (or: = He is the agent and goal of all creation).

⁹ because within Him all the effect of the fullness of the Deity (the result of the filling from the Godship and feminine aspect of the Divine Nature) is repeatedly corporeally (or: bodily, as a whole; embodied; as a body) settling down and progressively taking up permanent residence (or: is continuously dwelling in person), ¹⁰ and you folks, being ones having been filled up (or: made full), are (or: exist) continuously within, and in union with, Him, Who is (or: exists being) [other MSS: the One being] the Head of (or: the Source of) all government and authority (or: of every beginning and right; of all rule and privilege which comes from being),

²⁵ Certainly, the person habitually doing wrong (constantly acting unjustly or inequitably; repeatedly being unfair and walking contrary to the Way pointed out) will continue receiving in himself what he wrongly does (or: will progressively take for his own dealing what inequity and unfairness he did) – and there is no partiality (favoritism; consideration because of personal appearance or of the face presented; receiving of a facade; taking of personage into account).

¹ Paul, Silvanus (or: = Silas; D reads: Silbanos), and Timothy, to the called-out community of the Thessalonians within, and in union with, God our Father, even (or: and) [the] Lord Jesus Christ: grace and peace (or: joyous favor and harmony with the absence of conflict; = shalom [peace and prosperity]) to you [other MSS add: from God, our Father and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: God our Father, and {the} Owner, Jesus {the} Anointed)]. ² We are continuously experiencing the well-being of grace in God, and are mindful of the favor of goodness and ease with God, always, which encircles and surrounds all of you (or: We are constantly always expressing gratitude and feeling thankful to and for God concerning you all), continuously making mention of you folks upon our thinking and speaking towards having things be well (or: remembering and being mindful of you people at [times of] our prayers) in regard to

² We are continuously experiencing the well-being of grace in God, and are mindful of the favor of goodness and ease with God, always, which encircles and surrounds all of you (or: We are constantly always expressing gratitude and feeling thankful to and for God concerning you all), continuously making mention of you folks upon our thinking and speaking towards having things be well (or: remembering and being mindful of you people at [times of] our prayers) in regard to ³ your incessantly remembering (or: being mindful, without leaving-off throughout,) of our Lord Jesus Christ's act of faith (process of trust; work from loyalty), wearisome smiting and toil of love, and persistent patient endurance from expectation, in front of our God and Father (or: ...upon our prayers, unceasingly mentioning, in the presence of our God and Father, the process of your faith {or: the work which is conviction and trust} and love's exhausting toil {or: the hard labor which is love}, and [your] steadfast remaining under for support of our Lord Jesus Christ's expectation {or: the expectant hope which are our Lord Jesus, [the] Anointed}).

³ your incessantly remembering (or: being mindful, without leaving-off throughout,) of our Lord Jesus Christ's act of faith (process of trust; work from loyalty), wearisome smiting and toil of love, and persistent patient endurance from expectation, in front of our God and Father (or: ...upon our prayers, unceasingly mentioning, in the presence of our God and Father, the process of your faith {or: the work which is conviction and trust} and love's exhausting toil {or: the hard labor which is love}, and [your] steadfast remaining under for support of our Lord Jesus Christ's expectation {or: the expectant hope which are our Lord Jesus, [the] Anointed}).

³ your incessantly remembering (or: being mindful, without leaving-off throughout,) of our Lord Jesus Christ's act of faith (process of trust; work from loyalty), wearisome smiting and toil of love, and persistent patient endurance from expectation, in front of our God and Father (or: ...upon our prayers, unceasingly mentioning, in the presence of our God and Father, the process of your faith {or: the work which is conviction and trust} and love's exhausting toil {or: the hard labor which is love}, and [your] steadfast remaining under for support of our Lord Jesus Christ's expectation {or: the expectant hope which are our Lord Jesus, [the] Anointed}). ⁴ Brothers (= Fellow believers; = [My] family), folks having been and still being loved by God, knowing and perceiving your election (your being picked out; your being chosen, arranged, gathered or spoken, out of the midst), ⁵ how that the message of the goodness of our God (or: our God's good news; the message of ease and well-being, which is God) was not birthed into you within word or thought only, but rather also within power and ability, even within a set-apart Breath-effect (or: in union with [the] Holy Spirit; in the midst of [the] Sacred Breath), as well as in much assurance having been brought to full measure, according as you have seen and perceived (or: by extensive absolute-certainty and with much bearing and wearing to the full, just as you know and are aware). Of such sort we were birthed (produced; brought to be) to, for and among you for your sakes (because of you folks),

⁵ how that the message of the goodness of our God (or: our God's good news; the message of ease and well-being, which is God) was not birthed into you within word or thought only, but rather also within power and ability, even within a set-apart Breath-effect (or: in union with [the] Holy Spirit; in the midst of [the] Sacred Breath), as well as in much assurance having been brought to full measure, according as you have seen and perceived (or: by extensive absolute-certainty and with much bearing and wearing to the full, just as you know and are aware). Of such sort we were birthed (produced; brought to be) to, for and among you for your sakes (because of you folks), ⁶ and within much pressure (or: squeezing; oppression) you yourselves were birthed (produced, made to be) imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving (taking in hand) the Word (or: idea; thought; message;) with [the] joy of [the] set-apart Breath-effect (or: from [the] Holy Spirit; or: the Sacred Breath's joy; or: accompanied by gracious joy which is a sacred attitude), ⁷ so then to produce and birth you as patterns for (models to) all those constantly trusting and progressively believing – while being loyal – within Macedonia and within Achaia. ⁸ You see, from you the Word of the Lord (or: [Yahweh’s or Christ’s] message) has been loudly sounded forth not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but even within every place your faith toward God has gone forth (or: out), so that we have no need to be speaking anything! ⁹ For they themselves are continuously reporting concerning us of what sort an entrance (or: introduction) we had toward you, and how you turned about toward God from the idols (forms; images seen; external appearances; pagan concepts and world views) to continuously be a slave to, for and with the living and true (or: real) God, ¹⁰ even to constantly dwell and remain (or: abide) back up again (or: fully lodge; or: stay up) [with] His Son – [living] from out of the heavens! (or: His Son, whose origin is from the midst of the atmospheres) – Whom He raised from out of the midst of dead folks, Jesus, the One constantly rescuing (or: repeatedly and progressively dragging) us to Himself from out of the midst of (other MSS: away from) the repeatedly (or: periodically; continuously; progressively) coming violent emotions (inherent fervor; mental disposition of teeming desire; passionate impulse; or: anger; internal teeming & agitation; outburst of rage; wrath).

¹ For you yourselves have seen and perceived (thus: know; are aware), brothers (= fellow members of the Body), that our entrance (or: way into; introduction) toward you has not been produced, birthed or come to be empty (without contents; = useless or without results),

¹² even continuously giving evidence (witnessing; confirming by testimony) unto you folks to be continuously walking about worthily of the God (= living your lives in a manner equal in value with regard to the God) [Who is] continuously calling (or: repeatedly inviting) you people into His own kingdom (or: reign; sovereign influence and activity) and glory (or: a manifestation which calls forth praise; or: reputation; or: opinion and imagination; or: = manifest presence). ¹³ And so, on account of this, we ourselves also continuously give thanks to God (or: affirm the goodness of the grace and favor in God) by an unvarying practice (or: incessantly; unintermittingly), because in receiving (or: taking to [your] side; accepting) God's word and message, from a hearing from us at our side, you welcomingly accepted not a word of or from people (or: a human message), but rather, according as it really and truly is, a word of God (God's message; an idea from God; a thought which is God), Which (or: Who) also (or: even) is continuously in-working (being active; operating; energizing) within and among you folks – those continuously trusting and progressively believing with loyalty.

¹³ And so, on account of this, we ourselves also continuously give thanks to God (or: affirm the goodness of the grace and favor in God) by an unvarying practice (or: incessantly; unintermittingly), because in receiving (or: taking to [your] side; accepting) God's word and message, from a hearing from us at our side, you welcomingly accepted not a word of or from people (or: a human message), but rather, according as it really and truly is, a word of God (God's message; an idea from God; a thought which is God), Which (or: Who) also (or: even) is continuously in-working (being active; operating; energizing) within and among you folks – those continuously trusting and progressively believing with loyalty. ¹⁴ For you, brothers (= fellow believers), were birthed (or: were made to be) imitators of God's called-out folks (or: summoned forth communities) – the ones within Christ being (or: existing) in Judea – because you also at one point experienced (or: suffered) the very same things by (or: under) your own fellow-tribesmen, just as they also [did] by (or: under) the Jews (= the religious leaders of Judaism),

¹⁹ For who (or: what) is our expectation (or: expectant hope) or joy, or shall continue being a crown (victor's wreath; encirclement) of boasting and glorying in front of our Lord Jesus, in His presence (or: in the place facing toward our Master, Jesus, within the midst of His being present alongside [us]), if not even you folks?

² and then sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow-worker in Christ's message of ease and goodness, to perhaps set you firmly (make you stable) and possibly call you alongside (to aid, encourage, exhort, console and give relief) over the [situation] of your trust and faith (or: conviction and loyalty), ³ that no one be continuously wagged as a tail (= shaken or agitated) within these pressures (contractions, constrictions; oppressions), for you yourselves have seen and are aware that we are continually laid into (= repeatedly destined and set for) this! ⁴ You see, even when we were with you we were predicting (laying it out and telling beforehand) to you that, "we are about to be continuously pressed (or: squeezed; oppressed), " just as it was even birthed (or: also came to be), and you have seen and know. ⁵ On account of this I also, no longer keeping a lid on [my desires] (= when I could bear it no longer), sent to find out about your faith, trust and loyalty, lest (or: in case) somehow the One continuously putting [folks] to the proof (or: the trier; [note: this could refer to God, or to one of His instruments, as with Job]) put you to the proof (tried or tested you), and our exhausting labor (or: = the trouble to which we went; toil; hardship; or: beating) may be birthed into a void (or: come to be [entered] into an empty place; or: exist in vain; = be to no purpose). ⁶ Yet at the present moment, Timothy, upon coming to us from you and announcing the good news (message of ease and well-being) to us of your faith and love, [said] that you always continuously hold (or: have) a good remembrance of us, continuously having strong desire to see us – even as we also you!

⁶ Yet at the present moment, Timothy, upon coming to us from you and announcing the good news (message of ease and well-being) to us of your faith and love, [said] that you always continuously hold (or: have) a good remembrance of us, continuously having strong desire to see us – even as we also you! ⁷ On account of this, brothers (= folks who are as family), on [the occasions of] all our choking necessity and pressure, by means of the ministry of a paraclete (or: the Paraclete) we were comforted and encouraged through your faith, trust and loyalty, ⁸ so that now we can be (or: are) living, since (or: if ever) you continue standing firm in (and: in union with) [the] Lord. ⁹ For now, what gratitude (or: expression of the goodness of grace and favor) we continue able to give back to God in return – concerning you folks, upon [the occasion of] all the joy for which (or: in which) we are continually rejoicing because of you – before (or: in front of; in the place facing toward and in the presence of) our God,

⁹ For now, what gratitude (or: expression of the goodness of grace and favor) we continue able to give back to God in return – concerning you folks, upon [the occasion of] all the joy for which (or: in which) we are continually rejoicing because of you – before (or: in front of; in the place facing toward and in the presence of) our God, ¹⁰ while night and day, over-excessively repeatedly begging regarding our need to see your face (= to see you face to face), and then to freshly adjust to correspondence (or: thoroughly equip, fit, knit together, mend and bring into agreement) the things lacking (the shortcomings or deficiencies) of your faith and with regard to your loyal trust! ¹¹ But our God and Father Himself, even our Lord Jesus, might suddenly make [note: verb is 3rd person singular; = He might guide] our road (path; way) straight toward (or: to) you folks. ¹² Now the Lord [=Yahweh or Christ] might at some point make you increase (or: be more than enough; be augmented; [note: in quality and/or quantity]), even to be abundantly surrounded and furnished (to super-abound) by love (or: to love; for love; in love; with love) unto each other and into everyone (or: all mankind), even as we also into you,

¹² Now the Lord [=Yahweh or Christ] might at some point make you increase (or: be more than enough; be augmented; [note: in quality and/or quantity]), even to be abundantly surrounded and furnished (to super-abound) by love (or: to love; for love; in love; with love) unto each other and into everyone (or: all mankind), even as we also into you, ¹³ to establish (firmly fix; set fast) your hearts blameless and without defect (or: to make stable your unblamable hearts) in set-apartness (or: holiness; sacredness) in front of our God and Father, within the presence of our Lord Jesus with all His set-apart folks (holy peoples; sacred ones).

¹ The remainder (What is left; or: Finally), then, brothers (= fellow believers), we are continuously asking and calling you alongside to encourage, exhort and comfort you folks in the Lord Jesus, according as you took to your side (or: received and accepted) from us how (or: in what manner) it is binding [for; upon] you to normally walk about (= live your lives) and to be continuously pleasing to God – just as you are even now continuously walking about – to the end that you would progressively superabound to a greater extent (or: can rather habitually excel and surround [yourselves] by more than enough).

⁵ not in a feeling of excessive desire (or: in union with an experience of full-rushing passion), just as also the nations (ethnic multitudes; non-Israelites) [do] who, having not perceived, do not know (aren't aware of; aren't acquainted with) God.

⁹ But now concerning loving one like a brother (or: brotherly love; = fondness for fellow believers), we have no need to continually write to you, for you yourselves are folks continuously taught by God (God-taught ones) to continuously love each other, ¹⁰ for you are even continuously doing this unto all of those brothers within the whole of Macedonia. But we are constantly calling you alongside (to encourage, urge, exhort and comfort you), brothers, to progressively superabound to a greater extent (or: rather to habitually excel and surround [yourselves] by more than enough [brotherly affection]).

¹⁶ because the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] Himself will continue habitually descending (or: repeatedly descend) from [the] atmosphere (or: heaven) within the midst of (or: in union with) a shout of command, within the midst of [the] Chief Agent's (or: in union with an original messenger's or a chief and ruling agent’s) voice, and within the midst of (or: in union with) God’s trumpet [note: figure of a message or a directive for action], and the dead people within Christ (or: in union with [the] Anointed One) will continue raising themselves up first (or: will one-after-another be standing up again in [the or their] first place). ¹⁷ Thereupon (or: After that; As a next step) we, the presently living folks, the ones presently continuing to be left around, will – at the same time, together with them – proceed being seized and snatched away within clouds (or: carried off by force, in union with clouds,) into the midst of [the] air (the air that we breathe in; the mist; the haze; the atmosphere around us; [note: this would be in the earth's lower atmosphere, the place where there is air]) – into the Lord's meeting ([Christ’s or Yahweh’s] encounter; an encountering which is the Lord). And thus (in this way and such a manner) shall we always continue being (or: continue existing at all times) together with [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh].

³ So whenever they may be repeatedly saying, "Peace and security from falling (or: safety; stability), " then (at that time) sudden and unexpected ruin (or: a surprise of destruction) is presently standing upon them, just as the birth-pang for the pregnant woman (or: to the one having [a child] in the womb), and they may by no means flee out or make an escape.

⁵ [This is] a display-effect (result of pointing-out; demonstration) of God's fair and equitable (just; in accord with the Way pointed out) deciding (separating for an evaluation or a judging), [leading] unto your being accounted worthy (deemed of equal value) of God's kingdom (or: the sovereign reign which is God), over (or: on behalf of) which you are also constantly having sensible experiences (or: normally feeling emotions; or: repeatedly suffering), ⁶ since in regard to a person who observes the Way pointed out – a rightwised person – [it is right] in the presence of God (or: if [it is], after all, the right thing with and beside God [= on God's part]), to repay pressure (or: squeezing and oppression; ordeal; trouble) to those continuously pressuring (squeezing; oppressing; troubling) you folks, ⁷ and to (or: for; in) you – the folks being continuously pressed – relaxation (ease; a relaxing of a state of constriction; relief), together with us, within the midst of the uncovering (the unveiling; the laying bare; the revelation; the disclosure) of the Lord Jesus from [the] atmosphere (or: sky; heaven), along with agents of His power (or: with His agents of ability) –

¹⁰ whenever He may come and go, to be made glorious within (to be glorified in union with; to have a reputation within) His set-apart folks (holy and sacred people), and to be wondered at (marveled at; admired) within all the folks believing in that day, seeing that our testimony (or: evidence), [being placed] on you, was believed (received with faith) and is trusted. ¹¹ Unto which end we always continuously pray (think or speak toward having goodness, ease and well-being), also, concerning you in order that our God would account you worthy of the calling (or: of equal value to the invitation) and would fill (or: make full) every delight (pleasure, good thought) of virtue (excellence; goodness) and work of faith in power (or: and may make every good disposition of excellence and action of trust full, in union with ability), ¹² so that the Name of our Lord, Jesus [other MSS add: Christ], may be invested with glory (glorified; made to be a manifestation and a reputation which calls forth praise) within you folks, and you within Him, according to (down from; in line with; on the level of) the grace and favor of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: from our God, and [the] Owner, Anointed Jesus).

⁸ And then (at that time) the lawless person (the unlawful one; the one without law; the man who violates the Law; the person being contrary to custom) will be uncovered (unveiled; disclosed), whom the Lord Jesus will take back up again (or: lift up; reading 'anaireo' with Nestle, Tasker & Concordant texts; Griesbach & other MSS read 'analisko': consume, use up, expend) by the Spirit (Breath-effect) of His mouth, and will deactivate (render inoperative and useless; make inert) by the manifestation (the bringing of light upon and setting in full and clear view, causing an appearance) of his (or: its; or: His) presence –

¹³ However we, ourselves, are presently indebted (or: continuously owing) to be constantly expressing gratitude to God (or: speaking of the goodness of grace and the well-being of the favor in God) always, concerning you: brothers (= fellow believers) having been loved continuing to be unambiguously accepted by the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] because God chose you for Himself, from [the] beginning, unto deliverance, [other MSS: God selected and took you in preference {to be} a firstfruit into a restoration to the original state and condition (or: into the midst of health and wholeness; {leading you} unto rescue and salvation)], in a setting-apart of spirit and faith which has the character of truth (or: a making sacred from Breath-effect and trust from reality; or: in union with Spirit's differencing and Truth's faith), ¹⁴ on into which, through our message of goodness, ease and well-being, He also called you folks [other MSS: us] into an encompassing (or: forming an encirclement; establishing a perimeter; creating a surrounding, and thus a procuring) of the glory (or: which is the glory; from the manifestation which calls forth praise) of our Lord, Jesus Christ (or: [the] Anointed).

⁵ So may the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] make fully straight, then direct and guide, your hearts into the midst of God's love (the love which is God) and into the relentless patient endurance which is Christ (or: the persistent remaining under to support, which comes from the Anointed One and the Anointing)!

¹² For (Because of; In view of) which cause I am also continuously experiencing (also: feeling; being affected by; suffering) these things. But still, I am not feeling shame (or: I am not experiencing embarrassment), for I have seen and thus know by Whom I have believed and now put my trust (or: in Whom I have relied and continue placing confidence), and I have been persuaded and am continuing convinced that He is able (He continues being powerful) to watch over, guard and protect – on into that Day – the deposit placed alongside of me (or: what is entrusted to my charge).

¹⁸ May the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] give to him to find mercy, beside [the] Lord [= Yahweh or Christ], within that Day! And how much (or: how many things) he gave in attending service within Ephesus, you yourself, by intimate experience, continue knowing better.

¹² since we are continuously remaining under for support (or: if we continue patiently enduring), we will also continue reigning (ruling as kings) together with [Him]; if we shall continue denying (disowning; not consenting; renouncing; turning our back on [other MSS: are repeatedly denying]) [Him], That One also will continue denying (disowning; not consenting to; renouncing; turning His back on) us.

⁸ For the rest (or: Finally; Henceforth) the winner's wreath of the Course having been pointed out (the athlete's laurel wreath consisting of the rightwised relationship in fair and equitable dealings, and pertaining to the justice of right behavior on the course; or: = the wreath from covenant inclusion and participation) continues laid away for me (or: is presently reserved in me), which the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh], the Fair (Equitable; Just; Rightwising; [Covenant]) Judge [of the games], will proceed to pay to (or: award in) me within the sphere of that Day – yet not only to me! ... but further, also, to all those (or: in everyone) being ones having loved His full appearance in Light (or: the complete manifestation of Him; His fully bringing things to light; the shining upon things pertaining to Him; His full and accurate manifestation).

¹¹ For God's saving grace (the salvation-imparting influence and boon of undeserved kindness, favor and goodwill whose source is God and which brings deliverance, rescue, restoration and health) has been fully set in clear Light for all mankind (or: was fully manifested to all humanity; has been made to completely appear in all people; or: has additionally shined within all humans) [other MSS: You see, the joyous favor of God: a Savior for (to; in) all mankind, has been fully displayed; or: So you see, the grace, which is God, was made to suddenly appear {as} a Savior for all humans],

¹³ being folks continuously receiving with welcoming focus, and granting access and admittance to, the happy expectation – even the full manifestation (the complete display in clear light) of the glory of our great God and Deliverer (or: Savior): Jesus Christ,

⁴ Yet, when the beneficial usefulness in meeting needs and the affectionate friendship for mankind (the fondness for, the liking of, and the love – as shown in kissing – for humanity) of God (or: coming from, and which is, God), our Deliverer (Savior; Rescuer; Healer; Restorer), was fully set in clear Light (was made to completely appear; was fully manifested) – ⁵ not from out of works [which arise from] within religious performance which we ourselves do [= deeds associated with the temple cultus of the old covenant] (or: not forth from actions in union with an act of righteousness which we, ourselves, did; not in a relationship based upon our own performance; not deeds in a system of justice, equity and fairness which we, ourselves, constructed), but to the contrary, down from and corresponding to His mercy, He delivered us (or: He saves, rescues and restores us to the wholeness and health of our original condition) through a bath of and from a birth-back-up-again (or: [the] bathing of a regeneration; note: can = a ritual immersion pool of rebirth) and a making back-up-new (of a different kind and quality) again from a set-apart Breath-effect (or: of a renewal and renovation whose source is [the] Holy Spirit; or: a set-apart spirit's creating or birthing [us] back-up-new-again; a renewal which is a holy spirit) – ⁶ which (or: from which source) He pours forth (or: poured from out of) upon us richly through Jesus Christ, our Deliverer (Savior; Healer; Rescuer; Restorer; Safe-keeper), ⁷ to the end that, being rightwised, and set in right relationship in the Way of fairness and equity which has been pointed out (also: = being placed in covenant membership) – by and in the grace and favor of That One – we can (could; would; may) come to be (or: be birthed; be made to exist being) heirs (possessors and enjoyers of the allotment), corresponding to, in line with, and down from [the] expectation (or: an expectant hope) that comes from eonian life (or: of life whose character, origin, source and realm is the Age [of the Messiah]; or: a life of unspecified duration which leads on into the ages; [the] life of and for the ages).

³ how shall we proceed fleeing out (or: escaping), in not caring for (or: neglecting) so great a deliverance (rescue; healing and restoration to health and wholeness), which – after receiving a beginning (or: a headship and place of ruling; a high estate; a principality [see Jude 6]) to be repeatedly and progressively spoken [of] through the Lord (or: by means of [Christ or Yahweh]) – was made firm into us and was guaranteed as valid by those who heard,

¹ Wherefore (From which situation), O set-apart and sacred brothers (= consecrated fellow members) – common-holders (partners; sharing possessors; joint-participants; associates; partaking members) of a super-heavenly calling (an invitation which comes from [the realm] upon the heavens; or, with epi as an intensifier: a calling of the complete and full heavens; or: a calling from the One [holding sway] upon the atmosphere) – consider (ponder; focus your thoughts down upon and think carefully about) Jesus, the Sent-off Emissary (or: Representative) and Chief and Ruling Priest of our agreed message (or: our like-reasoned idea; our saying of the same word; our unanimous consent and avowal; or: our binding association-agreement),

¹ With [the] announced promise to enter into His rest (or; the ceasing which is Him) continuing in being remaining left behind down on this level [for us] and fully left [open], we should, then, be at once caused to fear (= take respectful care and be attentive), lest at some point anyone from among you folks may be appearing (or: seeming; or: being of the opinion) to have been behind (to have come to be in the rear; or: to be deficient; or: = to have missed it)!

⁹ Consequently, a keeping of a sabbath (a state of rest) is being left remaining for (or: to; in; with) God's people,

¹¹ We should at once with diligence hasten, then, to enter into this rest (or: that ceasing down [from work]; completely stopping), so that one would not fall in the same example (or: result of a pattern) of incompliance (or: stubbornness; disobedience; lack of conviction; [p46 reads: lack of faith and trust]).

⁹ And being brought to the goal of [His] destiny (being brought to maturity and completion; being finished and perfected) He became a cause of eonian deliverance (or: rescue, wholeness and good health and restoration to the original state of being which pertains to and has the character of the Age; safety and healing of and for the ages) for all (or: in all) those habitually listening, paying attention and acting in response (or: the giving of the ear in hearing from below, with obedience) to Him,

¹⁵ And so, in this way enduring long (breathing and blowing long) he hit upon the target of (= obtained) the promises.

²⁸ so also, the Christ – being once borne (or: carried) close into the many (or: being offered once unto and for the many) to carry failures (errors; sins mistakes; deviations; misses of the target) back up again – will continue being made visible (or: will be progressively seen) forth from out of the midst of the second [place (cf 9:3, 7 & 10:9; {comment: = the holy of holies})] – apart from failure (apart from sin; apart from a sin offering; apart from error in attempting to hit the target) – in those (or: by those; to those; for those) habitually receiving (or: progressively taking) from out of the midst of Him, [progressing] into a deliverance (or: [leading] into a rescue; with a view to health and wholeness; into the midst of salvation). [note: the Greek word translated "receiving from out of the midst of" is apekdechomai, which is dechomai, which means "to take and receive with the hands," with the preposition apek, a contraction of apo, "from," and ek, "out of the midst of" added as a prefix. This verb should not be translated "looking for," or "awaiting"]

²⁷ but instead, [there is] a certain fearful taking (or: receiving) in hand from out of a separation for a decision, leading to a judging, and a zeal of Fire being about to be continuously and progressively eating (or: consuming) the hostile folks (the ones under the circumstance of being in an opposing position). [comment: see ch. 6:4-8; both there and here, correction is a necessary]

²⁹ By how much worse punishment (= heavier the sentence) do you suppose he will be thought worthy and counted deserving: the one trampling down the Son of God, and considering the blood of the arrangement (or: covenant) common (= profane) – within which he was set-apart (made sacred and holy) – even insulting the Breath-effect of joyous favor (or: Spirit of Grace)? ³⁰ For we have perceived, and thus know, the One saying, "Execution of right in fairness out of the Way pointed out [is] by Me. I will continue giving back (repay) in its place," says the Lord [= Yahweh], and again, "The Lord [= Yahweh] will continue separating and making a decision about (or: judging) His people." [Ex. 32:35-36] [comment: this paragraph, and its judgments, pertains to God's people]

³² Yet be remembering the first (or: former) days in which, being enlightened (illuminated), you at one point remained under (patiently endured while giving support in) a great conflict (contest or athletic combat) of the effects of sense-experiences (results of emotions, passions, sufferings and things that happened to you), ³³ partly both by reproaches and by pressures; partly being birthed (coming to be) folks of common being and existence (partners; participants; sharers) of those thus conducting themselves (turning themselves step-by-step), being constantly exposed and gazed upon as a public spectacle, as in a theater.

³⁶ For you continuously have need (necessity of the use) of persistent patient endurance (steadfast remaining under for support), so that doing (or: performing) the will (intent; purpose) of God you may carry away for yourselves – in order to provide and care for – the Promise.

⁸ In loyal faith, by trusting allegiance and with confident faithfulness, Abraham obeyed (humbly listened and submissively paid attention, under [God]), continuing to be called to go out into the place which he was, and continued being, about to take in hand (or: receive) – into an inheritance (an enjoyment of an allotment). And he went out not presently putting his thoughts on (or: not being versed in or acquainted with) where he was progressively going.

¹ Consequently and for this very reason, then, we also, continuously having such a big cloud of witnesses (spectators; folks bearing testimony; people with evidence) environing us (lying around for us and [they] themselves surrounding and encompassing us), after at once putting off from ourselves all bulk and encumbrance (every weight; all that is prominent; or: getting rid of every arrow point within us) and the easily-environing (skillfully-surrounding; well-placed encircling) failure (sin; error; mistake; shooting off-target; missing of the point), we can and should through persistent remaining-under (or: relentless patient endurance and giving of support) keep on running the racecourse continuously lying before us (or: lying in the forefront within us; or: lying ahead, among us), ² turning [our] eyes away from other things and fixing them (or: looking away) into Jesus, the Inaugurator (First Leader; Prime Author) and Perfecter (Finisher; the Bringer-to-maturity and fruition; He who purposes and accomplishes the destiny) of the faith, trust, confidence and loyal allegiance, Who, instead of and in place of the joy (or: in the position on the opposite side from the happiness) continuously lying before Him (or: lying in the forefront within Him; lying ahead for Him), remained under a cross – despising shame (or: thinking nothing of [the] disgrace) – and has sat down and now continues seated, remaining in the right [hand] of (or: = in union with the place of receiving at; = at the place of power and honor, which is) God's throne.

² turning [our] eyes away from other things and fixing them (or: looking away) into Jesus, the Inaugurator (First Leader; Prime Author) and Perfecter (Finisher; the Bringer-to-maturity and fruition; He who purposes and accomplishes the destiny) of the faith, trust, confidence and loyal allegiance, Who, instead of and in place of the joy (or: in the position on the opposite side from the happiness) continuously lying before Him (or: lying in the forefront within Him; lying ahead for Him), remained under a cross – despising shame (or: thinking nothing of [the] disgrace) – and has sat down and now continues seated, remaining in the right [hand] of (or: = in union with the place of receiving at; = at the place of power and honor, which is) God's throne. ³ For consider attentively again (or: logically reckon back for yourselves; gather it up in yourselves concerning) the One having remained under while undergoing (or: having patiently endured while giving support in) such contradiction (the anti-word; the message which is contrary to reason; speaking in opposition, against, or instead of) – [which was directed] into Himself [other MSS: {permeating} into the midst of themselves] by those missing the mark (the sinners; those making a mistake, committing error, missing the point) – to the end that you may not tire with exertion (or: labor to weariness), being continuously dissolved (be enfeebled and exhausted; caused to fall apart) in your inner selves (or: by your souls; = in your lives).

²⁹ for you see, "even our God [is] a continuously all-consuming Fire (or: our God [is] also a progressively fully-devouring fire)." [Deut. 4:24; 9:3; Isa. 33:14]

³ habitually knowing by intimate experience and insight that the thing by means of which your faith, trust and confidence is proved (tested and accepted) is continually producing (or: is progressively working down-in the results of) persistent patient endurance (a steadfast remaining and dwelling under some ordeal or situation; or: a holding up under sustained attacks; or: a relentless giving of sustaining support). ⁴ But patient endurance (remaining under and/or sustained support) must habitually be having a work brought to completion (a complete action; a perfect work; a mature production which reaches its goal) to the intent that you may be (or: can exist as) perfect ones (complete, matured and finished folks who have attained the goal), even ones having an entire allotment (or: whole folks having every part), being left behind in nothing (or: lacking not one thing).

⁷ Be patient (long-tempered; long-passioned; slow to rush; or: Have long-term feelings and emotions), then, brothers, during the continuance of the Lord's [= Yahweh's, or, Christ's] presence and His being alongside. Consider! The worker of the land repeatedly receives (takes out into his hands from within) the precious fruit of the land, being patient (slow to rush and with long-term feelings) upon it during the continuance where it can receive “an early as well as a latter (or: late) rain.” [Deut. 11:14] ⁸ You, too, be patient (be slow to rush while maintaining long-term feelings); establish (place supports and make stable; firmly set) your hearts, because the Lord's [= Yahweh's or Christ's] presence has drawn near (has approached and now exists close to us).

¹¹ Consider! We are calling happy and blessed those remaining under (or: patiently and humbly enduring; or: steadfast and supporting). You heard [about] the persistent remaining under (steadfast, patient and humble endurance) of Job, and you saw the Lord's [= Yahweh's] goal (the end attained by the Lord; the Lord's completion), because “the Lord [= Yahweh] is great of tender affections (literally: great of internal organs; full of guts) and is empathetically compassionate.” [Ex. 34:6]

² – to folks gathered, laid-out and chosen in accord with and down from Father God's foreknowledge (or: corresponding to a previous experiential and intimate knowledge possessed by God, who is a Father), within a setting-apart of spirit (or: in union with the process of being set apart from common condition and use by [the] Spirit; or: in the midst of a sacred differencing which is a Breath-effect) [leading] into an obedient hearing (or: [focused] to being centered in a listening and paying attention with compliance) and a sprinkling with Jesus Christ's blood (or: a sprinkling of blood, which is Jesus Christ): May grace (or: favor) and peace [= shalom] be multiplied into fullness (or: be brought to fullness) in and among you folks (or: to you folks; for you folks)!

⁷ [This is] to the end that the examined and tested approval of your faith (of the trust and faithfulness of you folks) – [being] of much greater value and worth, and more precious, than of gold that constantly loses itself away (perishes of itself) despite being progressively tested and examined through fire – might be found [progressing] into praise (approval; commendation) and glory (or: a good reputation) and honor (value; worth) within an unveiling of Jesus Christ (or: in union with a revelation whose source is, which has the character of, and which is, Jesus, [the] Anointed One; in the midst of a disclosure from [Messiah] Jesus), ⁸ Whom not seeing (or: perceiving), you folks are continuously loving and accepting (or: experiencing the urge for reunion); into Whom at the present moment you folks are not constantly looking, yet are habitually believing (or: continuously placing [your] trust and loyalty). You folks are repeatedly rejoicing and being very happy in indescribable (or: incapable of being spoken out) joy which also exists having been made glorious (or: by unspeakable and glorified joy; in joy [that is] inexpressible and has made a notable reputation; with joy that is glorious beyond words, and which is filled with imagination and good opinion),

²² Having purified your souls (= inner selves) within the hearing obedience (the humble, attentive listening and submissive hearing) of the Truth and from Reality [which directs and leads] into unhypocritical (non-hypercritical; non-hyper-separating so as to over-evaluate; not determined from below; non-nit-picky; or: unpretended; unfeigned; thus: genuine) brotherly affection (= fondness for the fellow believers), love one another with acceptance in a stretched-out and extended way, from out of a clean [other MSS: true; genuine] heart,

⁹ Yet you folks [are] "a picked-out (selected; chosen) offspring (family; kin; lineage; race; species; breed) [Isa. 43:20; Deut. 7:6], a royal (kingly; palace) priesthood [Ex. 19:6; Isa. 61:6], a set-apart (holy; different) multitude (company; nation; body of people living together; swarm; association; ethnic group; caste; [Ex. 19:6; note: implies a sacred life]), a people constructed into an encirclement (made into a surrounding structure; set as a perimeter; made into a performance about [Him]; formed around as an acquisition; gathered into a surrounding [flock])" [Isa. 43:21; Ex. 19:5] – so that you may tell forth the message of (or: out-message; publish; declare abroad) the excellencies and qualities of nobleness (virtues of braveness, courage, good character, quality, self-restraint, magnificence, benevolence, reliability) of and from the One calling you out of darkness (gloomy dimness; the realm of shadows and obscurity) into the midst of His wonderful (marvelous; amazing) light [p72 reads: into the wonderful Light],

⁶ as Sarah used to humbly hear and submissively obey Abraham, habitually calling him "lord" ("master;" "my owner"), of which woman you were birthed children (or: you are become her born ones [= daughters]), women normally doing good (performing virtue; creating excellence), and not being repeatedly caused to fear even one dismay (alarm; intimidation).

²² Who continuously exists (or: is; has being) within [the place of] (or: = on or at) God's right [side, or hand; – i.e., the place of authority and ability to exercise power; the place of receiving], going from place to place, journeying into [the] atmosphere (or: heaven) of those being humbly aligned by Him (or: pertaining to those subjected, placed and arranged under in Him; which are the folks being set in order for support to Him): of agents (or: messengers; folks with the message), and of authorities (or: those who have the right and privilege from out of Being), and of powers (or: folks with abilities and influence).

¹⁴ Since (or: If) you folks are constantly being insulted and censured in (or: [because of] union with) the Name of Christ, [you are] happy ones (blessed folks), because God's spirit of glory and power (or: the Breath-effect of the reputation and of the ability of God) is continuously "resting back upon" you folks [cf. Isa. 11:2].

¹⁴ Since (or: If) you folks are constantly being insulted and censured in (or: [because of] union with) the Name of Christ, [you are] happy ones (blessed folks), because God's spirit of glory and power (or: the Breath-effect of the reputation and of the ability of God) is continuously "resting back upon" you folks [cf. Isa. 11:2]. ¹⁵ Of course let not any one of you folks be experiencing suffering as a murderer, or a thief, or a doer of worthless or evil things, or, as a meddler (an interferer) in other people's affairs (or: one who focuses on things strange, foreign or "other, " or involving a place-change). ¹⁶ Yet if as a Christian [she or he is suffering], let him or her not continue feeling shame or embarrassment, but let him or her constantly glorify (give credit to; enhance the reputation of; bring an opinion of high status for) God within this Name (or: in union with this name [i.e., "Christian;" or, referring to "the Name of Christ" in vs. 14, above]), ¹⁷ because [it is; this is; now is] the [other MSS: a] fitting situation and fertile moment of the appointed season for the result of the judgment (the effect of the separating for evaluation and decision) to begin (to start) from God's house. Now if first from us, what [will be] the closing act (the final stage; the end; the consummation; the outcome; the finished product) pertaining to those continuing unpersuaded and unconvinced by (or: uncompliant to; disobedient to; stubborn in) God's message of goodness and well-being (or: good news)?

¹⁷ because [it is; this is; now is] the [other MSS: a] fitting situation and fertile moment of the appointed season for the result of the judgment (the effect of the separating for evaluation and decision) to begin (to start) from God's house. Now if first from us, what [will be] the closing act (the final stage; the end; the consummation; the outcome; the finished product) pertaining to those continuing unpersuaded and unconvinced by (or: uncompliant to; disobedient to; stubborn in) God's message of goodness and well-being (or: good news)? ¹⁸ "And if the rightwised one (the fair and just person in right relationships in accord to the Way pointed out) is repeatedly delivered (rescued; brought to safety; made healthy and whole) with difficult labor, then where will the irreverent (the person without pious awe) and the failure (the one who makes mistakes and cannot hit the target; the sinner; the outcast) proceed in making an appearance?" [Prov. 11:31]

¹⁰ Now the God of all grace and favor (or: the God whose character and quality is all grace and favor; the God Who is every grace and joyous favor), the One calling (or: inviting) you folks – ones experiencing a little and briefly suffering – into His eonian glory (His glory and reputation which has the quality and characteristics pertaining to the realm of the Age and which continues on into an unseen and indefinite time) within Christ Jesus [with other MSS: in union with the Anointed One (= the Messiah)], the Same One (or: He) will continue getting [things, or, you] down and prepare [them, or, you] (or: repair [them; you]; fit, knit or adjust [them; you] thoroughly), will continue setting [things; you] fast and establish [them; you], will continue imparting strength (will make [things; you] strong), [and] will progressively set a base upon which to ground and found [things and you]:

⁵ Yet, also, this same (or: And yet for this very cause): while bringing into and alongside (i.e., making full use of) all diligent haste, you folks at once fully lead the chorus of (or: completely choreograph) the excellence and nobleness (virtues of braveness, courage, good character, quality, self-restraint, magnificence, benevolence, reliability, moral valor) [being inherent] within your faith and trust; along with the intimate, experiential knowledge [being] within the excellence and nobleness (virtues of braveness, courage, good character, quality, self-restraint, magnificence, benevolence, reliability, moral valor); ⁶ also the inner strength and self-restraint [which is inherent] within the intimate, experiential knowledge, as well as the persistent remaining under in humble support (or: steadfast, patient endurance) [being inherently] within the inner strength and self-restraint; and then the reverence (ease of virtuous conduct from true relation to God) [inherent] within the persistent remaining under in humble support (or: steadfast, patient endurance);

⁶ also the inner strength and self-restraint [which is inherent] within the intimate, experiential knowledge, as well as the persistent remaining under in humble support (or: steadfast, patient endurance) [being inherently] within the inner strength and self-restraint; and then the reverence (ease of virtuous conduct from true relation to God) [inherent] within the persistent remaining under in humble support (or: steadfast, patient endurance); ⁷ and further, the brotherly affection (fondness for the fellow believers) [resident] within the reverence (awe with goodness; well-being of devout, virtuous conduct in the ease of true relation to God); and then finally, the love (uniting acceptance) within the brotherly affection. ⁸ You see, these things are constantly subsisting (or: supportively sub-governing; humbly ruling; beginning from below) as a possession in you folks [or, with A and others: are continually existing alongside being present for you] and are repeatedly being more than enough (abounding) – neither [being] inactive (or: ineffective) nor unfruitful (or: unproductive). He is continually setting [these] down and causing [them] to stand in accord [in you] unto the accurate, additional (or: full), experiential and intimate knowledge of our Lord (or: Owner; Master), Jesus Christ. ⁹ You see, the person in whom these things are not continuously present exists being (or: is) blind, constantly closing his or her eyes, taking hold of forgetfulness of (or: receiving oblivion in regard to) the cleansing from his/her old sins (mistakes of the past; former failure; [other MSS: from the results and effects of his/her former sins and errors]). ¹⁰ Wherefore (or: Because of this), brothers (= [my] family), hasten to exert yourselves to a greater extent to constantly make firm (sure-footed and steadfast) your calling (or: invitation) and election (selection; act of choosing out); for you see, in repeatedly doing these things, you can by no means (would under no circumstances) stumble once (or: at any time).

¹³ But I am continuously considering it right, and in accord with the Way pointed out – as long as I continue existing within this tent-effect (or: tabernacle) – to keep on arousing and awakening you with a reminder,

¹⁷ These people are (or: exist being) springs without water and clouds (or: mists; fogs) being constantly driven by (or: under) a storm (or: a squall), for whom the gloom of the darkness has been kept for an indefinite period of time.

⁷ Yet at the present time the heavens and the earth (or: the atmospheres and skies, as well as the land), by the same Word (or: in the same Logos) – having been collected and being stored up as treasure, by (or: in; for; with) fire – continuously exist, being constantly kept (watched, guarded and maintained) with a view to a day of separating for deciding (or: with the character of evaluating for judging), as well as of loss, ruin or destruction which pertains to the irreverent humans (or: of people devoid of reverential awe toward God).

¹⁰ So the day of the Lord [= Yahweh] will proceed in arriving as a thief [i.e., suddenly and without notice], in which [day] the heavens (or: atmospheres; or: skies) will proceed passing by with the noise of sudden movement, but yet rudimentary, elementary principles (or: basic component and parts of a system arranged in rows, or a grid; e.g., the elements and assumptions of a religious or intellectual system), being progressively heated as with a burning fever, will be progressively loosed (unfastened; unbound; or: nullified; destroyed). And then land (or: soil; ground; earth; or: = a territory) – along with the things produced (or: actions; deeds; workmanships; accomplishments) [note: God's and/or man's] within the midst of it – will continue being found (or: discovered; found out) [p72 adds: being progressively loosed (or: destroyed); A reads: will be burned up]! ¹¹ With all these people thus, then, being presently loosed, one after another (or: being in the process of being progressively unbound; or: with all these things being continuously dissolved in this way), in what sort of way is it continuously necessary and binding for you folks [other MSS: us; other MSS have no personal pronoun here] to constantly subsist (or: humbly rule or supportively possess)? Within set-apart (or: holy; sacred), upturned modes of behavior and [lives of] reverence (devout ease, virtuous conduct and goodness from relationship with God)! ¹² – while constantly being receptive toward and progressively hastening after the presence of God's Day (or: the presence, which is God's day; or: the presence of the day which has the quality and character of God and which is God), through which heavens (or: skies; atmospheres) – being continuously on fire – will be loosed (or: untied)! And so [the body of] elements (rudimentary principles and assumptions; component parts of the system), now being continuously intensely hot and burning, [are] presently being progressively melted down (or: liquefied).

¹⁸ So be continually growing and increasing within grace and in union with favor, as well as [in] intimate, experiential knowledge and insight of (or: the source of which is) our Lord (Owner; Master) and Savior (or: Deliverer; Rescuer; Restorer to health and wholeness), Jesus Christ (or: Anointed Jesus; = Jesus the Messiah). By Him (or: To Him; For Him; In Him) [is] the glory (the manifestation which calls forth praise) both now and on into a Day that lasts for an indefinite period of time, and which is [the] Age (or: unto a day whose character and quality is [the] Age; or: into the midst of a day whose source is [the] Age [of the Messiah]; or: to a day which belongs to [the] Age; into a Day which is an age). It is so (or: Count on it; Amen)! [written circa A.D. 61-62 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹³ wild waves of the sea, continuously foaming out (or: vomiting forth) their shames (or: disgraces). Wandering and deceived stars, for whom the gloom of darkness (shadowy dimness; obscurity void of Daylight) has been maintained (guarded; kept and watched-over) unto an indefinite time period (or: an age). ¹⁴ But Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied to these folks, saying, "Behold, the Lord [=Yahweh] came (or: comes and goes) within His set-apart myriads (or: in union with innumerable holy multitudes, which are Him), ¹⁵ to form a separation (or: make a decision; construct a distinction; perform a sifting and a judging) which corresponds to and falls in line with all people (to the level of everyone), and to test (or: search thoroughly) the irreverent folks concerning all their irreverent works (activities; deeds) which they irreverently did, and concerning all the hard things which irreverent outcasts (folks in error; sinners; failures; folks who make mistakes and miss the target) spoke against Him."

⁴ John, to the seven called-out communities (congregations; summoned forth assemblies) within Asia: grace and peace to you (or: favor and harmony [= shalom] for and among you) folks from the One continuously existing (or: unceasingly being; Who continuously IS), even the One Who was, and continued being, and the One Who is continuously (or: repeatedly; habitually; progressively) coming or going – even from the Seven Spirits (or: Breath-effects; Attitudes) which [are] in front of His throne –

⁷ Consider (or: Look; Behold)! He is continuously (or: presently; repeatedly; habitually; progressively) coming with the clouds, and every eye will repeatedly see Him, even which ever of you folks pierce (or: pierced) Him. And all the tribes (people-groups) of the Land (or: territory; earth) shall beat themselves (strike their breasts in grief, mourning or repentance) upon (= because of) Him. Yes! It is so (Amen)! [Dan. 7:13; Zech. 12:10, 12, 14]

⁴ But still, you have a few names in Sardis which do (or: did) not stain (soil; pollute) their garments, and they will continue walking with Me in white [garments] because they are worthy ones (folks of corresponding value).'

¹⁰ "And You made (or: make; form; construct) them [minuscule 792, the Clementia Vulgate (1592) and Primasius (sixth century) read: us] kings [other MSS: a kingdom] and priests in (for; to; by) our God, and they [the Armenian, Clementia Vulgate (1592) and Primasiua read: we] continue reigning [reading with Westcott & Hort (following A); other MSS: they will reign] upon the Land (or: the earth)."

¹⁰ And they uttered a cry with a great (or: by a loud) voice, repeatedly saying, "Until when (How long), O Absolute Owner (Sovereign Lord; Master), the Set-apart (Holy) and True One, are You not deciding (separating and judging) and maintaining right for (operating out of the way pointed out for; or: avenging) our blood, out of those habitually having an abode (dwelling) upon the Land (earth)?"

¹⁶ repeatedly saying to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall upon us and hide us [Hos. 10:8] from the Face of the One continuously sitting upon the throne, and from the inherent fervor (natural impulse and propensity; internal swelling and teeming passion of desire; or: anger, wrath and indignation) of the little Lamb." ¹⁷ Because the great Day of their [other MSS: His] inherent fervor (internal swelling emotion, teeming and passionate desire; impulse; or: anger, wrath and indignation; or: natural bent) comes (or: came), and who (which one) is continuously able (or: continues having power) to be made to stand (or: to be established)?

¹¹ And all the agents (or: messengers) had stood and continued standing in a circle around the throne and the elders (or: older folks) and the four living ones. And then they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped (did obeisance to and kissed toward) God, repeatedly saying, ¹² "It is so (Amen)! The blessing (or: The word of goodness), the glory (reputation), the wisdom, the gratitude (thanksgiving), the honor (the value; the pricing), the power (the ability), and the strength [is] in (by; for; with) our God, on into the ages (eons) of the ages! So it is (Amen)!"

¹⁴ And I had spoken to him, "O, my lord, you have seen, and thus know, " and so he said to me, "These are the ones continuously coming forth from out of the midst of great pressure (squeezing; ordeal; tribulation), and they washed their robes (uniforms; equipment) and made them bright and white within the little Lamb’s blood. ¹⁵ "Because of this they are constantly before (in the sight and presence of) God’s throne, and they habitually do public service to (in; by; for) Him, day and night, within the midst of His Temple. And the One continuously sitting upon the throne will continue pitching a tent (spreading a covering or tabernacle) upon them. ¹⁶ "They will no longer continue hungering, neither will they continue thirsting, nor may the sun repeatedly fall upon them, nor any scorching or burning heat, [Isa. 49:10] ¹⁷ "because (or: seeing that) the little Lamb – the One back up amidst the throne (or: the One again in the midst of the throne) – will continue shepherding [other MSS: is continuously shepherding] them, and will continue guiding [others: is continuously guiding] them upon springs of waters of life [other MSS: living springs of water]. And God will continue anointing (or: wiping and smearing) every tear shed from out of their eyes." [Isa. 49:10; Jer. 2:13; Ezk. 34:23; Ps. 23:1-2; Isa. 25:18]

¹⁸ Now the multitudes (ethnic groups; nations) were made angry (raged; were, or are, made to internally swell; were aroused; were made impulsive) [Ps. 2:1], and Your inherent fervor (swelling arousal; impulse; wrath; anger; indignation; natural bent) came (or: comes), and the season (fitting situation; suitable circumstances; fertile moment) for the dead folks to be sifted, separated, evaluated, decided about and judged, and then to give the wages (or: reward) to Your slaves: to the prophets and to the set-apart people, and to the ones continuously fearing Your Name – to the small (or: = insignificant) ones and to the great ones – and then to at once thoroughly spoil (or: bring ruin throughout; cause decay through the midst; utterly destroy) the folks continuously corrupting (thoroughly spoiling, ruining, destroying and decaying) the Land (or: earth; soil).

¹⁰ "he or she will also proceed drinking out of the wine of God's rushing emotion (strong passion; anger) – of the one having been mixed undiluted within the cup of His inherent fervor (natural bent; impulse; indignation; wrath). And he will proceed being examined (scrutinized with the touchstone to test his "mettle") within Fire and Deity (or: in union with Fire, even Divine qualities) in the presence of (before; in the sight of) the set-apart agents, and in the presence of (before) the little Lamb." ¹¹ And so the smoke of their examination and testing by the touchstone continually ascends on into ages of the ages. And those continually worshiping the little animal and its image – and if any one continually receives the imprinted mark (carve-effect) of its name – they, continually, are not having rest day and night [comment: day and night are representations of time elapsing on earth]. ¹² Here (or: In this place) exists (or: is) the persistent and patient endurance (the steadfast, humble remaining-under for support) of the set-apart folks (or: from the saints) – the people continually keeping watch upon (guarding, observing, having custody over) God's implanted goals (impartations of the finished product within; inward purposed directives) and the faith of Jesus (or: the trust pertaining to Jesus; the loyalty belonging to Jesus; the faith which belongs to and comes from Jesus; the conviction which is Jesus; the reliability of and from Jesus). ¹³ Next I heard a voice out of the atmosphere (or: sky; heaven), saying, "Write: 'From the present moment (from this time; from now; henceforth) the dead ones [are] blessed (happy) folks – those continuously dying within the Lord!'" "Yes, indeed, " the Spirit continues saying, "to the end that they may rest themselves from out of their wearisome labor (travail; toilsome exhaustion), for their works (actions; deeds) are continually following together with them." [Sinaiticus & p47 omit nai, "yes, indeed, " so an alternate rendering would be: "Happy {are} the dead ones – those continuously dying in the Lord! Henceforth, the Spirit says that they may rest, for their actions follow with them.”]

⁴ "O Lord [= O Yahweh], who may by no means (or: who may in no way) fear You and glorify (bring good reputation to) Your Name? Because [You] only (alone; without accompaniment) [are] appropriately pious, sanctioned, and benign [Vat. 2066 reads: Set-apart (Holy)]. Because the multitudes (nations: ethnic groups) WILL continue arriving, and they WILL continue worshiping in Your presence (in Your sight; before You). Because the results of Your righteousness (effects of Your fairness and equity, just decrees and decisions; actions according to the Way pointed out, results of justification, actualization of justice and rightwising of relationships) are manifested (or: were brought to light; were made to appear)."

⁵ And I heard the Agent of the Waters saying, "You are continually a Just One (a Righteous One; One Who observes the way pointed out), the One continuously existing (or: being), even the One Who was continuously existing, the appropriately pious, sanctioned, benign One, because You suddenly judge (or: judged) these, ⁶ "because they poured (or: pour) out [the] blood of the set-apart folks and of the prophets, and You gave (or: give) them blood to drink: they are deserving [this]!" [note: see Luke 11:50-51] ⁷ Then I heard the Altar saying, "Yes indeed, O Lord [= O Yahweh], the All-Strong (Omnipotent; Almighty) God, Your decisions (separations; judgings) are true and real ones, and fair (equitable; just; right) ones."

²⁰ "Continually rejoice (be made glad) upon her, O Atmosphere (Sky; Heaven), even the set-apart ones and the envoys and the prophets, because God decided and executed (or: judges; makes a distinction by separating) your sentence (effect of judgment; law-suit; decision-result) from out of her."

²⁴ And within her was (or: is) found blood of prophets and of set-apart folks – even of all those having been slaughtered upon the Land (or: earth). [comment: cf Matt. 23:34-38]

² "Because His judgings (decisions and administrations of justice; judicial processes; separations and evaluations according to the Way pointed out) [are] true ones and fair (equitable; just; rightwised) ones, because He judged (or: judges) the Great Prostitute – anyone who was spoiling (ruining; corrupting) the Land (or: earth) within her prostitution (or: fornication; = idolatry) – and He restored a rightwised situation of equity in fairness for (or: avenges; vindicates; executes the right for) the blood of His slaves from out of her hand."

¹⁰ And so the devil (slanderer; accuser; one who thrusts-through or causes division), the one continuously deceiving them (repeatedly leading them astray) is cast (or: was thrown) into the lake (or: basin; artificial pool; marshy area) of the Fire and Deity (or: which is Fire, even Devine Nature) where the little wild animal and the false prophet also [are; presently exist]. And they will be examined and tested by the touchstone day and night, on into the ages of the ages (or: – the place where even the small beast and the lying prophet will also experience hard situations [that lead] into the indefinite time periods of the eons). ¹¹ Next I saw a great bright, white throne, and the One continuously sitting upon it from Whose face the earth (or: ground; Land) and the atmosphere (or: sky; heaven) flee (or: at once fled). And a place is not found for them (or: And then no position was discovered by them or found in them).

¹⁴ Next the Death and the Unseen (or: = the grave) are cast (or: were thrown) into the lake (or: basin; artificial pool) of the Fire (or: the marshy area where there is fire). This is the second death: the lake of the Fire (or: the basin which is fire).

¹⁴ Next the Death and the Unseen (or: = the grave) are cast (or: were thrown) into the lake (or: basin; artificial pool) of the Fire (or: the marshy area where there is fire). This is the second death: the lake of the Fire (or: the basin which is fire). ¹⁵ So if anyone is not found (or: was not found) written within the scroll of The Life, he is cast (or: was thrown) into the lake of the Fire (or: the artificial pool having the character and quality of the Fire; the marshy area from the Fire; the shallow basin, where there is fire).

⁴ "And He will continue anointing (or: progressively smear or wipe away) every tear from their eyes. And death will no longer continue existing (or: the death shall proceed being no more) – neither will mourning (sadness; grief), nor an outcry, nor hard work (painful toil; misery) continue existing any longer ([they] will continue being no more), because the FIRST THINGS went (or: passed) away."

⁸ "But for the timid (cowardly) folks and for faithless ones (unbelieving people) and for abominable folks (detestable ones) and for murderers, and for prostitutes and for sorcerers (enchanters; users of drugs) and for idolaters and for all the liars (the false ones): their portion [of the inheritance?] [is] within the lake (or: basin; artificial pool; marshy area) continuously burning with Fire and Deity, which is the Second Death."

⁶ Then he said to me, "These words are faithful ones and true ones, and the Lord [= Yahweh], the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent (or: sends) His agent with a commission (as an envoy) to show (point out; exhibit) to His slaves things which of necessity must (it is binding to) come into being (be birthed; happen, occur) in speed (swiftness, quickness, – so Lexicons; but Wuest, Williams, Barclay, Lattimore, Beck, Goodspeed, NEB translate this phrase: soon; others give: shortly).

⁹ And he is saying to me, "See! No! I am your fellow-slave, even of (belonging to; from among) your brothers – of (or: belonging to and from among) the prophets and of those continuously keeping and observing the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

¹⁵ "Outside [are] the dogs and the sorcerers (users of drugs) and the fornicators (male prostitutes) and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone continuously fond of (being friendly to) and constantly practicing (making; doing) falsehood (deception; a lie). ¹⁶ "I, Jesus, sent (or: send) My agent to bear witness to you people [concerning] these things [being imposed] upon the called-out communities (or: to testify these things to, by or in you, over the [situation of the] summoned-forth assemblies). I am (I continuously exist being) the Root and the Offspring (Race; Genus) of David, The Bright (Radiant) Morning Star.