Romans Cross References - JMNT

¹ Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave (or: a slave servant of and from [the] Anointed One, Jesus; a slave belonging to Jesus [the] Anointed [= Messiah]), a called person, one sent forth with a mission (or: an ambassador or emissary by invitation), being one having been marked off by boundaries (parted away and determined by bounds; separated away and limited off; delineated; defined) unto God’s good news (or: into a message of goodness and well-being which is God), ² which He Himself previously promised through His prophets, within [the] set-apart writings (or: holy and sacred Scriptures), ³ about (concerning; with reference to) His Son – the One coming into existence (or: birthing Himself) from out of David’s sperm (or: Davidic seed; = David's descendant), down from and in the line of succession of flesh (or: = in the sphere of the natural realm); ⁴ the One being bounded (marked off, thus defined; separated, and so designated; divided away, and so determined; or: appointed) God’s Son (or: a Son Who is God; or: a Son from, or having the character and qualities of, God; = God's Regent, cf Ps. 2; 2 Sam. 7:14) immersed within the midst of power and in union with ability, down from (or: corresponding to and on a level with; in the sphere of) a Breath-effect of set-apartness (or: an attitude of holiness and sacredness; a spirit pertaining to being set apart) forth from out of a resurrection (a standing back up again) from among dead folks – Jesus Christ, our Lord (Master and Owner), 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]), ⁶ within the midst of which peoples (or: among whom) you yourselves are continuously existing, being also called folks of Jesus Christ (or: Jesus Christ’s invited ones) – 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), ¹⁰ always upon my thoughts and expressions toward having things go well (or: my prayers), continuously requesting (or: asking) if by any means (or: somehow), at length, I shall sometime be prospered along the path within God’s will and purpose to come to you folks and be face to face with you, ¹¹ for I constantly long (or: am increasingly yearning) to see you, to the end that I may share and exchange some spiritual effect of favor with you folks (or: mutually partner in the impartation to you people, and among you, of some gift that is a result of grace and which has its source in the Breath-effect) [leading] into the [situation for] you to be established (firmly settled and made steadfast; stabilized). ¹² Now this means to be called together for an interchange of aid, encouragement or consolation among you folks, through the faith and trust within each other – both yours and mine. ¹³ Yet I do not want you to continue to fail to know (or: be unaware or remain ignorant), brothers (= fellow believers and members of the Family), that I often set before myself (purposed and proposed) to come (or: go) to you – and I was prevented until now (up to this point) – to the end that I may have (or: could hold and enjoy) some fruit within you folks (or: among you), correspondingly as also [I do] within (or: among) the remaining ethnic multitudes (or: the rest of the nations – the non-Israelites; the Gentiles). ¹⁴ I am (or: I continue being) a debtor to (or: for; or: with) both Greeks (Hellenists) and to (for; with) barbarians (non-Hellenists: those who do not possess Greek culture); to (or: for; with) both wise ones and to (for; with) those without understanding (unintelligent ones; foolish ones; folks who lack sense). ¹⁵ In this condition (or: Thus so) – commensurate with me, the ready (willing; eager) one – [I] myself [desire and intend] to also bring and proclaim (or: announce) the message of goodness, ease and well-being (or: Good News) to and among you folks (or: for you folks) in Rome. ¹⁶ For you see, I am not in the habit of being ashamed of (= I am proud of and thrilled about) the Good News (message of goodness, ease and well-being), for it continues being (or: is) God’s power (ability; capacity) [leading] into deliverance (being rescued; salvation; health and wholeness; restoration to the original state and condition) – in everyone (for everyone; to everyone) continuously having faith and trusting (or: believing and relying upon [it]): for (to; in) [the] Jew first, also for (to; in) [the] Greek (or: Hellenist; = non-Jew) – ¹⁷ for in It God’s justice (solidarity in fairness and equity; righteousness; [covenantal] qualities of the Way pointed out; way of righting what is wrong; right relationship [with us]; means of turning us in the right direction) is continuously and progressively being unveiled (revealed; disclosed), from out of faith (or: forth from out of the midst of trust and conviction), [proceeding] into faith ([leading] into the midst of trust and conviction), according as it has been written, "But the one righteous (or: just) out-of-faith will himself continue living (or: Yet the Just One will experience life in himself from out of faith; or: Now the one in accord with the Way pointed out from trust, will in himself be living; or: And the person rightwised from out of faith will continuously live; or: So the One being fair and equitable from trust will progressively receive life into Himself from that trust)." [Hab. 2:4] ¹⁸ You see, God’s personal emotion (or: inherent fervor; mental bent; natural impulse; teeming desire and swelling passion; temperament; disposition; or: anger; wrath) is continuously and progressively being unveiled (revealed; disclosed) from heaven upon every irreverence (lack of awe or absence of pious fear; disrespect) and injustice (wrong; unrighteousness; situation or act contrary to the Way pointed out) of mankind (or: that arises from humans) – the folks continuously holding down (restraining; stopping while possessing) the Truth (or: reality) in the sphere of (or: within the midst of) injustice (unrighteousness; that which is not right; unfairness and inequality) – ¹⁹ simply because the thing experientially known (or: personally knowable; able to be gained by insight) pertaining to God (or: from, and which has its origin in, God; which is God) is continuously made visible (made apparent; manifested by light) within (or: among) them, for God at one point made (or: makes) it visible (manifests it) to them (or: for them; in them; by them; among them). ²⁰ For you see, from [the] creation (framing; founding of order out of chaos; settling) of [the] ordered System (cosmos; universe; or: world of culture, religion and government) His invisible things (unseen [qualities and attributes]) – both His imperceptible (unobservable, but effecting-all) power, ability and capacity, as well as divinity (Godship; God-state) – are habitually seen down the line (or: are normally correspondingly perceived), being continually apprehended (grasped by the mind; mentally conceived) in the results and by the effects of things which are made or done, in order for them to be continuously defenseless (without an excuse), ²¹ simply because, although at one point experientially knowing God with insight, they did (or: do) not glorify (imagine; esteem; suppose; fancy; conjecture about; hold an opinion of; repute) [Him] as God, or even thank [Him] (or: give thanks in joyously expressing the goodness and well-being inherent in [His] grace and favor). And so in contrast, they were made futile (vain; fruitless; without profit; empty; useless; worthless; subject to a process of meaningless frustration; subject to exercises in futility) in their reasonings (or: thought processes; dialogues; ideas that went throughout in every direction), and their [collective] unintelligent (stupid; unable-to-put-things-together) heart was darkened (= the core of their being was made to experience an absence of light in a dim, shadowy gloom of obscurity [= ignorance]). ²² [So] continuously claiming (asserting; alleging with pretense) to be wise ones, they were made to be dull (sluggish; moronic; stupid; foolish) ²³ and they at once changed (or: exchange in barter; make other than it is) the glory (or: splendor and praise-inducing manifestation; or: esteem; opinion; imagination; supposition; thought; appearance; honorable consideration) of the imperishable (un-ruinable; unspoilable and incorruptible; non-decayable) God within the result of a likeness (resemblance; conformed similarity; copy-effect) of an image (form; appearance) of a perishable (corruptible; spoilable) human, as well as of flying things and of four-footed [animals] and of creeping things. ²⁴ Wherefore (or: On which account) God gave (or: hands) them over (or: delivered or delivers them into another's power), within the full passions (or: rushing passionate cravings; added earnest desires, wants and wishes; or: compiled angers and complete wrath) of their hearts, into uncleanness (or: ritual impurity), to be continuously dishonored and shamed – with respect to (or: pertaining to) their bodies – among (or: within) themselves, ²⁵ whichever folks altered or exchange God’s truth (or: the reality from and which is God, and which pertains to God) to and for something else, within (or: in union with) The Lie, then were adored and venerated with dread, and next rendered religious service to and for the creation (or: creature; or: forming, framing, founding and settling which brought order from chaos) alongside (or: to the side of; parallel to; or: = rather than) the Creator (The One framing and founding) Who is (continuously exists being) well spoken of (praised; blessed; eulogized; or: is One filled with thoughts of goodness and well-being) on into the ages. It is so (Amen)! ²⁶ Because of this (or: Wherefore) God gave, or hands, them over (delivered, or delivers, them into the power of someone else) into experiences of dishonor (or: ignoble sufferings; situations of being unvalued; unworthy passions), for even their females at one point altered (or: alter; change or exchange) the natural use into the [use which is] off to the side of (or: beside; = other than) nature (or: a natural condition; natural production; a generated situation). ²⁷ And likewise (or: So in like manner) also the males, sending away (or: abandoning; leaving) the natural use of the female, were set aflame within their cravings unto (or: into) one another; males in (or among) males continuously producing (accomplishing; effecting; working down) shameless indecency, and constantly taking away (or: receiving back) the necessary retribution (return compensation; the opposite of a reward; the anti-payment) of their wandering (or: the corresponding wage which is binding, pertaining to their straying and deception) within the midst of, or among, themselves. 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), ²⁹ being people having been filled with all injustice – so that they are now full of every inequity and unfairness which lacks rightwised relationships and right actions – [as well as] worthlessness (or: criminality; unprofitableness; badness of condition; misery-gushed existence), inordinate, anti-social desire for more (or: ruthless, aggressive and self-assertive greed for advantage), ugliness (poorness of quality; malice); folks very full of (or: replete with) jealousy and envy, murder, strife (or: contentiousness), bait for entrapment, [and] with a settled habit of evil and a disposition of depravity. ³⁰ [They are] whisperers (or: gossipers), slanderers, haters (detesters) of God, overbearing and outrageous folks, haughty and arrogant people, ostentatious and vainglorious ones, inventors of ugly, worthless and bad things, [being] incompliant (stubborn; disobedient) to parents, ³¹ unintelligent (stupid; unable to cause things to flow together), covenant-breakers (or: folks bound by no arrangement or who are false to agreements; not put-together), folks without natural affection, people unwilling to make a treaty (or: implacable), unmerciful folks, ³² those who, fully knowing by experience (being fully aware of) the effect of God’s justice (or: the result of God's fairness and equity; or: the result of what is right, from the way pointed out, which is God; or: God's decree of the Way pointed out) – that those continually performing (committing; executing) such things are folks deserving (worthy; of equivalent value) of death – not only keep on doing the same things, but also are constantly mutually approving, taking pleasure in and consenting with those habitually performing (or: committing; practicing) them.

¹ A scroll of a lineage and birth (or: genesis; origin; genealogy) of Jesus Christ (or: Jesus [the] Anointed One; = Jesus [the] Messiah) – son of David; son of Abraham. [note: the term "son" can mean "a descendant," or, "one having the qualities and characteristics of"]

⁶ Now [it was] Jesse [who] effected the birth of David, the king. And then David caused the birth of Solomon from out of the woman (= wife) [that had] belonged to Uriah.

¹⁶ Now [it was] Jacob [who] fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary – from out of whom Jesus, the One being normally called Christ (or: termed Anointed [= Messiah]), was given birth.

²⁰ Yet during his inward passion about these things (his reflection on his emotions and in heated pondering of the situation with violent breathing) – note and consider this! – an agent of [the] Lord [= Yahweh's messenger], down from and in the sphere of (or: in accord with; in correspondence to; = in) a dream, was set in clear light and made to appear to him, then saying, "Joseph, son of David (= descendent of, or one with the qualities of, David), you should not be afraid (or: be caused to fear; be wary) to at once take to your side, accept and receive Mary [other MSS: Mariam], your wife! You see, the One within the midst of her, being generated and produced from out of Breath-effect (or: [the] Spirit) exists being (or: is) Set-apart and Holy (or: the One being brought to birth within her continues being forth from out of the midst of a Scared Breath as His origin). ²¹ "Now she will proceed giving birth to (or: will be bringing forth) a Son, and you will proceed calling His name Jesus [= Yeshua, or Joshua; in Hebrew: the Savior is Yahweh], for he will progressively restore His people to health and wholeness (will salvage, rescue, save and deliver His people and return them to their original state and condition), away from their failures to hit the target (from their mistakes, errors and sins)." ²² Now this whole [occurrence; situation] has happened and has come into existence to the end that the thing being spoken by [the] Lord [= Yahweh] through the prophet would (could) be fulfilled, [he] continually saying, ²³ "Look and consider! The Virgin will proceed holding (having) one within the womb (= The young woman of marriageable age will become pregnant) and then will proceed giving birth to a Son, and they will repeatedly call His name 'Emmanuel,'" [Isa. 7:14] which is normally being translated and interpreted, "God [is] with us." (or: "God Himself {literally: The God} [is present] with us.")

¹⁷ And then – look and consider! – a Voice (or: sound) from out of the midst of the atmosphere (or: the sky and the heavens), repeatedly saying, "This is My Son, the Beloved One in Whom I take pleasure and imagine thoughts of well-being (or: This One exists being My dearly loved and esteemed Son, in Whom I approve)!"

¹⁶ "In this way, let the Light, which you folks possess (or: which has a source in you folks; or: which you people are), shine in front of mankind (before humans), so that people can see your fine works (or: the beautiful works that you are; the ideal acts which come from you folks) and they can give glory to (or: and [these deeds; or: these works of beauty] will bring a good reputation for) your Father – the One in union with the atmospheres [that surround you folks] (or: within the midst of the heavens)!

⁴⁵ "so that (by what means) you folks can be birthed (may come to be) sons of your Father – the One within [the] atmosphere and in union with [the] heavens – because He is repeatedly making His sun to rise back up again upon bad (evil; wicked; worthless) folks as well as [upon] good (virtuous) folks, and He is habitually sending rain upon fair and equitable people (those in right relationship; those within the Way pointed out; just ones; rightwised ones) as well as [upon] unfair and inequitable people (those not in right relationship; those not in the Way pointed out; unjust folks).

⁸ "So then, you folks should not be made to resemble them, for before the occasion for you to ask Him, God, your Father, has seen and thus knows (is aware) of what things you continue having need. ⁹ "Therefore, be continuously praying in this way: 'O our Father – the One within and in union with the heavens! (or: in the midst of the atmosphere and firmament!) Make Your Name to be set-apart and kept holy (or: treated as sacred).

²³ "Yet if your eye should continue being in a bad condition (or: wicked; perhaps = diseased or cloudy; may suggest stinginess or being grudging), your whole body will continue being (will continuously exist being) dark (or: in the dark; full of darkness). If, then, the light [which is] within the midst of you is darkness (or: continually exists being dimness and lack of Light), how thick [is] the darkness (or: how great and extensive [will be] the obscurity and gloom of that area of shadows)! ²⁴ "No one continues being able (has habitual power) to continue being, or performing as, a slave for two owners (lords; masters). You see, he will either proceed in hating (or: regarding with ill will) the one and will continue loving the different one, or he will continue holding firmly to and having instead the one, and will proceed despising (having a negative attitude and disposition toward) the different one. You folks are not able (still have no power) to continue being, or performing as, slaves for God and at the same time for money and riches (you can't be enslaved to both God and wealth)!

²⁷ Now later, as Jesus continues leading [the crowd] in passing along from that place, two blind men followed Him [who] kept on crying out, repeatedly saying, "Mercy us (Give mercy to us), O Son of David (this phrase may = "O descendant of David who also displays David's qualities and reminds us of the king of Israel;" or, it may be a phrase = "Messiah")!"

³⁸ "Therefore, urgently ask – even beg – the Owner (or: Master; Lord) of the harvest so that He would thrust out workers into His harvest."

³⁷ "The person habitually having fondness and affection for father and mother over and above for Me is not suitable for Me (or: worthy or of equal value with regards to Me). Likewise the person continuing in having fondness and affection for a son or daughter over and above for Me is not suitable for Me (worthy of Me).

²⁵ Speaking from a discerning and decided perception within that fitting situation (or: during that particular season [of ministry]; or: at that strategic moment), Jesus said, "I continue outwardly acclaiming My concurrence with You, publicly saying the same thing as You, O Father – Owner, Lord and Master of the heaven and of the earth (or: of the sky and atmosphere, as well as of the land) – that You hide (or: because You hid) these things from 'wise folks' (or: 'clever people') and 'understanding, intelligent, intellectuals,' and You unveil (or: revealed; disclosed) them to infants (babes who are not yet able to speak; = untutored, untaught, ordinary folks).

²³ Well, all the crowds began being set out of place (or: being made to stand out of themselves) in amazement, and began saying, "Is not this one perhaps the son of David?"

⁴ "For God said, 'Be habitually honoring and expressing value for the father and the mother,' [Ex. 20:12] and, 'The person habitually saying a bad, ugly or worthless word or message to or concerning (= verbally abusing) father or mother, let him progressively come to fruition (or: reach his end; be finished) in (or: by) death.' [Ex. 21:17]

¹⁴ "Abandon them at once! (other choices: Divorce them; Let them flow away; Leave them; Leave them [alone]; Send them away; Let them go!) They exist being blind guides of the Path (or: blind leaders of the Way). Now if a blind person should ever lead or guide [another] blind person, both people will proceed to be falling into a pit!"

¹⁶ So Jesus said, "At this point in time, do you folks, as well, continue being unable to let things flow together, and are you without comprehension?

²² And then – look and consider! – a Canaanite (= Phoenician) woman from the boundaries of those regions, upon coming out [to Him], cried out, repeatedly saying, "O Lord (Master) – Son of David – mercy me right now (or: extend the effects of compassion to me quickly)! My daughter is being repeatedly affected in an ugly way by demons (or: is incessantly badly-demonized [Hellenistic term, concept and belief: = affected by animism])!"

²¹ From that time on, Jesus [other MSS: Jesus Christ] began to progressively point out, exhibit and demonstrate to and for His disciples that it is necessary [for] Him – even continues being binding [on] Him – to go away into Jerusalem, and to experience and suffer many things from the elders and chief (or: ranking) priests, as well as the scribes (scholars and theologians of the Law), and then to be killed off – but also to be aroused and raised up on (or: during) the third day.

⁴² "How does it normally seem to you (or: What do you folks now think and what is your view) concerning the Anointed One (the Christ; = the Messiah): Whose Son (or: Descendant) is He?" They, as a group, are replying to Him, "David's." ⁴³ He then says to them, "How, then, is David – within and in union with [the] Spirit (or: in spirit; in the effect of [His] Breath; in attitude) – normally calling Him 'Lord' (Master)?, saying, ⁴⁴ "' [The] Lord [= Yahweh] said to my Lord (Master), "Be continuously sitting from out of (or: = at) My right-hand [parts] until I should place (or: put) Your alienated ones (or: folks filled with hate and hostility; enemies) down under Your feet"'? [Ps. 110:1] ⁴⁵ "Since (or: If), therefore, David is normally calling Him, 'Lord (Master), 'how does He exist being His 'Son'?"

¹⁴ "Furthermore, this good news which pertains to the reign (or: this message of goodness, ease and wellness which belongs to and comes sovereign action and influence of the kingdom) will be progressively publicly proclaimed within the whole inhabited area (or: the Hellenistic world, as opposed to barbarian lands; or: = the Roman Empire) – [leading] into a witness and evidence for all the ethnic multitudes (or: unto a testimony among all the nations), and at that point the purposed goal will proceed having arrived and continue here (or: and at that time the final act will have progressively come, and its product will continue being here; or: and so then the destined end will be progressively arriving).

⁶³ Yet Jesus continued silent. And so the high (ruling; ranking) priest said to Him, "I now bind you to speak out an oath in accord with the living God (or: Down from the living God, I am now exorcising you; or: I now bind you by oath in correspondence with the living God) that you should say to us if you, yourself, are the Christ (the Anointed one; = the Messiah) – God's son (= the one having the same relationship to God and to the people as did Israel as a nation, or Israel's king)?"

⁴³ "'He has put his trust upon God! Let Him now guard him and drag (pull) him out of danger – if He wants him!’ [Ps. 22:9] You know he said, 'I am God's son.'"

¹ A beginning of the good news, which is Jesus Christ, God's Son (or: [The] beginning of the message of ease and wellness which pertains to and has its source in Jesus Christ – Son of God).

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)."

⁸ "What she possesses, she performs (or: What she had, she used). She undertakes, beforehand, to anoint My body with aromatic ointment, [leading] into a preparation of [My] corpse for burial.

¹⁰ Later, Judah (Judas) Iscariot – one of the twelve – went off to the chief (or: ranking) priests, to the end that he could (or: should) give Him over to them. ¹¹ Now the men hearing [this] rejoiced (were delighted) and promised to give him silver (= coins). So he kept on seeking how he could conveniently give Him over.

¹⁵ Then He said to them, "As you are journeying on your way (or: As you are traveling) into all the ordered system (the world of religion, culture and government; secular society), you men make a public proclamation of the good news (or: herald the good message of ease and wellness) to the entire creation (or: in all the founded and civilized area that has been reclaimed from the wild). ¹⁶ "The trusting and believing one – as well as one being immersed (baptized) – will continue being restored to health and wholeness (be delivered, rescued, made safe, and returned to his original state and condition). Yet the distrusting person (the one being without faith; or: the faithless one) will proceed being commensurately evaluated and correspondingly decided about (or: beseparated down according to the pattern; have a decision rendered against him; be condemned).

³¹ "And so, see and consider. You will proceed in yourself receiving together and conceiving within the midst of [your] womb, and then you will proceed giving birth to a Son, and you will continue calling His name, Jesus. ³² "This One will proceed in being great (or: a great One), and He will continue being called 'Son of [the] Most High' (or: a son of [the] Highest One), and [the] Lord [= Yahweh] will proceed giving to Him the throne of David, His father (= forefather; ancestor), ³³ "and He will continue reigning upon the house of Jacob – on into the ages. Furthermore, there will not proceed being an end of His reign (or: sovereign influence and activity; kingdom)."

³⁵ Then, giving a decided response, the agent (messenger) says to her, "A set-apart (or: holy) breath-effect (or: a consecrated wind; or: sacred spirit and attitude; [The] Holy Spirit) will continue coming upon you, and a power (ability; or: [the] Power) which has its source and origin in (or: which pertains to; or: which has the qualities and characteristics of; or: which is) [the] Most High will continue casting a shadow upon you. For that reason, also, the Set-apart One (or: holy thing) being progressively generated and born will continue being called God's Son (or: a son of God; 'Son of God').

⁶⁹ "And He raises up a horn of deliverance (rescue; safety; health and wholeness; salvation) for us within the midst of His boy David's house, ⁷⁰ "Just and correspondingly as He spoke through [the] mouth of His set-apart (or: holy) prophets from [that] age,

¹ Now it occurred in those days, [that] a decree went out from beside (= the court of) Caesar Augustus, [that] all the inhabited [domain of the Empire] is to proceed to register themselves for public record (= participate in a census).

⁴ So Joseph also walked back up from the Galilee [district], from out of [the] town of Nazareth, into the Judean [district], into a town of David which is normally being called Bethlehem – because of the [fact of] his being from out of the house and lineage (ancestry) of David – ⁵ to register himself for the public record, together with Mary (Miriam), the woman having been promised in marriage (espoused; engaged) to him – she continuing being pregnant. ⁶ Now it happened, during their being there, [that] the days for her to give birth were fulfilled.

¹⁰ And so the agent (messenger) says to them, "Stop being afraid (or: Do not continue fearing)! Look, and consider this – for you see, I, myself, am now bringing and announcing good news (a message of ease and wellness) to and for you folks: great joy which will progressively be for all the people (or: will continue existing in the entire general public), ¹¹ "that a Savior (Deliverer; Rescuer; Restorer to health, wholeness, and to your original state, condition and position) was birthed and brought forth to, for and among you folks today, within the town of David, Who is (exists being) Christ [the] Lord (or: [the] Lord Christ; or: an Anointed Lord, Master and Owner; an Anointed One, a Lord; = Messiah, [the] Lord)!

²⁶ "You see, whoever may be ashamed of or embarrassed by Me and [of or by] My words (message; thoughts; ideas), the Son of the Man (mankind's offspring; = Adam's son; or: the eschatological messianic figure) will proceed in being ashamed of and embarrassed by this person – whenever He (or: it) may come within His glory (in union with its manifestation which calls forth praise) as well as the Father's (or: can come in a reputation and exhibiting an opinion which belongs to Him and has its source in the Father; or: should come in a glorifying thought which is Him and is the Father) and which belongs to the set-apart agents (or: sacred, or holy, messengers).

²¹ Within the same hour, He expresses extreme joy (or: transports supreme happiness and exultation) to the Set-apart Spirit (or: in the set-apart Breath-effect; by the Holy Spirit; for the sacred spirit; with the Sacred Attitude), and says, "I am in Myself constantly speaking out the same thought, word and message by You (or: I am, Myself, habitually confessing out and acclaiming to You), O Father – Lord of the heaven (or: Owner of the atmosphere and sky) and the earth (or: Land) – because You carefully hid (or: conceal) these things from wise folks and intelligent people (folks that can make thing flow together to thoroughly comprehend), and then revealed (or: uncover; unveil) them to (or: in; by; for) babies (infants not yet able to speak). Yes, O Father, because thus well-thinking is birthed (or: it thus came to be an approved notion and an imagination of ease and well-being bring good pleasure) in front of You (= in Your presence).

⁴⁸ "Really (or: Consequently; Accordingly then), you folks exist being witnesses (or: continuously are folks who testify and give evidence) and you are constantly approving, thinking well of and giving endorsement to the actions (deeds; works) of your fathers (and: forefathers), because they indeed killed them off, and now you yourselves continue building the [memorial] houses [other MSS: their tombs]!

⁴⁶ "the owner (lord; master) of that slave will proceed in arriving on a day in which he continues not anticipating or suspecting [it], and in an hour in which he continues having no personal knowledge [of it]. Then he will proceed to cut him in two (figurative: = severely punish him; perhaps: = sever him from his position after lashing him with a whip) and next will proceed putting his part (or: setting his position) with the unfaithful and unreliable [slaves]. ⁴⁷ "Now that slave who by experience is knowing and personally understanding his owner's (his lord's; his master's) will and intent – and yet is not preparing (or: making ready) or performing with an aim toward his [owner's] will or intent – will proceed in being flayed (severely whipped) [with] many lashes.

¹⁵ Now one from among their group, upon seeing that he was healed, turned around under [this awareness] with a loud voice constantly ascribing the glory to God, enhancing His reputation, ¹⁶ and then fell upon [his] face beside His feet, repeatedly giving thanks to Him – not only that, this same man was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Now giving a discerning response [to the crowd], Jesus said, "Were (or: Are) not the ten men cleansed? So where [are] the nine? ¹⁸ "Were none found returning to give glory to God, except this foreigner (person of another birth, race or nation)?"

¹ Now He went on [and] told them a parable (an illustration cast alongside) with a view facing the [circumstances for] them, [that] it is of necessity at all times to be constantly thinking, speaking and active with an aim toward goodness, ease and well-being (or: keep praying), and not to give in to the bad or worthless [situation or conditions] (or: to dwell within an ugly mood or a disposition of poor quality; or: to respond badly in [something]),

³¹ Now, taking aside the twelve, He said to them, "Look, and consider this. We are progressively walking up into Jerusalem, and all the things having been written through the prophets for (or: pertaining to) the Son of the Man (= the eschatological messianic figure; = Adam's Son) will progressively be brought to their purposed goal and destiny (or: finished; completed; perfected; made fully functional). ³² "You see, He will proceed being handed over to the ethnic multitudes (or: given over for the nations; delivered up among the Gentiles), and then He will continue being mocked, ridiculed and made fun of and He will progressively be insolently personally invaded with outrageous, violent and injurious treatment. He will even be repeatedly spit upon! ³³ "Later, after severely lashing [Him] with a whip, they will proceed killing Him off. Then, on (in; during) the third day, He will proceed standing Himself back up again and arising."

¹⁶ "Now you people will even proceed in being turned in (or: handed over) by parents and brothers and relatives and friends – and folks will keep on putting some of you to death.

²⁶ "Did it not continue necessary for the Christ (the Anointed One) to experience and suffer these things – and then to enter into His glory (or: His assumed appearance)?" ²⁷ And so, beginning from Moses, and then from all the prophets, He continued to fully interpret and explain to (or: for) them the things pertaining to (or: the references about) Himself within all the Scriptures.

⁹ It was (or: He was, and continued being) the True and Genuine Light which (or: Who) is continuously (repeatedly; progressively) enlightening (giving light to) every person (or: human) continuously (repeatedly; progressively; constantly; one after another) coming into the world (or: the ordered system of culture, religion, economics and government; or: the universe) (or: It was the real Light, progressively coming into the world {organized system}, which is progressively enlightening {or: shedding light on} every human).

¹⁴ And so The Word (the Idea; the Thought; the Reason; the Discourse; the Message; The Collected Expression of Rational Logic; The Logos; = the meaning, plan and rational purpose of the ordered universe) births Itself flesh (or: became flesh; came to be [in] flesh; came into existence being flesh; = God's thought, the ground of all real existence, became projected into creation as an immanent power within the world of mankind, inhabiting flesh), and lives in a tent, within us (or: set up a tent and tabernacled among us), and we view (attentively gaze at; looked at so as to contemplate) Its (or: His) glory (Its manifestation which calls forth praise; Its appearance which creates and effects opinions in regard to the whole of human experience; = His manifest presence): a glory (= prestige and importance; reputation and opinion-forming appearance) as of an only-begotten one at a father’s side (or: [the] glory from [the presence of the] Father, as a uniquely-born One), full of grace and truth (filled with favor as well as reality and genuineness).

¹⁶ because we all at some point receive (take with our hands) from out of the result of His filling (or: the effect of Its full contents; that which fills Him up): even grace in the place of grace (or: favor corresponding to and facing favor; a [new fresh] gracious favor in the place of and replacing [the previous] gracious favor; [one] joyous favor after and exchanged for [another] joyous favor),

¹⁸ No one at any time has seen God. The only-begotten (uniquely-born) God [other MSS: Son], the One continuously existing, [moving, directed and leading] into the Father’s place of safety and intimacy (bosom; breast; chest; folds of a garment; inlet or bay), that One interprets and explains by unfolding and bringing [Him] out.

³⁴ "And so I myself have seen and given witness, and thus now bear testimony, that this One is God’s Son (or: continuously exists being the Son which is God; or: the Son having the character and qualities of God; or: the Son from God)."

⁴⁹ Nathaniel considered and replied to Him, "Rabbi, You – You are the Son of God! You – You are Israel’s King!"

⁸ So then He continues speaking, saying to them, "Now bale out (or: draw off) [some] and proceed carrying (bearing; bringing) [it] to the head man (or: chief) of the dining room (= the director of the feast)." And then they brought [it].

¹⁸ Then the [religious authorities of the] Jews decided and respond to Him. And they say, "What sign (authenticating token or distinguishing signal) are you presently showing (pointing out; exhibiting) to us, [seeing] that you are proceeding to do these things?" ¹⁹ Jesus considered then responds to them, and says, "Loosen (or: Undo, and thus, destroy or demolish) this Sanctuary (Shrine; Divine Habitation; = the Temple consisting of the holy place and the holy of holies), and within three days I will proceed to be raising it up." ²⁰ Then the Jews (= religious authorities) say, "This Sanctuary was built (constructed to be the House) and erected in (or: over a period of) forty-six years – and now you... you will proceed to be raising it up within three days?!" ²¹ Yet that One (= He) had been speaking about the Sanctuary (or: inner Temple; Divine habitation) which is His body.

¹⁶ "For thus God loves the world (the universe; the ordered arrangement; the organized system [of life and society]; or: = all mankind), so that He gives His uniquely-born [with other MSS: the only-begotten] Son, (or, reading wste as an adverb: You see, in this manner God loves the sum total of created beings as being the Son: He gives the Only-begotten One; or: reading wV te: For you see, [it is] in this way [that] God loves the aggregate of humanity – even as it were His Son: He gives the uniquely-born One), to the end that all (or: everyone) – the one habitually believing, putting confidence and trusting into Him – would not lose or destroy himself, or cause himself to fall into ruin, but rather can continuously have (or: would habitually possess and hold) eonian life (age-durative life with qualities derived from the Age [of the Messiah]; living existence of and for the ages). [note 1): I have here given the “fact” sense of the aorist tense of the verbs “love” and “give” rather than the simple past tense. The statement by Jesus is a “timeless” fact of God; it signifies that the object of His love and His gift (that object being the cosmos, the universe, the world of men and created beings) is in view as a whole, and both the love and the gift are presented as fact, as one complete whole (punctiliar) which exists apart from any sense of time (i.e., coming from the realm or sphere of the “eternal,” or, “the Being of God;” note 2): Paul Tillich defines "love" (agape): the whole being's drive and movement toward reunion with another, to overcome existential separation; an ecstatic manifestation of the Spiritual Presence; acceptance of the object of love without restriction, in spite of the estranged, profanized and demonized state of the object; – Systematic Theology III, pp 134-138] ¹⁷ "For God does not send forth His [other MSS: the] Son as an Emissary, or Representative, into the world (or: System; aggregate of humanity) to the end that He should continuously separate and make decisions about the world (or: would at some point sift and judge the System, or the aggregate of humanity), but to the contrary, to the end that the world would be delivered (or: that the System could be healed and made whole; that the ordered arrangement should be restored to health; that the aggregate of mankind may be saved – rescued and re-established in its original state): through Him! ¹⁸ "The one habitually believing and progressively placing trust into Him is not being continuously sifted or evaluated (is not habitually being separated for decisions or being judged). The one not habitually trusting and believing has already been sifted and evaluated (separated for a decision; judged) and that decision yet exists, because he has not believed so that he trusts into the Name [note: “name” is a Semitism for the person, or his authority, or his qualities] of the uniquely-born Son of God (or: into God’s Son – the only-begotten One). 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),

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), ²⁰ "for everyone [who is] habitually practicing (or: performing) worthless things (base, mean, common, careless, cheap, slight, paltry, sorry, vile things or refuse) is continuously hating (regarding with ill-will) the light, and is not coming (or: going) to the light (or: the Light), so that his works (deeds; actions) may not be tested and put to the proof (and thus, exposed and perhaps reproved). ²¹ "Yet the one habitually doing the truth (constantly constructing the real; repeatedly making the genuine) is constantly coming (or: going; moving) toward the light (or: the Light), so that his works (deeds; actions) may be set in clear light and manifested, because they exist being ones having been worked and accomplished (or: performed as deeds) within God (or: that it is within God [that they are] ones having been acted out)."

³⁵ "The Father continuously loves the Son, and He has given all humanity (or, as a neuter: all things) [to Him] so that He has it (or: them) as a gift within His hand. ³⁶ "The one habitually trusting (or: continuously going on confidently believing with loyalty) into the Son is now constantly holding and progressively having eonian life (life having the characteristics and qualities of the sphere of the Age; life of and for the ages; eon-lasting life; life whose source is the Age [of Messiah]). Yet the person now continuing being unpersuaded by the Son (or: presently being constantly incompliant, disobedient or disbelieving to the Son; being repeatedly stubborn toward the Son) will not be catching sight of (seeing; observing; perceiving) [this] life. To the contrary, God’s inherent fervor (teeming passion and swelling desire; mental bent and natural impulse; propensity and disposition; or: anger, wrath and indignation) is continuously remaining (is now habitually dwelling and abiding) upon him." [note: vss. 31-36 may be narrative by the author, John, and not continued sayings of the Baptist]

³⁶ "The one habitually trusting (or: continuously going on confidently believing with loyalty) into the Son is now constantly holding and progressively having eonian life (life having the characteristics and qualities of the sphere of the Age; life of and for the ages; eon-lasting life; life whose source is the Age [of Messiah]). Yet the person now continuing being unpersuaded by the Son (or: presently being constantly incompliant, disobedient or disbelieving to the Son; being repeatedly stubborn toward the Son) will not be catching sight of (seeing; observing; perceiving) [this] life. To the contrary, God’s inherent fervor (teeming passion and swelling desire; mental bent and natural impulse; propensity and disposition; or: anger, wrath and indignation) is continuously remaining (is now habitually dwelling and abiding) upon him." [note: vss. 31-36 may be narrative by the author, John, and not continued sayings of the Baptist]

²³ "Nevertheless an hour is progressively coming – and now exists (or: is; is being) – when the true (real; genuine) worshipers will proceed to worship (or: will habitually give worship to) the Father within spirit and Truth (or: in breath and reality; within the midst of [the] Spirit and a Fact; in union with attitude and genuineness, or actuality), for the Father is also constantly seeking after such folks (habitually searching out such ones as this; continuously looking for and trying to find lost ones to be this kind) – ones presently by habit worshiping Him! ²⁴ "God [is] spirit (or: Breath; Wind; a Breath-effect and Attitude), and it is binding (or: necessary) for the ones continuously worshiping Him to be constantly worshiping in union with spirit and Truth (in Breath-effect and Reality; within the midst of [the] Spirit and [the] Fact; in the midst of [life]-attitude and genuineness/actuality)."

³⁴ Jesus then says to them, "My food is (or: exists being) that I should do (can perform; would produce; [other MSS: can continuously be doing; or: habitually do]) the will intent and purpose of the One sending Me, and that I should and would bring His work to its purposed goal and destiny (or: can complete His act; may finish and perfect His deed).

³⁶ "Already (or: Even now) the one habitually reaping (normally or progressively harvesting) is constantly receiving (or: taking in his hand) a compensation (a wage; a reward; a payment), and is constantly (or: presently; progressively) gathering (collecting; bringing together) fruit into a life having the source, character and qualities of the Age (eonian life; life of and for the ages; eon-lasting life), so that the one habitually (or: progressively) sowing and the one habitually reaping (or: repeatedly harvesting) may be continually rejoicing together [in the same place or at the same time].

²⁵ "Count on it (Amen, amen), I am presently continuing to say to you folks that an hour is progressively (or: presently in process of) coming, and even now exists (or: = is now here), when the dead folks WILL be repeatedly hearing the voice of God’s Son (or: the Voice from, and which is, the Son of God; or: the voice of the Son, Who is God), and the ones hearing WILL proceed to be living!

⁷ "The world (The System; The organization; = the controlling religious, cultural and political society) is not presently able to be habitually hating you (to continuously regard you with ill-will), yet it is constantly hating Me, because I Myself am habitually giving testimony about it (or: continuously bearing witness and showing evidence concerning it) that its works are continuously unwholesome (laborious and such that put others to trouble; apt to shrewd turns; mischievous; wicked; unsound; malignant; gushed with misery).

³⁵ Therefore, the Jews (= religious authorities) said to themselves (= toward each other), "Where is this fellow about to proceed journeying, that we will not be finding him? He is not about to be traveling into the Dispersion, among the Greeks (= either: the Greek-speaking Jews; or: = all those having been absorbed into the Greek culture and civilization), and to be teaching the Greeks, is he?

⁴² "Does not the Scripture say that the Christ (the Anointed One; = Messiah) is proceeding in (or: normally) coming from out of the seed of David [2 Sam. 7:12], and from Bethlehem [Micah 5:2], the village where David was?"

³⁰ "I and the Father are (continuously exist being) ONE (or: I and Father: We are one thing [= essence, nature or being]; or: = unity; union)."

³⁶ "are you yourselves now saying to the One Whom the Father set apart (consecrated as holy) and sent forth as an Emissary (on a mission; as a Representative) into the organized System (into the world; into the cosmos; unto the realm of the secular; into the religious and cultural complex) – that 'You are blaspheming (speaking impious villainy and giving a false image [of God]),' because I said, 'I am (exist being) God's Son'?

²⁴ "Most assuredly (It is certainly true; Yes, indeed; Count on it; Amen, amen), I am saying to you folks [that] unless the grain of wheat (or: kernel of corn; = seed of an agricultural crop), upon falling into the earth (the ground; the field), should die, it by itself continues remaining alone. Yet if it should die, it proceeds to bear much fruit (= it produces a harvest of many grains, or, seeds).

²⁶ "If anyone would habitually give attending service (raise dust throughout in hastening to provide for material needs) to Me, let him habitually and progressively follow with Me, and then where I Myself am, there My attending servant will also be (exist; have his or her being). If anyone would habitually give attending service to Me and provide for Me, the Father will value and honor him.

¹⁴ "If I Myself, then, the Lord and the Teacher, wash your feet, you men also are constantly indebted (obliged; continuously owe it) to be habitually washing one another's feet, ¹⁵ "for I give (or: gave) an underlying example (or: result of something pointed out as a specimen or illustration shown under your eyes) to you folks, so that just (accordingly; correspondingly) as I Myself do (or: did) for (to; in; among) you, you men should also be repeatedly doing. ¹⁶ "Most assuredly (It is certainly true; Amen, amen), I am saying to you, a slave is not greater than his lord (owner; master), nor [is] one sent with a mission (an emissary; a representative) greater than the one sending him.

¹⁵ "I am no longer calling (or: terming) you people slaves, because the slave has not seen and does not know (or: is not aware of) what his owner (lord; master) is habitually doing. Yet now I have declared you folks friends, because I make intimately and experientially known to you everything (or: all things) which I heard and hear at My Father's side and in His presence. ¹⁶ "You yourselves did not choose Me, but to the contrary I, Myself, selected and picked out (or: chose) you folks and placed (or: set) you, to the end that you would (or: can; may) progressively lead and bring [situations] under control (or: humbly go your way) and would (or: can; should) be constantly bearing (bringing forth) fruit, and your fruit may continuously remain (stay; abide), so that whatever you may seek in petition from the Father – in My Name – He at a certain point would (or: may suddenly; [other MSS: will proceed to]) give [it] to you.

²⁰ "Continually bear in mind (or: Keep on remembering) the word (the Logos; the thought; the idea; the message) which I Myself said to you. A slave is not greater than (does not exist being superior to) his owner (lord; master). Since they pursue and persecute Me, they will also continue pursuing and persecuting you folks. If they keep (or: observed and cared for) My word (idea; message), they will also proceed to be keeping (observing and caring for) yours.

²² "If I did not come and speak to them, they would not have been holding failure (or: were having no sin or error). But now (at this time) they continue holding nothing which like a specious and deceptive cloak appears in front around their sin (or: they are not continuing to hold that which is put forward to hide the situation concerning their failure; they are not habitually having an excuse or pretense about their deviation, error and miss of the target). ²³ "The one who by habit hates Me or treats Me with ill-will also continues hating My Father and habitually treats Him with ill-will. ²⁴ "If I did not do (perform; create) the works (actions; deeds) among them or within them – which no one else (or: no other one) did – they were having no sin or error (they had not been holding a failure or a miss of the target). But now (at this time) they have both seen and hated both Me and My Father.

¹⁷ Jesus then says to her, "Stop holding (or: Do not continue hanging on and clinging to) Me, for I have not yet stepped back up again so as to be ascended toward (or: to; face to face with) the [other MSS: My] Father. Now be going on your way toward (or: to) My brothers (= fellow believers), and say to them [that I said], ‘I am progressively stepping back up again (or: now ascending) toward My Father – even the Father of you folks – and My God: even [the] God of you people!’"

²⁸ Thomas decidedly replies, and said to Him, "O my Lord (or: Owner) and my God!" (or: “O my Master!,” and, “O my God!”)

³¹ Yet these things have been written to the end that you folks can (or: may; would) continue trusting and keep on believing [other MSS: should come to trust and believe] that Jesus is the Christ (Anointed One; [= Messiah]), God's Son (or: the Son of The God), and so that continually trusting, having conviction and believing, you can continuously hold (may progressively have) life [other MSS: eonian life (or: life whose source and realm is the Age; age-lasting life)] within (or: within the midst of) and in union with His Name.

²⁵ "to receive (or: take in hand) the place [other MSS: lot] pertaining to (or: of) this attending service of dispensing and sending-forth (or: releasing on expedition) – from which Judah (or: Judas) stepped aside, to journey into his own place."

²⁴ "Whom God resurrected (raised up; caused to stand back up again), after loosing (untying; = releasing and freeing from) the birth-pangs (or: -throes) of the death (or: the Death; [or, with D and other witnesses: after destroying the cords of the Unseen {Hades}]) – corresponding to the fact that it was not possible for Him to be held fast by it (or: it was not continuing to be powerful or capable for Him to be possessed under its strength). [comment: death gives birth to life]

³⁰ "Being inherently a prophet (one who had light ahead of time), however, and thus seeing and knowing with perception that God swore and affirms to him with an oath to at some point seat [One] upon his throne [that is] from out of [the] fruit of his loins (reproductive organs),

³² "God resurrected (raised; made to stand back up again) this Jesus – of which and of Whom we are all witnesses (folks who saw what happened and who now give evidence and testimony)!

¹³ "The God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob – the God of our fathers – brought glory (a manifestation which calls forth praise) and a good reputation to His Servant (or: Boy) Jesus, Whom indeed you folks turned over (gave aside; [D adds: unto judgment]) and renounced (or: disown; denied) before Pilate's face – [he] having decided to be releasing that One!

¹⁵ "So you folks killed-off the Inaugurator of the Life (or: Life's Originator; the Author, Founder, Leader, Prince and Initiator of the Life) – Whom God raised up out from among the midst of dead folks, of which and of Whom we ourselves are witnesses, and continue being both evidence and testimony.

²⁶ "To you folks first, God, in raising up His Servant, sent Him forth continually blessing you and repeatedly speaking words of goodness, ease and well-being within the [situation for] constantly and progressively turning each one away from your misery-gushed situation of worthless conditions, laborious works, painful relationships, malicious deeds, wicked plans and evil thoughts and dispositions."

¹⁰ "let it be now progressively known to all you men and to all the people of Israel, that in (within and in union with) the Name of Jesus Christ (or: of [the] anointed Jesus), the Nazarene, Whom you yourselves executed on a stake (crucified), Whom God raised up from out of the midst of dead folks – within and in union with this Man (or: [Name]), this man has stood near and now stands sound and healthy at the side, in your sight and presence! ¹¹ "This One is the Stone – the One being treated as nothing (or: with scorn and contempt) and being disregarded by and under you folks, the builders (or: the 'architects'); the One coming into [the position of] being 'Head of [the] corner (or: Source of [the] angle; = the Corner Foundation Stone from which the walls are built; or: = Headstone, or, Keystone; = the Summit of the building)!' [Ps. 118:22] ¹² "And thus, the rescue and deliverance – the restoration to health and wholeness, the safety and salvation, and the return to our original state and condition – is in absolutely no other person! For neither is there a different name under the [dome of the] sky (or: heaven) that has been given, and now exists as a gift, among mankind (or: in the midst of humanity) within which it continues binding and necessary for us to be saved (restored to health and wholeness; delivered and kept safe; returned to our original state and condition)!"

³⁰ "The God of our fathers (= ancestors) raised up Jesus – Whom you men yourselves intensely manhandled with intent to kill, hanging [Him] on a wooden pole (or: suspending [Him] upon a tree). ³¹ "God exalted and lifted up high this Originator (or: Beginning Leader; Inaugurator; Founder; Chief Agent; Prince) and Deliverer (Savior; Rescuer; Restorer of health and wholeness; Returner to the original sphere and state of being) to (or: by; with) His right hand (= power and authority; [D reads: glory]) – to give (or: grant) a change of mind and way of thinking [which results in a return to Yahweh] to (or: for; in) Israel, and a sending away of mistakes and deviations (a divorcing of failures; an abandoning of sinning; a flowing away of the results from times of missing the target; a forgiveness of errors; [D adds: within {or: among} them])! ³² "And we ourselves are evidences and witnesses of these gush-effects and results of the flow (or: saying and declarations; spoken words) – as well as the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; consecrated attitude) which (or: Whom) God gave (or: gives) to (or: in; for; among) the folks who in persuaded loyalty are continually obeying and yielding to Him as the Ruler."

³⁶ "You see, before these days Theudas (or: Todah) arose, repeatedly saying of himself to be somebody [D adds: great (= important; significant)] – to whom men numbering about four hundred were inclined (= rallied in support) – who was "taken up" (= hauled off to be killed – [perhaps by hanging or crucifixion]) and everyone, whoever was loyally submitting to him and obeyed him, were at once disbanded and dispersed, and so it came to be nothing (or: unto nothing did it occur).

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].

⁴² "So God turned [away], and then handed them over to be habitually rendering sacred service, as hirelings, to the host (= sun, moon, stars; or: the band or company of the military force; the army) of the sky (or: atmosphere; heaven), just as it has been written in the scroll of the prophets, 'O house (= people) of Israel, it was not to or for Me [that] you people offered slaughtered victims and sacrifices [for] forty years, within the midst of the wilderness (desolate place; desert)!

⁵⁹ Then as they continued stoning Stephen, [he] continued making an appeal and repeatedly saying, "O Lord Jesus, at once welcome and receive my breath-effect (or: spirit)!" ⁶⁰ Now kneeling, he cried out with a great (or: loud) voice, "O Lord [= Christ or Yahweh], You should not place (or: set; cause to stand) this mistake (failure; error; sin) to (or: on) them (= do not charge this sin against them)!" Then, after saying this, he fell asleep (euphemism: he died). Now Saul was endorsing (approving in; thinking well together [with them] about) his assassination (at his lifting up; in his murder).

¹ Now on that day great persecution, pursuit and [D adds: pressure] was birthed (occurred) upon the called-out community [that was] within Jerusalem, so they were all – except for the sent-forth emissaries (representatives) [D*& 1175 add: who alone remained in Jerusalem] – dispersed and scattered as seeds down among the regions (or: territories) of Judea and Samaria.

¹⁵ who, after walking down, spoke goodness concerning (or: prayed about) them, so that they could receive a set-apart Breath-effect (or: in what manner and by what means they would take hold of [the] Holy Spirit), ¹⁶ for you see, it (or: It; He) had not yet fallen upon even one of them, yet, only being folks having been immersed, they were continually subsisting and were progressing from under that beginning into the Name of the Lord Jesus (or: they continued being a possession, progressing into the Name, which is the Owner, Jesus; or: Now only having been baptized, in making a beginning they continued belonging unto the Name which pertains to the Master: Jesus). ¹⁷ At that time they began placing (or: laying) [their] hands upon them, and so, one after another, they began receiving a set-apart Breath-effect (or: [the] Holy Spirit; a sacred attitude). ¹⁸ Now Simon, upon seeing that the [p45, A & other MSS add: set-apart (or: Holy)] Breath-effect (or: Spirit; Attitude; Breath) is repeatedly being given through the placing or laying on (or: the imposition) of the hands of the sent-forth folks (the emissaries or representatives), he brought (or: offered) useful things (or: money; properties) to them, ¹⁹ repeatedly saying, "Give at once also to me this authority and right, so that on whomever I also should place [my] hands he may receive a set-apart breath-effect (or: [the] Holy Spirit)!"

³⁶ So as they continued going their way down the road, they came upon some water, and the eunuch affirms, "Look! Water! What continues preventing (hindering) me to be at once immersed (or: baptized)?"

¹⁵ Yet the Lord [= Christ] said to him, "Be presently going (or: Go, and continue on your way), because this one is (or: exists being) a vessel of choice to Me (or: a picked our and chosen instrument for Me) to lift up and carry My Name before (in the sight and presence of) the ethnic multitudes (or: nations; Gentiles; non-Israelites) – as well as [before] kings and [the] sons (= people) of Israel.

²⁰ then straightway (at once) began publicly proclaiming Jesus within the synagogues – continuously heralding that this Man is (exists being) God's Son (or: the Son which has the character and qualities of, and whose origin is, God)!

⁴³ "To this Man (or: Person) all the prophets (those who had light ahead of time) continue bearing witness, giving testimony and presenting evidence: through His Name, everyone making it a habit to place their trust into Him and continue believing with [their focus] into the midst of Him is to at once receive a sending away of mistakes (a divorce from failures; a cancellation of errors; a forgiveness of sins; a flowing off of deviations)."

²³ who, upon coming to be at [their] side and seeing the grace and favor – that which has its source in God, and which has the qualities and characteristics of God, and which in fact is God – at once rejoiced and began calling everyone to his side so that he could assist and encourage them to habitually remain oriented to and focused in the Lord [= Christ and Yahweh] – with (or: by) the plan and purpose of the heart!

²⁸ And now one from among them, named Agabus, upon rising and taking a stand, through means of the Breath-effect (or: Spirit) began indicating by signs and symbols [that] a great famine is to be progressively impending, [which] is going to birth itself into existence upon the whole inhabited land (= the whole Roman empire) – something which occurred upon [the reign] of Claudius.

⁵ Therefore Peter, consequently, continued being kept in custody (remained under guard and was being watched) within the prison (or: jail), yet thoughts and speech toward having things be well [for him] (or: prayer) continued being repeatedly birthed (or: was continuously coming to be) extendedly (i.e., in a way or manner that stretched forth from out of [their] midst) focused on God around him (or: toward God concerning him), by the called-out community.

² So, in the midst of their continually doing public work (service for the people) for (or: in; to; by; with) the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh], as well as periodically fasting, the set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit) said, "Now therefore, you folks section off (mark off boundaries so as to define) Barnabas and Saul – to (or: for; by; in; with) Me – into the work toward which I Myself have called (or: summoned) them." ³ At that time then, after fasting and praying (speaking and thinking toward things going well), and then placing their hands on (or: to) them, they loosed [them] away (disbanded and released [them]). ⁴ They themselves indeed therefore – being sent out from the midst by the set-apart Breath-effect (or: under the Holy Spirit) – went down into Seleucia. Then from there, they sailed away unto Cyprus.

⁹ Yet Saul – the [same] man also [being] Paul – being filled full of set-apart Breath-effect (or: being filled with [the] Holy Spirit), after staring intently into him, said,

²² "Then, upon changing the standing of (or: deposing; dismissing) him, He raise up David to (or: for) them, unto [the position of] king – about whom He also said, showing evidence and giving testimony, 'I found David, the [son] of Jesse, a man corresponding to and in accord with My heart, who will continue doing all the effects of My will (or: who will progressively perform all the results of My intent, purpose and desire).' [Ps. 89:20] ²³ "From the seed of this one (or: From this person's descendant) – corresponding to and in accord with [the] promise – He brought to (or: for; in; by) Israel a Deliverer (Savior; Rescuer; Restorer to health and wholeness), Jesus.

³³ "that God has filled this out of [our] midst (or: has fully fulfilled this) for (or: to; in) our children [other MSS: us, their children,] in raising (resurrecting; standing back up again) Jesus – even as it has been written in the second Psalm, 'You are My Son; I Myself have given birth to You today (or: today I Myself have become Your Father).' [D adds: You see then, request of Me and I will proceed giving to You the ethnic multitudes (nations and people groups) {for} Your allotted inheritance, and the limits and uttermost parts of the earth {as} Your firmly held possession.] [Ps. 2:7] ³⁴ "Now, seeing that He raised Him up (resurrected Him; stood Him back up again) from out of the midst of dead folks – no longer being about to be progressively returning (or: not anymore continuing about to be constantly or repeatedly turning below, or under) into corruption and decay. Thus He has declared, 'I will proceed giving to and among you people the faithful and trustworthy qualities and aspects of pious and benign loyalty which belonged to David.' [Isa. 55:3] ³⁵ "Wherefore also, in a different [Psalm], it continues saying, 'I will not proceed in giving Your Pious and Benignly Loyal Person to see (= experience) decay or corruption.' [Ps. 16:10]

¹⁶ "Who, within the generations having gone by, permitted (let; allowed) all the ethnic groups (nations; non-Jewish multitudes) to continue going in their ways (or: to progressively travel on their paths),

¹⁶ "Who, within the generations having gone by, permitted (let; allowed) all the ethnic groups (nations; non-Jewish multitudes) to continue going in their ways (or: to progressively travel on their paths), ¹⁷ "although He did not leave (or: abandon; neglect; let go from His care and attendance of) Himself without evidence (= proof; or: testimony; or: a witness) by repeatedly doing good works (or: produced benevolent deeds): regularly giving to (or: for) you people rains from heaven (or: [the] sky), and thus fruit-bearing seasons, constantly filling the core of your beings full of food (or: nourishment) and your hearts with gladness and a frame of mind (or: disposition) characterized by ease and well-being in the midst of togetherness."

²⁷ Now coming to be alongside (= present) and after gathering the called-out community together, they began recounting [to them] whatever God did (performed) with them [D reads: with their souls], and that He opened up a (or: [the]) door of trust with the ethnic multitudes (or: from faith among the nations; of confidence for the non-Jews; to the Gentiles, from faith).

¹² So [D adds: with the older men (or: elders) now accepting and consenting to the things having been spoken by Peter,] the entire multitude became silent, and they began listening to Barnabas and Paul progressively unfolding and leading [the folks] out, [through] a description of whatever (or: however many) signs and miracles (wonders; portents) [which] God did among the ethnic multitudes (or: nations; non-Jews) through them.

¹⁴ "Simeon led [us] out and unfolded, relating in detail, how God first (or: first of all; in the first [place]) made a visit (and: took an attentive look characterized by complete care) to at one point take from out of the midst of the ethnic multitudes (or: nations; folks who were non-Jews) a people for His Name (= as His representatives and for His glory; or: by His Name [= power and authority]; in His Name [= possession and realm of being]; with His Name [= character and reputation]; to His Name).

²³ after writing [D adds: a letter] by their hand [D adds: presently containing this]: " [From:] The emissaries (sent-forth folks) and the older men (or: the elders) – brothers (or: the older brothers; [other MSS: as well as the brothers {= fellow believers; = your brothers}]), To: The brothers down in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia – to those from out of the ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Jews) – to continue to be rejoicing! (= Greetings!)

⁵ The called-out communities were indeed, therefore, being progressively made strong, firm, solid and stable in the faith (or: in union with the trusting conviction), and they kept on increasing and superabounding in number daily. ⁶ So they went through Phrygia and [the] Galatian province [note: possibly the ethnographic area of the Gauls or Celts who dwelt in North Galatia], having been restrained (or: prevented) by the set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit) from speaking the message (the Logos; the Word; [D reads: not even one word of God]) within the [province of] Asia. ⁷ Now upon coming down [to] Mysia, they made efforts [D reads: they continued wanting and intending] to travel on into Bithynia, and then the Breath-effect (or: Spirit) of Jesus did not let (permit; allow) them.

²³ "for while passing through, and then continuing in contemplation during carefully observing one after another of your religious objects (items of reverence; effects of veneration, devotion and worship), I also found an elevated spot within which it had been inscribed, 'To (or: For) an Unknown (or: Unknowable) God.' To Whom then, while continuing ignorant, you make it a habit to give reverent worship and dutiful support, this One am I myself presently announcing (bringing down a clear proclamation of) to you folks (or: Therefore, to what you people continue unknowingly giving godly devotion, this same One do I myself continue publishing among you).

²³ "for while passing through, and then continuing in contemplation during carefully observing one after another of your religious objects (items of reverence; effects of veneration, devotion and worship), I also found an elevated spot within which it had been inscribed, 'To (or: For) an Unknown (or: Unknowable) God.' To Whom then, while continuing ignorant, you make it a habit to give reverent worship and dutiful support, this One am I myself presently announcing (bringing down a clear proclamation of) to you folks (or: Therefore, to what you people continue unknowingly giving godly devotion, this same One do I myself continue publishing among you). ²⁴ "The God making (forming and constructing; producing) the ordered system and arrangement of the universe, and all the things within it – this One continuously being from the start: Lord of heaven and of earth (or: this Owner and Master, repeatedly and progressively being the subsisting and originating source, the under-beginning, of sky and land) – is not now (or: habitually) taking up residence within handmade shrines, sanctuaries or temples! ²⁵ "Neither is He continuously provided for, attended or habitually served by human hands – as constantly being in want, or having a need of something – He Himself being the One constantly giving to all people (or: all things) life and breath and all things (or: everything; the whole [universe])! ²⁶ "Besides this, He made (formed; or: constructs; or: produced) from out of one [man, or, source; D and other MSS add: blood] every ethnic group of mankind, to continue dwelling (or: to be repeatedly residing) upon all [the] face of the earth (or: land) – while setting a boundary for (or: defining; determining; specifying) [the] seasons and fitting situations (or: fertile moments and opportunities) which have been set and arranged with [predetermined] aspects (or: facing toward [specific purposes]), as well as [the] limits and bounds of their dwelling place (residence; habitat) – ²⁷ " [D adds: most of all] to be continuously seeking God [D reads: the Deity], since really, in fact, they could feel about and grope, and then at some point might (or: possibly) find Him! And, to be sure, [He] is continuously being an Originator (or: He is constantly subsisting, being inherently [the] Under-beginner) not far away (or: a long distance) from each one of us! ²⁸ "For you see, within the midst of and in union with Him we continuously live (or, as a subjunctive: could be constantly living), and are constantly moved about and put into motion, and continue existing (experiencing Being). Even as certain of the poets down among you people have said, 'You see, we are also a family of the One (or: we even continuously exist being a race whose source is the One; or: we also are His species and offspring; we are even a family which is composed of the One and which is the One).' ²⁹ "Therefore, continuously and inherently subsisting from under a beginning, being God's family (a species of God; a race whose source is God; [the] kind of being having the qualities and characteristics of God; [the] offspring birthed from God), we continue indebted (or: we ought) not to from custom be habitually presuming or inferring the Deity (or: the Divine Nature) to be like gold or silver or stone – a result of engraved or sculpted work of art or craftsmanship, or even of human inner rush of emotion, passion or sentiment.

²⁹ "Therefore, continuously and inherently subsisting from under a beginning, being God's family (a species of God; a race whose source is God; [the] kind of being having the qualities and characteristics of God; [the] offspring birthed from God), we continue indebted (or: we ought) not to from custom be habitually presuming or inferring the Deity (or: the Divine Nature) to be like gold or silver or stone – a result of engraved or sculpted work of art or craftsmanship, or even of human inner rush of emotion, passion or sentiment. ³⁰ "Indeed then, upon looking over, seeing above and perceiving on behalf of [D reads: taking no notice of] the times of this ignorance, in regard to the present conditions and situations, God is presently and progressively passing along [other MSS: bringing back] this announcement to mankind (or: for humanity): all people (or: every human) everywhere are (or: is) to be progressively changing [their] thinking and continue with a changed mindset! ³¹ "In accord with that, He set (or: established) a Day within which He is progressively about to continue evaluating and deciding about (or: judging) the inhabited area [of the Empire], in fairness and equity (in union with rightwised relationships for making things right and in accord with the Way pointed out; also: = based upon covenant principles; or: = as being in covenant) – within a Man, [D adds: Jesus,] Whom He definitely marked out, furnishing faith to all people (providing trust and assurance for all mankind; tendering loyalty in all) by raising Him back up from the midst of dead ones." ³² Now upon hearing [of] a resurrection of dead people, indeed, some folks began sneering and mocking, yet others said, "We will listen and hear from you about this again, also."

²¹ but rather, upon arranging for himself to be off (or: away) while saying good-bye and saying, " [D and others add: Now it continues binding for me to by all means do (or: perform) the feast – the one periodically coming into Jerusalem, but] I will proceed coming back again to you folks, God's continuing in willing and intending [it]," he set sail from Ephesus.

⁶ Then, after (or: during) Paul's placing [his] hands upon them, the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit) came [p38 and D read: immediately fell] upon them and they began speaking in languages (or: with tongues), and then began (or: and continued) prophesying (speaking light ahead of time and in front of people).

²¹ Now as these things were being fulfilled (or: made full), Paul put himself in the attitude (or: set himself in union with the Breath-effect; or; placed within the spirit for himself [the intent]) to continue journeying into Jerusalem – after passing through Macedonia and Achaia – saying, "After the [situation] occurs [for] me to come to be in that place [i.e., Jerusalem], it continues binding and necessary for me to see Rome at some point, also."

²⁴ "Nevertheless, from not even one thought do I habitually make my soul of value to myself (or, with other MSS: neither do I now hold a word or idea for me, nor do I continuously make my inner life or self valuable or precious to me), until I can finish my course (complete my trek and perfect my career; bring my run to its purposed destiny; or: [with other MSS: so] I would bring my race-course to its goal), as well as the attending service, which I received from beside the Lord Jesus: to for myself make full witness of and give thorough evidence for the good news (the message of ease, goodness and well-being) which is God's grace (or: which has a source in, and the character of, the undeserved joyous favor of God).

¹³ At that point Paul made a discerning and decisive reply: "What are you folks proceeding in doing by continuing to weep and to progressively crush my heart to pieces? You see, I myself readily make it a habit to be holding [myself] prepared not only to be bound (or: = imprisoned), but more than that, at once also to die [upon entering] into the midst of Jerusalem for the sake of (or: over [circumstances concerning]) the Name of the Lord Jesus!" ¹⁴ So at his not being convinced or persuaded, we grew calm and became silent, [all; or: various ones] saying, "Let the will (or: desire, intent, resolve, design) of the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] come to be (be birthed; = be [done])."

¹⁹ Then, after greeting and embracing them, he began leading out with a detailed account, unfolding one by one each of the things which God had done among the ethnic multitudes (= the non-Jews of the nations) through his attending service.

⁴⁰ Now after his giving permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, gestures – motioning down with [his] hand – to the people. Then, with it becoming perfectly quiet, he shouted to [them] in the Hebrew [p74 & A read: in his own] language (or: dialect), saying:

¹ "Men! Brothers (= Fellow Jews) and fathers! Listen, and hear my defense to you now!"

⁷ "At this, I fell onto the road (literally: the bottom), and I heard a Voice repeatedly saying to me, 'Saul... Saul! Why do you continue pursuing and persecuting Me?'

¹³ "Upon coming to me and standing near, he said to me, 'Brother Saul (or: Saul, my brother)! Look up and see again!' And I myself at once looked up into him and saw again (or: recovered my sight) – in that very hour (= right then)! ¹⁴ "So he said to me, 'The God of our fathers (or: ancestors) took you in hand beforehand (or: handled you in advance; or: hand-picked you ahead of time) to know His will and to gain insight about the effect of His intent, and the result of His design and purpose, by intimate experience, and then to see the Fair and Equitable One (the One who is Rightwised, Just, in right relationships, and who embodies the Way pointed out), and to hear [the] voice forth from His mouth, ¹⁵ "'because (or: that) you will be a witness for (or: to; with; by) Him to all mankind (or: you will be evidence about Him with a view toward all humanity) of what (or: concerning which things) you have seen and heard (or: and now hear).

²⁰ "'Then when the blood of Stephen, Your witness, was being progressively poured out, I myself was also standing by and continuing in consenting (approving; endorsing) as well as guarding the outer garments of those in the process of assassinating (murdering) him.' ²¹ "Then He said to me, 'Get on your way, because I Myself will be sending you off with a mission, out into the ethnic multitudes (or: nations; non-Jews) afar off.'"

¹⁴ "Yet this I now speak in agreement (or: confess) to you, that according to the Way (or: corresponding to the Path) – which they are normally calling a sect (or: maintaining [to be] a party; or: terming heresy) – in this way am I habitually performing sacred service to the God of (or: pertaining to) the fathers (or: the ancestral God), constantly trusting, believing and being loyal to all the things corresponding to the Law (= the Torah) and having been written within the Prophets –

²⁴ So after some days, Felix, happening by with Drusilla his wife – [she] being a Jewess, sent for Paul and then heard from him about the faith, trust and loyalty [being placed] into Christ Jesus (or: [the] Anointed Jesus; = Jesus the Messiah). ²⁵ Yet during his dialoging and discoursing about fairness and equity (rightwised behavior and right relationships within the Way pointed out; also: = covenant inclusion and participation), inner strength and self-control, and then the impending effect of judgment (separation which is about to result in a decision), Felix – coming to be alarmed with inner fear – gave a decided response: "For the present, be now going your way while continuing to hold this [subject]. Now then, upon getting a fitting opportunity with [you], I will keep on calling for you,"

¹ So Agrippa affirms to Paul, "It is now permitted for you to proceed in speaking concerning [other MSS: over; on behalf of; = for] yourself." At that point Paul, while stretching out [his] hand, began to make a defense:

⁶ "And yet now I stand being repeatedly (or: constantly) judged (or: put on trial) based upon [the] expectation (or: hope) of the promise having been birthed into our fathers (= ancestors) by God –

¹⁴ "Next, at all of us falling down to the ground, I heard a Voice proceeding in saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, O Saul! Why do you continue pressing forward to persecute Me? To keep on kicking [your heel] toward [the] goads (sharp points; e.g., as with an ox-goad; = futilely resisting or 'flogging a dead horse') [makes it] hard for you (or: = can hurt you)!'

¹⁶ "'But now, get up and stand upon your feet! You see, into this [situation; commission] and unto this [purpose] I became seen by you (or: was made to appear to you): to take you in hand beforehand (or: to handle you in advance; or: to hand-pick you ahead of time) [to be] a subordinate (one who is a rower of a ship's crew) and a witness (one who testifies and gives evidence) – both of things in which you saw Me, and of things in which I will continue being seen by (or: in; with) you – ¹⁷ "'now Myself choosing you from out of the midst of the People (or: repeatedly taking you from out of the midst of, i.e., rescuing you from, the People), as well as from out of the midst of the ethnic multitudes (or: nations; non-Jews) unto whom I Myself am progressively sending you off with a mission: ¹⁸ "'to open back up their eyes again; to turn [their eyes; or: them] back: away from darkness (a realm of the shadow; dimness and obscurity) into Light, even from the authority and privilege of the adversary (or: that is, from the right which comes from out being the opponent), and upon God; to receive a flowing away of deviations and a release from failures, mistakes and occasions of missing the goal (or: a forgiveness of sins) and an allotted inheritance among and in union with the folks having been – and now remaining – set apart in, with and for faith which [leads] into Me (or: centered within the people now made holy by trust [which is] by the One [having come] into the midst of Me; or: within those having been consecrated for loyalty, sanctified with faith and now set apart to trusting conviction [that has brought them] unto Me).'

¹⁸ "'to open back up their eyes again; to turn [their eyes; or: them] back: away from darkness (a realm of the shadow; dimness and obscurity) into Light, even from the authority and privilege of the adversary (or: that is, from the right which comes from out being the opponent), and upon God; to receive a flowing away of deviations and a release from failures, mistakes and occasions of missing the goal (or: a forgiveness of sins) and an allotted inheritance among and in union with the folks having been – and now remaining – set apart in, with and for faith which [leads] into Me (or: centered within the people now made holy by trust [which is] by the One [having come] into the midst of Me; or: within those having been consecrated for loyalty, sanctified with faith and now set apart to trusting conviction [that has brought them] unto Me).'

¹ Now as it was decided for us to be presently sailing off into Italy, they handed over Paul, besides also some different prisoners (= folks who were prisoners for reasons different than for Paul), to a centurion (Roman officer normally in charge of 100 soldiers) named Julius, who was a part of an Augustan military cohort (or: [the] Imperial regiment or squadron). ² So after stepping on [board] the boat (or: ship) [on its way from the seaport] in Adramyttium [which was] presently about to continuing sailing into the places down along the [province of] Asia, we were put out [to sea] – there being with us Aristarchus, a Macedonian man from Thessalonica. ³ After this, on a different [day], we were put in at (or: led down [from the high sea] into) Sidon. With this, Julius, dealing kindly and being helpful and humane to Paul, permitted [him] to obtain and enjoy casual care and attention which hit the spot – after [his] going on his way [to visit] the friends (= either personal acquaintances who had affection for him, or, fellow believers who were referred to in this way). ⁴ Later, from there, upon putting out [to sea] we sailed under the [lee, or, shelter] of Cyprus, because of the winds being contrary. ⁵ After this, sailing through (= across) the open sea – down along Cilicia and Pamphylia – we put in at (or: made our way down into) Myra in Lycia. ⁶ And there, with the centurion finding an Alexandrian ship in route sailing unto Italy, he had us board it (or: step on into the midst of it). ⁷ Then, after continuously sailing slowly and with difficulty during a considerable number of day, after coming to be down by Cnidus [note: on a peninsula of the southwest part of the Asian Minor] with the wind continuing in not allowing us to approach, we sailed under the [lee, or, shelter, of] Crete, down by (= off the coast of) Salome (or: Salmone), ⁸ and then, with difficulty, progressively skirting (or: coasting along) it, we came into a place [that was] by some folks being normally called Ideal Harbors (or: Fine and Beautiful Seaports; Fair Havens), near which was [the] city [of] Lasea. ⁹ Now with a considerable amount of time having elapsed (i.e., having passed by, and so was now lost), and sailing being already hazardous – because even the Fast [i.e., part of the Day of Atonement feast] had already passed by [note: thus, around early or mid October, the season of perilous navigation in that area] – Paul began strongly advising and making recommendation, saying to them again and again, ¹⁰ "Gentlemen, I continue watching and am noticing that the voyage is soon about to be with damage and much loss (or: detriment) – not only of the cargo and of ship, but also of our souls (= ourselves; or: persons among us)." ¹¹ Yet the centurion continued being persuaded by the helmsman (or: pilot; navigator) and the ship owner (or: the man chartering the ship; or: shipmaster) rather than by the things being repeatedly said by Paul. ¹² Now with the harbor possessing no good placement and being unsuitable with a view toward wintering through the stormy season, the majority gave counsel to at once set sail from there, since somehow they might be able to reach Phoenix [note: about 40 nautical miles away; approximately 12 hours of sailing with a good wind; this town could also be Phineka or Phenice] – a harbor of Crete looking down [the] northeast and [the] southeast [note: depending on whether reading looking into the wind, or looking down the line of the direction the wind is blowing, some interpret this as meaning northwest and south west] – to spend the winter. ¹³ So at the south wind blowing gently, folks supposing to have gotten into [their] power the intended purpose, upon weighing (or: hoisting) [anchor] they began skirting (or: coasting along) very close to Crete. ¹⁴ However, after not much [time or distance] a hurricane (or: typhoon) wind, called a "northeaster" (or: Euroaquilo), thrust down against it [i.e., the ship] [from mountainous Crete]. ¹⁵ So with the ship being violently gripped and snatched together [amidst the waves], and then not being able to continue keeping the eye face to face to the wind (or: look the wind in the eye; = keep the boat's head facing into the wind), after yielding, we began being borne (or: carried) along. ¹⁶ Now upon running under [the lee, or shelter, of] a small island called Cauda [other MSS: Clauda], we had strength – with difficulty – to come to be in control of the dinghy (or: skiff) [at the stern], ¹⁷ after hoisting which, they began using emergency devices [e.g., ropes; tackle] for support, continuing in undergirding the ship with braces. All the more continuing in fearing lest they should fall out [of line] (= stray off course and run aground) into the shoals (or: Syrtis, a gulf full of shifting sandbanks and quicksand), upon lowering the gear (or: container; perhaps: anchor), they in this way continued being borne (or: carried) along. ¹⁸ Yet with our continuing in being violently tossed and battered by the storm, on the following [day] they began throwing [things] overboard (jettisoned [first nonessentials, later, the cargo, to lighten the ship]), ¹⁹ then on the third [day] they hurled out the ship's equipment (gear; furnishings; tackle) overboard, with their own hands. ²⁰ Now with neither sun nor stars (or: constellations) making their normal appearance to shine upon [us, or, the sea] for many days – besides no small winter's storm and rain continuing in lying upon [us] – all hope and expectation of the [situation or chance for] us to continue being kept safe and sound (or: to proceed to be saved or rescued) began being taken away from around [us] (or: being removed as a surrounding environment). ²¹ Added to this, with [their] continuing under the rule [of this situation] from its beginning with much lack of appetite, and thus a long period of abstinence from food, Paul, at that point taking a stand within their midst, said, "O gentlemen! It was continuing being a necessity, by being yielding to me as to one in authority and in being persuaded, not to have been put out to sea from Crete – to acquire, besides this damage, also the loss (detriment and forfeit). ²² "And yet, in the present circumstances, I am now strongly advising and urging you to be constantly in good spirits with your emotions at ease, for you see, there will be not even one casting away of a soul (or: throwing off of a person; = loss of life) from out of your midst, more than (= except) the ship, ²³ "because there stood by me, in this night, an agent of (or: a messenger from) the God from Whom as a source I continue existing (or: of Whom I am and to Whom I belong) and to Whom, for Whom, in Whom and by Whom I perform as a servant,

²³ "because there stood by me, in this night, an agent of (or: a messenger from) the God from Whom as a source I continue existing (or: of Whom I am and to Whom I belong) and to Whom, for Whom, in Whom and by Whom I perform as a servant, ²⁴ "presently saying, 'Do not be fearing now, Paul. It continues necessary and binding for you to stand beside Caesar – and now, consider this! God has in grace favored, along with you (or: to you; for you), all the folks presently sailing with you.' ²⁵ "On this account men, continue being in good spirits and with emotions at ease! You see, by God I continue trusting (or: I keep on believing in God) that thus it will continue being – corresponding to the turn of events of what has been spoken to me. ²⁶ "So it continues now necessary and binding for us to at some point fall out (= be cast ashore from running aground) into some island." ²⁷ Now as the fourteenth night fell, during our being continuously carried throughout while tossed first this way then that in the midst of the [Sea of] Adria, down on through to the middle the night the sailors began suspecting and continued sensing for them to be now leading toward some region or strip of land. ²⁸ And so, upon taking soundings (dropping weighted lines), they found [the depth of water to be] twenty fathoms (about 120 feet), yet after proceeding through a short interval and again taking soundings, they found [it to be] fifteen fathoms.

² More than this, the foreign-speaking people (or: barbarians; non-Greek-speaking natives or local inhabitants) happening to meet [us] continued to extend to us extraordinary human kindness and affection, for after kindling a fire, they took us all [in] (= extended hospitality to all of us) because of the imminent rain, and because of the cold.

⁴ So as the native people (barbarians; non-Greek speakers) saw the little beast hanging and continuing suspended from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly (or: By all means) this person is a murderer whom – though having been brought safely through from out of the sea – Justice does not allow to continue living."

³ about (concerning; with reference to) His Son – the One coming into existence (or: birthing Himself) from out of David’s sperm (or: Davidic seed; = David's descendant), down from and in the line of succession of flesh (or: = in the sphere of the natural realm);

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]), ⁶ within the midst of which peoples (or: among whom) you yourselves are continuously existing, being also called folks of Jesus Christ (or: Jesus Christ’s invited ones) –

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),

¹⁶ For you see, I am not in the habit of being ashamed of (= I am proud of and thrilled about) the Good News (message of goodness, ease and well-being), for it continues being (or: is) God’s power (ability; capacity) [leading] into deliverance (being rescued; salvation; health and wholeness; restoration to the original state and condition) – in everyone (for everyone; to everyone) continuously having faith and trusting (or: believing and relying upon [it]): for (to; in) [the] Jew first, also for (to; in) [the] Greek (or: Hellenist; = non-Jew) –

¹⁸ You see, God’s personal emotion (or: inherent fervor; mental bent; natural impulse; teeming desire and swelling passion; temperament; disposition; or: anger; wrath) is continuously and progressively being unveiled (revealed; disclosed) from heaven upon every irreverence (lack of awe or absence of pious fear; disrespect) and injustice (wrong; unrighteousness; situation or act contrary to the Way pointed out) of mankind (or: that arises from humans) – the folks continuously holding down (restraining; stopping while possessing) the Truth (or: reality) in the sphere of (or: within the midst of) injustice (unrighteousness; that which is not right; unfairness and inequality) – ¹⁹ simply because the thing experientially known (or: personally knowable; able to be gained by insight) pertaining to God (or: from, and which has its origin in, God; which is God) is continuously made visible (made apparent; manifested by light) within (or: among) them, for God at one point made (or: makes) it visible (manifests it) to them (or: for them; in them; by them; among them). ²⁰ For you see, from [the] creation (framing; founding of order out of chaos; settling) of [the] ordered System (cosmos; universe; or: world of culture, religion and government) His invisible things (unseen [qualities and attributes]) – both His imperceptible (unobservable, but effecting-all) power, ability and capacity, as well as divinity (Godship; God-state) – are habitually seen down the line (or: are normally correspondingly perceived), being continually apprehended (grasped by the mind; mentally conceived) in the results and by the effects of things which are made or done, in order for them to be continuously defenseless (without an excuse),

²⁰ For you see, from [the] creation (framing; founding of order out of chaos; settling) of [the] ordered System (cosmos; universe; or: world of culture, religion and government) His invisible things (unseen [qualities and attributes]) – both His imperceptible (unobservable, but effecting-all) power, ability and capacity, as well as divinity (Godship; God-state) – are habitually seen down the line (or: are normally correspondingly perceived), being continually apprehended (grasped by the mind; mentally conceived) in the results and by the effects of things which are made or done, in order for them to be continuously defenseless (without an excuse), ²¹ simply because, although at one point experientially knowing God with insight, they did (or: do) not glorify (imagine; esteem; suppose; fancy; conjecture about; hold an opinion of; repute) [Him] as God, or even thank [Him] (or: give thanks in joyously expressing the goodness and well-being inherent in [His] grace and favor). And so in contrast, they were made futile (vain; fruitless; without profit; empty; useless; worthless; subject to a process of meaningless frustration; subject to exercises in futility) in their reasonings (or: thought processes; dialogues; ideas that went throughout in every direction), and their [collective] unintelligent (stupid; unable-to-put-things-together) heart was darkened (= the core of their being was made to experience an absence of light in a dim, shadowy gloom of obscurity [= ignorance]).

²¹ simply because, although at one point experientially knowing God with insight, they did (or: do) not glorify (imagine; esteem; suppose; fancy; conjecture about; hold an opinion of; repute) [Him] as God, or even thank [Him] (or: give thanks in joyously expressing the goodness and well-being inherent in [His] grace and favor). And so in contrast, they were made futile (vain; fruitless; without profit; empty; useless; worthless; subject to a process of meaningless frustration; subject to exercises in futility) in their reasonings (or: thought processes; dialogues; ideas that went throughout in every direction), and their [collective] unintelligent (stupid; unable-to-put-things-together) heart was darkened (= the core of their being was made to experience an absence of light in a dim, shadowy gloom of obscurity [= ignorance]). ²² [So] continuously claiming (asserting; alleging with pretense) to be wise ones, they were made to be dull (sluggish; moronic; stupid; foolish) ²³ and they at once changed (or: exchange in barter; make other than it is) the glory (or: splendor and praise-inducing manifestation; or: esteem; opinion; imagination; supposition; thought; appearance; honorable consideration) of the imperishable (un-ruinable; unspoilable and incorruptible; non-decayable) God within the result of a likeness (resemblance; conformed similarity; copy-effect) of an image (form; appearance) of a perishable (corruptible; spoilable) human, as well as of flying things and of four-footed [animals] and of creeping things.

²³ and they at once changed (or: exchange in barter; make other than it is) the glory (or: splendor and praise-inducing manifestation; or: esteem; opinion; imagination; supposition; thought; appearance; honorable consideration) of the imperishable (un-ruinable; unspoilable and incorruptible; non-decayable) God within the result of a likeness (resemblance; conformed similarity; copy-effect) of an image (form; appearance) of a perishable (corruptible; spoilable) human, as well as of flying things and of four-footed [animals] and of creeping things. ²⁴ Wherefore (or: On which account) God gave (or: hands) them over (or: delivered or delivers them into another's power), within the full passions (or: rushing passionate cravings; added earnest desires, wants and wishes; or: compiled angers and complete wrath) of their hearts, into uncleanness (or: ritual impurity), to be continuously dishonored and shamed – with respect to (or: pertaining to) their bodies – among (or: within) themselves,

²⁴ Wherefore (or: On which account) God gave (or: hands) them over (or: delivered or delivers them into another's power), within the full passions (or: rushing passionate cravings; added earnest desires, wants and wishes; or: compiled angers and complete wrath) of their hearts, into uncleanness (or: ritual impurity), to be continuously dishonored and shamed – with respect to (or: pertaining to) their bodies – among (or: within) themselves, ²⁵ whichever folks altered or exchange God’s truth (or: the reality from and which is God, and which pertains to God) to and for something else, within (or: in union with) The Lie, then were adored and venerated with dread, and next rendered religious service to and for the creation (or: creature; or: forming, framing, founding and settling which brought order from chaos) alongside (or: to the side of; parallel to; or: = rather than) the Creator (The One framing and founding) Who is (continuously exists being) well spoken of (praised; blessed; eulogized; or: is One filled with thoughts of goodness and well-being) on into the ages. It is so (Amen)! ²⁶ Because of this (or: Wherefore) God gave, or hands, them over (delivered, or delivers, them into the power of someone else) into experiences of dishonor (or: ignoble sufferings; situations of being unvalued; unworthy passions), for even their females at one point altered (or: alter; change or exchange) the natural use into the [use which is] off to the side of (or: beside; = other than) nature (or: a natural condition; natural production; a generated situation).

²⁶ Because of this (or: Wherefore) God gave, or hands, them over (delivered, or delivers, them into the power of someone else) into experiences of dishonor (or: ignoble sufferings; situations of being unvalued; unworthy passions), for even their females at one point altered (or: alter; change or exchange) the natural use into the [use which is] off to the side of (or: beside; = other than) nature (or: a natural condition; natural production; a generated situation). ²⁷ And likewise (or: So in like manner) also the males, sending away (or: abandoning; leaving) the natural use of the female, were set aflame within their cravings unto (or: into) one another; males in (or among) males continuously producing (accomplishing; effecting; working down) shameless indecency, and constantly taking away (or: receiving back) the necessary retribution (return compensation; the opposite of a reward; the anti-payment) of their wandering (or: the corresponding wage which is binding, pertaining to their straying and deception) within the midst of, or among, themselves. 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),

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),

³² those who, fully knowing by experience (being fully aware of) the effect of God’s justice (or: the result of God's fairness and equity; or: the result of what is right, from the way pointed out, which is God; or: God's decree of the Way pointed out) – that those continually performing (committing; executing) such things are folks deserving (worthy; of equivalent value) of death – not only keep on doing the same things, but also are constantly mutually approving, taking pleasure in and consenting with those habitually performing (or: committing; practicing) them.

¹ Wherefore (or: Because of which) you continue to be without a defense or an excuse, O human – everyone continually judging (pronouncing a judgment; separating, evaluating and making decisions; determining) – for within that which you continue judging the other person (or: the different one), you are correspondingly evaluating (or: commensurately deciding about; condemning) yourself, since you who are continually judging are constantly performing (committing; practicing) the very same things!

¹ Wherefore (or: Because of which) you continue to be without a defense or an excuse, O human – everyone continually judging (pronouncing a judgment; separating, evaluating and making decisions; determining) – for within that which you continue judging the other person (or: the different one), you are correspondingly evaluating (or: commensurately deciding about; condemning) yourself, since you who are continually judging are constantly performing (committing; practicing) the very same things! ² Now we have seen and thus know (or: are aware) that result of God’s judgment (decision rendered; separation; determination) is down from, in line with and accords to Truth and reality, [coming] upon those habitually performing or committing such things. ³ Yet you continue logically thinking (reckoning; counting on) this, O human – the one continuously judging those who are normally performing or committing such things, and yet are also a person habitually doing the same things – that you will proceed in making an escape out of the result of God’s judgment (the effect of a decision from God)?

³ Yet you continue logically thinking (reckoning; counting on) this, O human – the one continuously judging those who are normally performing or committing such things, and yet are also a person habitually doing the same things – that you will proceed in making an escape out of the result of God’s judgment (the effect of a decision from God)? ⁴ Or, are you continually having a "down-oriented" frame of mind (or: despising; thinking down or with disrespect; or: = a negative disposition) concerning the riches (or: wealth) of His kind and gentle usefulness (benevolence with a sweet disposition; kindness), [His] delaying forbearance (the tolerant holding-back) and [His] patient longsuffering, constantly being ignorant that God’s kind and gentle usefulness (benevolence with a sweet disposition) is continuously leading you into a change of mind and purpose (a paradigm shift; or: = repentance with a change of heart and thinking, accompanied by a turn, or return, to God)? 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),

⁹ pressure (affliction; trouble; tribulation; ordeal) and squeezed narrowness (tight restriction; distress; anguish) – upon every soul of mankind which is persistently in himself working down and effecting the bad (the ugly; the worthless; the evil; the injurious; the bad situation; the worthless quality; the malicious intent) – both of a Jew, first, and also of a Greek (or: one of the Hellenist culture);

¹⁵ which very ones continuously display (exhibit; show outward proof by demonstration) the work of the Law (or: action and conduct of that law and principle) written within their hearts, their conscience (the knowing with themselves; awareness; integrated recognition from what has been seen) continually bearing joint-testimony (giving confirming witness and evidence, together), and, in between each other’s calculations (or: logical thoughts), also constantly accusing (speaking down [against] in the assembly) or defending themselves (or: and in the mean time one another’s reasonings and reckonings constantly accusing, or even repeatedly excusing themselves),

¹⁵ which very ones continuously display (exhibit; show outward proof by demonstration) the work of the Law (or: action and conduct of that law and principle) written within their hearts, their conscience (the knowing with themselves; awareness; integrated recognition from what has been seen) continually bearing joint-testimony (giving confirming witness and evidence, together), and, in between each other’s calculations (or: logical thoughts), also constantly accusing (speaking down [against] in the assembly) or defending themselves (or: and in the mean time one another’s reasonings and reckonings constantly accusing, or even repeatedly excusing themselves), ¹⁶ within a day, when God is presently judging (or: continues deciding and is progressively separating off and evaluating; [some MSS: in which day God will continue judging]) hidden things of humanity (or: concealed things pertaining to people) – commensurate with my good news (or: according to and following the pattern of my message of goodness, ease and well-being) – through Jesus Christ [with other MSS: by means of Jesus [the] Anointed [= Messiah]). ¹⁷ So since (or: But if; [other MSS: Consider this,]) you yourself are habitually calling (naming; classifying) yourself a Jew and are continuing to rest (lean back) upon [the] Law (= Torah), and are even from time to time boasting (expressing pride) in God,

¹⁷ So since (or: But if; [other MSS: Consider this,]) you yourself are habitually calling (naming; classifying) yourself a Jew and are continuing to rest (lean back) upon [the] Law (= Torah), and are even from time to time boasting (expressing pride) in God, ¹⁸ and you are progressively knowing the Will by personal experience and insight, and are constantly testing in order to prove (or: approve) the things that habitually carry through (i.e., the essential things which matter and are different in that they are of greater value), while being a person regularly undergoing oral instruction from out of the Law (= Torah), ¹⁹ [and] likewise (or: besides) you have confidence in yourself (or: you have persuaded yourself) to be a guide or an escort of blind folks on the way or in the path; a light within [the] darkness (obscurity of the shadow areas; dimness of the gloom), 20. a trainer (instructor; corrector; discipliner; educator) of senseless ones (folks without will, heart or guts; imprudent ones; foolish ones); a teacher of infants (ones not yet able to speak), while habitually having (or: holding) the outward form (rough sketch; outline; framework; semblance) of the experiential knowledge and of the truth (or: reality) within, or in union with, the Law (= Torah)...

²¹ You then, the one habitually teaching another (a different one), are not habitually teaching yourself! You, the one constantly preaching (proclaiming; heralding), “Do not steal,” are habitually stealing! ²² The person continually saying not to be committing adultery, you are habitually committing adultery! You, the one repeatedly detesting idols (responding to forms, shapes or concepts as an abomination, as something that is foul and stinks), are in the habit of robbing temples (despoiling or profaning the sanctuary)! [note: vss. 21-22 can also be rendered as questions] ²³ You who are boasting in law (or: [the] Law [= Torah]; or: a law), through the transgression of (stepping across the line of; stepping to the side of; deviating from) the Law, you are constantly dishonoring (devaluing) God,

²³ You who are boasting in law (or: [the] Law [= Torah]; or: a law), through the transgression of (stepping across the line of; stepping to the side of; deviating from) the Law, you are constantly dishonoring (devaluing) God,

² Much, in accord with every turn (i.e., from every angle, or, in every way), for first [of all] (or: in the first place; foremost; mainly), indeed, that they were (or: are) entrusted with God’s brief utterances (little words; [note: the diminutive of Logos; often translated: “oracles”]). ³ For what if certain ones refuse (or: some at one point refused) to believe (or: disbelieved; are unfaithful or disloyal; were without faith; are faithless)? Will not their unbelief (faithlessness; lack of trust; disloyalty) proceed in causing God’s faith (or: faithfulness; trustworthiness; loyalty; trust) to be idled-down (rendered useless and unproductive)?

¹⁰ according as it has been, and stands, written, "There is not a just man (there is none fair or in right relationship; or: No one exists being in accord with the Way pointed out), not even one! ¹¹ "The one understanding does not exist (or: There is no man bringing it together to understand)! The one habitually seeking God does not exist (or: There is none continually looking for or repeatedly searching-out God).

²¹ Yet now, apart from Law (or: custom; habitual practice; ordinance made by authority; or: = Torah), a righteousness of God (God’s solidarity, with fair and equitable dealings; a turning in the right direction, from God; God’s covenantal faithfulness, justice and pointing out of the Way; a rightwisedness and right relationship, which is God) has been manifested and remains displayed in clear light – being continuously attested in witness by means of (or: under) the Law (= Torah) and the Prophets –

²⁷ So then where [is] the loud-spoken boasting? It is shut out (or: was excluded). Through what kind of law or custom? Of works (or: The one concerned with and pertaining to acts; The one whose source and involvement is deeds and actions)? No! (or: By no means!) But rather through Faith’s law and principle (or: To the contrary, by means of a principle of trust and loyalty, manifested in faithfulness and coming from confident reliance; = a law and custom which was displayed in the confident loyalty of Christ in His act of solidarity with the human condition)!

²⁹ Or [is He] the God of [the] Jews only? [Is He] not also of the ethnic multitudes (nations; Gentiles; non-Jews)? Yes, of the ethnic multitudes (nations) also,

¹¹ Then later he received (or: took hold of; obtained) circumcision as a mark and a sign (or: circumcision’s sign) – a seal (or: a stamped impression of a seal or signet ring which shows both possession and authority) of and from the accordance with the Way pointed out, which is faith (or: of a rightwised relationship with fair and equitable dealings from trust and which has the character and qualities of conviction; or: from faith's own righteousness), pertaining to the [situation of being] within the uncircumcision (or: = the right covenantal relationship corresponding to the faith he had while in his uncircumcised state), in order for him to be a father of all the people habitually believing and trusting by way of uncircumcision [and moving them] into [the place for] the accordance with the Way pointed out (or: the rightwised relationships characterized by fair and equitable dealings; the well-ordered life that is pointed in the right direction; = covenantal inclusion) to be logically considered in them (or: reckoned and reasonably concluded to them; calculated, accounted and credited for them) also –

¹⁵ For you see, the Law is by labor constantly effecting personal emotion from intrinsic fervor or natural propensity (or: is working-down anger and wrath; is producing indignation; is fully accomplishing a teeming, passionate impulse or a disposition of desire). Yet (or: Now) where no law is existing (or: where there is no custom), neither [is there] a stepping to the side (a transgression; a violation; a breach).

¹ Being, then, folks that were rightwised (placed in the right relationship of [covenantal] solidarity in the Way pointed out and made fair, equitable, just, free from guilt and turned in the right direction) from the midst of faith, out of trust and with conviction as the source, we continuously hold and progressively have [other MSS: let us (or: we can) habitually retain and enjoy] peace and harmony face to face with God (or: [directing and conducting us] toward God), through our Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: Master, [the] Anointed Jesus),

⁶ For during our yet existing [as] weak folks and continuing in being without strength (or: [B reads: Since in fact] when we were infirm, and thus helpless), Christ, still corresponding to and in accord with [the] appointed season (or: down from a kairos; in the sphere of and down into the level of a fitting situation; in line with a fertile moment), died for the sake of the ungodly and irreverent (or: died over [the situation of] and on behalf of those without awe of God).

⁹ Much more, then – being now (at the present time) rightwised (turned in the right direction, placed in right relationships of solidarity and made fair within the Way pointed out; or: justified and made free from guilt; = placed in covenant) within His blood (or: in union with the blood from, and which is, Him) – through Him we will continue being rescued (saved; delivered; made healthy and whole; returned to our original state and condition; kept safe), away from the [conditions or situations of] personal emotion (inherent fervor; natural mental bent or disposition; teeming passion and swelling desire; or: [our] anger and [human] wrath).

¹² Do not, then, let the Sin to continue reigning (or: Therefore, stop allowing the failure, the mistake, or the deviation from the goal to continue on the throne ruling as king) within your mortal body, [leading] into the continual listening in submissive obedience to its earnest desires (its full rushing of emotions, passions and lusts). ¹³ Also stop constantly placing your members (or: body parts) alongside (providing and presenting them) [as] tools (or: instruments) of injustice (disregard for what is right; activities discordant to the Way pointed out); but rather, you folks at once place yourselves alongside for disposal to God (or: stand yourselves with God, at [His] side; by and in God, present yourselves; set yourselves alongside [each other], for God) as it were being folks continually alive forth from out of the midst of dead ones, and your members [as] tools (instruments) of fair and equitable dealing in the Way pointed out in and by God (of justice and solidarity, for God; of being turned in the right direction, to God; of rightwised covenant relationships with God),

¹⁷ But Grace by God (or: Now [this is] happiness granted as favor in God): that you folks were existing, continuing to be slaves of the Sin (slaves of failure; slaves belonging to the missing the target), yet now you submissively hear and pay attention, so as to obey – from out of heart! – [the] type of instruction (or: chiseled and imprinted pattern of teaching) into which you are (or: at one point were) given over (handed over and entrusted; given alongside).

²¹ What fruit, then, were you having (did you used to hold or possess) at that time, upon which [situation or condition] you folks now continue to be ashamed and embarrassed? For, indeed, the outcome (the end; the goal; the fruition; the consummation; the destiny) of those things [is] death.

² For the principle and law of, from and which is the spirit and attitude of 'The Life within Christ Jesus' (or: For you see, the Law of Life’s spirit, joined with [the] Anointing of Jesus; or: For the Spirit’s law of life within Christ Jesus; or: the Law [= Torah] from the Breath-effect, which is Life in union with [the] Anointed Jesus) frees you away from the Law of the Sin (or: the principle of failure and the missing of the target; the code of behavior that produces error; the principle of deviation from the goal) and the Death (or: immediately set you [other MSS: me] at liberty from the law that deals with and has the character of sin and death). [comment: = the principle of the old Adamic life, and Israel's Torah] ³ You see, [because of] the powerlessness and inability of the Law (from the written code; = associated with Torah) – within which it kept on making [folks] weak and feeble ([note: the active voice]; but as an intransitive: in which [incapability] it was constantly falling sick and continued being without strength) through the flesh (= the alienated self oriented toward the System; or: = Torah culture and cultus, with boundary-marker observances) – in sending His own Son (or: by sending the Son, Who is Himself) within a result of a likeness of flesh that is connected with sin (or: in an effect of being made similar to sin’s flesh; = in union with a result from being made like the alienated existence that is marked by failure), and concerning sin (or: encircling failure and error; to address a missed target; surrounding deviation; [note: or, as a technical term for the sin offering: = to be the sin-offering; see: Lev. 4:32; 5:6-9; 2 Chron. 29:24; Ps. 40:6; Ezk. 42:13, LXX]), God gives a commensurate decision from a corresponding negative evaluation which falls in line with and follows the pattern which divides down (or: condemned; gives a down-oriented verdict; passed down a sentence on and gave judgment against) the Sin within the flesh [system] (or: the failure, the error, the miss of the target and the deviation [which is] in union with the human condition; or: = the mistake of the estranged, System-dominated self),

⁷ Because of that, the result of the thinking (disposition; thought processes; mind-set, outlook) of the flesh (= attention to Torah boundary-markers, custom and cultus; or: = the human condition) [is; brings] enmity, alienation and discord [streaming] into God (or: hostility unto, or active hatred with a view to, God), for it continues not being humbly aligned and supportive (habitually placed under and submitted; or, as a middle: subjecting, humbly arranging or marshaling itself) to the principle and law which is God (or: in God’s principle; by the Law from God), for neither is it able nor does it have power. ⁸ Now the folks continuously existing in the midst of (or: So people being in union with, or centered in,) flesh (= the alienated human condition; or: = the religious system involving flesh sacrifices, Torah boundary-markers/customs) have no power and are not able at any point to please God (or: to fit or adapt to God; or: to be content with God; or: to be acceptable in God).

¹² So then brothers (or: Consequently then, fellow believers), we do not continue being debtors to the flesh (or: we are not folks under obligation in the [alienated human condition, or by the system of flesh sacrifices and Torah observance]), [i.e.,] of the [situation] to be continually living down on the level of and in accord with flesh,

²⁸ Now [look], we have seen, and thus know and are aware, that to those habitually or progressively loving God – to the folks being called and invited according to [the] purpose (or: for, in and with the people progressively experiencing love for God – in, with, by and for the people being invited down from an advanced placing, congruent with a design and corresponding to a before-placing and a prior setting forth) – He is constantly working all things together into good and is progressively working all humanity together into that which is advantageous, worthy of admiration, noble and of excellent qualities. [with other MSS: Yet we know that God is continuously joining everything together (or: working together with everything) into goodness by those continuously loving God'85] ²⁹ because those whom He foreknew (whom He knows from previous intimate experience), He also marked out beforehand (determined, defined and designed in advance) [as] copies (joint-forms) of the image (material likeness; portrait; mirrored image) of His Son (or: He previously divided, separated and bounded conformed patterns from the image of His Son) into the [situation for] Him to be (or: to continually exist being) the Firstborn among, within the center of, and in union with many brothers (= a vast family of believers)!

²⁹ because those whom He foreknew (whom He knows from previous intimate experience), He also marked out beforehand (determined, defined and designed in advance) [as] copies (joint-forms) of the image (material likeness; portrait; mirrored image) of His Son (or: He previously divided, separated and bounded conformed patterns from the image of His Son) into the [situation for] Him to be (or: to continually exist being) the Firstborn among, within the center of, and in union with many brothers (= a vast family of believers)! 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).

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). ³¹ What, then, shall we say to (or: declare in the face of) these things? Since (or: If) God [is] over (thus: = above) us (or: on our behalf; for us), who or what [is; will be; can be; will appear] down against us? [Nobody! Nothing!] ³² Surely (or: Actually; In fact; Certainly), He Who at one point did not spare (or: spares not) His own Son, but further, over [the situation] of us all (or: on behalf of all of us), He at one point handed Him over (or: gives Him up [into the hands of another]), how will He not also, in grace and joyous favor, freely be constantly and progressively giving all things (or: The Whole) to us, together with Him?

³⁹ nor height (effect of being high), nor depth (or: deep places), nor any other or different created thing (or: founded thing; institution) will be having power or be able to separate, divide or part us from God’s Love (or: from the acceptance from God; from the urge toward reunion which is God) which is within Christ Jesus, our Owner (Lord; Master; Possessor).

¹ Truth I presently speak within Christ (or: I am constantly speaking reality in union with [the] Anointed One; centered in [the] Anointing), I am not now lying (or: I do not habitually lie), my conscience (my joint-knowing from having seen together) habitually giving joint-witness (testifying together; giving corroborating evidence) to me (in me; for me; with me) within [the] Holy Spirit (or: in a set-apart spirit and attitude; in union with a Sacred Breath),

⁵ whose [are] the fathers (= ancestors) and forth from out of the midst of whom [is] the Christ, the [descendant] down the line of flesh (or: on the level of the human realm) – the One continuously being upon all mankind: God, worthy of praise and blessing on into the ages! It is so (or: – corresponding to natural descent – [is] the Anointed One [= the Messiah] who exists being God: One with a message of goodness, ease and well-being – superimposed on all things – on into the indefinite time periods! Amen – count on it)!

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). ²⁵ And so, as He is saying in Hosea, "The one [that is] not My people, I will be continually (or: one-after-another) calling, 'My people,' and her being one that had not been loved, 'Beloved one;'

³⁰ What, then, shall we continue declaring? That [the] nations (ethnic multitudes; Gentiles; non-Israelites) – the ones not constantly pursuing (pressing forward rapidly after) rightwisedness (covenant inclusion which is right and fair relationship with equitable dealings in accord to the Way pointed out; a turning in the right direction on the Path) – overtook, seized and took-down this rightwisedness as a possession: yet [it is] a rightwisedness (a turning to equity and justice in the Way; = covenant membership and participation) that [is] forth from out of the midst of faith, trust and conviction (or: [Christ's] faithfulness)!

¹⁷ Consequently, the faith (or: the trust; confidence; loyalty) [comes or arises] from out of the midst of, or from within, hearing, yet the hearing [comes] through a gush-effect of Christ, even through the result of a flow which is Christ (or: through Christ's utterance; through something spoken concerning Christ; or: by means of a declaration which is anointed, or from Christ; through a word uttered which is Christ; [other MSS: God's speech]).

¹⁰ "Let their eyes be darkened, not to see, and let them bend (or: bow) their back together [in bondage] through all (or: every [situation])." [Ps. 69:22-23]

¹³ So I am presently speaking for and to you, the nations (the ethnic multitudes; the non-Jews; the Gentiles; the pagans). In as much as (or: For as long as), indeed then, I myself am an emissary (envoy; missionary; one sent on a mission with a commission) pertaining to and belonging to [the] ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Jewish groups; Gentiles; pagans), I am continually building the reputation, appearance and notions of my service and dispensing (or: I am glorifying the function and execution of my attending in waiting upon [you folks]),

²⁵ For I am not willing for you folks to continue being ignorant of this secret (or: mystery), brothers (= fellow believers; family), in order that you folks may not continue being prudent, thoughtful or discreet by [other MSS: among or within; other MSS: beside] yourselves (= be conceited), that a petrifying, from a part (a stone-like hardening in some measure; a callousness [extending over] a part), has been birthed and come into existence in Israel (or: has happened to Israel) until which [time] (or: to the point of which [situation]) the effect of the full measure (or: the results of the entire contents; or: = the full impact and full compliment of forces) from the nations (or: of the ethnic multitudes) may enter in. [comment: Does the last clause refer to the entrance of the Roman legions into Jerusalem? Or, is this referring to the fullness of all ethnic multitudes, which now includes Israel, entering into the kingdom, since vs. 32, below, says that God has locked up all mankind in disobedience, etc., so as to have mercy upon all?]

³ For, through the grace and favor being suddenly given to me, I am saying to (or: for) everyone being among you folks not to be continually over-opinionated or elated (to be constantly hyper-thinking to the point of being haughty, arrogant or having a sense of superiority; to be habitually over-thinking issues; to constantly mind things above; to be overweening) beyond what is necessary (binding; proper), but rather to think (mind; be disposed) into the disposition to be sane and of a sound mind, as God divides and distributes (or: parted) to, in and for each one a measure of faith (a meted amount of firm persuasion; a measured portion of trust; a [specific or allotted] ration of confidence and loyalty).

¹⁶ n this very same vein, continue being folks who are focusing your thinking into one another: not being those constantly setting their minds on the high positions or elite social statuses (or: don't be corporately arrogant), but rather, being folks consistently led away together to the low, humble ones (or: by the humble people; in the low things; = associate with folks of low social standing). You folks must not habitually become people of a particular mind-set (or: Stop engendering corporate arrogance or producing opinionated folks) side-by-side with, and among, yourselves (or: = Stop being those who are wise or conceited in their own opinions and in their own eyes)!

¹⁸ since [you are] full of power (or: if capable; if or since able) regarding that which has its source in you folks (or: as to that which proceeds from yourselves corporately), [live] being folks continuously at peace with all mankind (in the midst of all people),

⁸ You folks are not to be continual debtors (or: do not be in the habit of owing even one thing) to anyone, except to be constantly loving one another, for the person continually loving the different one (or: the other person) has made full the Law (has fulfilled law [or: = Torah] and custom) (or: You see, the one constantly loving has fulfilled the other, different law).

⁹ and on the other hand [to place on good footing and confirm the standing of] the ethnic multitudes (the nations; the non-Israelites; the pagans), [for them] to glorify God (to enhance the reputation of and the opinion about God) over [the situation of] mercy (for the sake of [His] mercy), just as it has been written, "Because of this I will continue openly professing and acclaiming You (speaking out of the same word for and to You; agreeing and promising) within ethnic multitudes (among nations that are pagans and Gentiles), and I will continue playing music (striking the string; making melody; singing with musical accompaniment) to, for and in Your Name." [2 Sam. 22:50; Ps. 18:50]

¹⁵ Yet I more daringly write to you (or: Yet with assumed resolution I outspokenly write to you; [other MSS add: brothers; = fellow believers]) partly as habitually calling you back to full recollection (causing you to be completely remembering) because of the grace and favor being given to me from [other MSS: by; under] God, ¹⁶ into the [arranged ability for] me to be Christ Jesus' public servant into the nations (a public worker of Jesus Christ unto the ethnic multitudes and pagans), constantly doing the work of a priest for God's good news (or: habitually functioning as the Temple for the message of the goodness, which is God), to the end that the offering composed of the ethnic multitudes (or: the act of bearing forward gifts from the pagans; the approaching of the nations as an offering) can become well-received and pleasingly acceptable, it being [an offering; a carrying toward] having been set-apart and remaining sacred within the midst of holy spirit and a sacred attitude (or: in union with a set-apart Breath-effect; within [the] Holy Spirit).

¹⁶ into the [arranged ability for] me to be Christ Jesus' public servant into the nations (a public worker of Jesus Christ unto the ethnic multitudes and pagans), constantly doing the work of a priest for God's good news (or: habitually functioning as the Temple for the message of the goodness, which is God), to the end that the offering composed of the ethnic multitudes (or: the act of bearing forward gifts from the pagans; the approaching of the nations as an offering) can become well-received and pleasingly acceptable, it being [an offering; a carrying toward] having been set-apart and remaining sacred within the midst of holy spirit and a sacred attitude (or: in union with a set-apart Breath-effect; within [the] Holy Spirit).

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]) –

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]) – ¹⁹ with a view for (in the purpose for) me to have filled [the region] from Jerusalem even, around in a circuit, as far as Illyricum [with] the good news of, from, and concerning the Anointed One (or: the message of goodness, ease and well-being – which is Christ).

¹⁹ with a view for (in the purpose for) me to have filled [the region] from Jerusalem even, around in a circuit, as far as Illyricum [with] the good news of, from, and concerning the Anointed One (or: the message of goodness, ease and well-being – which is Christ).

¹⁹ with a view for (in the purpose for) me to have filled [the region] from Jerusalem even, around in a circuit, as far as Illyricum [with] the good news of, from, and concerning the Anointed One (or: the message of goodness, ease and well-being – which is Christ). ²⁰ Now thus (or: in this manner) am I constantly loving the honor, which is my driving ambition, to habitually be proclaiming the message of goodness and well-being where Christ is (or: was) not named, to the end that I should not be building upon another person's foundation.

²⁰ Now thus (or: in this manner) am I constantly loving the honor, which is my driving ambition, to habitually be proclaiming the message of goodness and well-being where Christ is (or: was) not named, to the end that I should not be building upon another person's foundation.

²² For this reason (Wherefore), also, I was repeatedly being cut-in on (interrupted; hindered) – many times and by many things – in regard to coming to you folks.

²² For this reason (Wherefore), also, I was repeatedly being cut-in on (interrupted; hindered) – many times and by many things – in regard to coming to you folks. ²³ Yet now I am no longer holding a place (or: having a territory; or: = having an opportunity) within these regions, but am holding (or: having) a great longing to come to you – for many years –

²³ Yet now I am no longer holding a place (or: having a territory; or: = having an opportunity) within these regions, but am holding (or: having) a great longing to come to you – for many years –

²³ Yet now I am no longer holding a place (or: having a territory; or: = having an opportunity) within these regions, but am holding (or: having) a great longing to come to you – for many years – ²⁴ as whenever I may be traveling (journeying; proceeding) into Spain. For I continue expecting to gaze on you (or: hoping to get a look at and view you), while passing through, and to be escorted (or: sent forward with funds and supplies) there by you, if first I can be filled within, in part, from you (or: could be in some measure satisfied by your company).

²⁴ as whenever I may be traveling (journeying; proceeding) into Spain. For I continue expecting to gaze on you (or: hoping to get a look at and view you), while passing through, and to be escorted (or: sent forward with funds and supplies) there by you, if first I can be filled within, in part, from you (or: could be in some measure satisfied by your company).

²⁴ as whenever I may be traveling (journeying; proceeding) into Spain. For I continue expecting to gaze on you (or: hoping to get a look at and view you), while passing through, and to be escorted (or: sent forward with funds and supplies) there by you, if first I can be filled within, in part, from you (or: could be in some measure satisfied by your company). ²⁵ But now I am progressively traveling into Jerusalem, continually performing as a servant in dispensing (or: functioning as an attendant; or: supporting and supplying necessities) to the set-apart folks (the holy ones; the saints; sacred people). ²⁶ You see, Macedonia and Achaia take delight and were well-pleased to make some common sharing (a certain participating contribution from partnership in common existence) into the poor (unto the destitute) of the set-apart folks (holy ones; saints) in Jerusalem. ²⁷ For they take delight and were well-pleased, and are their debtors, for since the ethnic multitudes (the nations; the Gentiles; the non-Jews) have common participation and shared existence in their spiritual things, they also continue indebted to perform communal service to and for them in things pertaining to the material life (or: fleshly things). ²⁸ Bringing this, then, to fruition (or: Attaining this goal; Coming upon completion, then, of this) and myself sealing to them (or: in them; for them) this fruit, I will proceed going away, through the midst of you folks, into Spain. ²⁹ Now I have seen and thus know (or: am aware) that when coming (or: going) to you I will continue coming (or: going) in an effect of the fullness of Christ's message of goodness (or: within that which fills up pertaining to [the] good word about Christ; in a result of the entire contents of well-speech from [the] Anointing; in union with an effect of the filling of blessing, which is [the] Anointed One). ³⁰ So I am calling you alongside (entreating and exhorting you), brothers, through our Lord (Master; Owner), Jesus Christ, even through the Spirit's love (or: and by means of the uniting and accepting love which is the Breath-effect; or: as well as through the urge toward reunion from this Attitude), to struggle together with me (or: to contend and fight together with me, as in the public games) within the thoughts and words of goodness and well-being [directed] toward God over me (or: in union with prayers, face to face with God, for my behalf), ³¹ to the end that I may be dragged out of danger from the habitually incompliant (disobedient; stubborn; unconvinced) folks within Judea, and that my attending service of dispensing which is directed into Jerusalem may come to be well-received by, and acceptable to, the set-apart people (holy ones; saints; sacred folks) ³² in order that, in coming to you in joy through God's will and purpose, I myself will proceed to be taking rest, repose and refreshing in company with you folks.

³² in order that, in coming to you in joy through God's will and purpose, I myself will proceed to be taking rest, repose and refreshing in company with you folks.

¹⁸ for such folks are not habitually performing as slaves for our Lord Christ, but rather for their own belly (cavity; bowels or stomach; = appetite), and through the useful smooth talk (profitable words) and complimentary speech (blessings!) they continuously deceive (mislead; seduce) the hearts of the folks without malice (those with no bad qualities; blameless and innocent ones). ¹⁹ You see, [the report of] your obedient hearing and compliance has reached (or: arrived) unto all people. Therefore I constantly rejoice upon you (or: = over [this news of] you), yet I am wanting you folks, on the one hand, to be wise [leading] into the midst of The Good, yet, on the other hand, unmixed into the bad (mixtureless as to the worthless, evil and ugly).

²⁵ Now by the One (in the One; to the One) being continuously able and powerful to set you steadfast (to make you stand firm and settled) in accord with (or: corresponding to; in the sphere of; in line with) my message of goodness and well-being – even the preaching and public heralding of the message of and from Jesus Christ – down from (in accord with; in line with) an unveiling of a secret (or: a revelation and a disclosure of a mystery) that had been being kept silent (or: quiet) in eonian times (or: for time periods of the [preceding] ages; to [the] times [that would] pertaining to the Age [of Messiah]), 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),

¹ Paul, a called (or: invited) one – one sent forth with a mission (an emissary; a representative) of, and from, Jesus Christ [with other MSS: Christ Jesus' ambassador] through God's will (purpose; intent) – and Sosthenes, the brother (= fellow believer), ² to God's called-out community (or: summoned-forth group that has God as its source, and which belongs to God), the one being within Corinth; to those having been set-apart within Christ Jesus (or: made holy, sacred, different from the normal and sanctified, in union with [the] Anointing of Jesus); to called (or: invited) folks [and] to set-apart people (holy ones; saints; sanctified folks; sacred ones) – together with all those in every place constantly calling upon the Name of our Lord [note: the phrase applied to Yahweh in Gen. 12:8; Zech. 13:9], Jesus Christ – their [Lord] as well as ours: 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,

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, ⁵ because within the midst of everything, and in union with all humanity, you folks are (or: were) made rich (enriched) within, and in union with, Him – within every thought (in the midst of all [the] Logos; in all reason; within all [the] message; in every word and expression) and in all intimate, experiential knowledge and insight (gnosis) – 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, ⁷ and as you people are not continuing trailing behind or constantly late, so as to be deficient or fall short – not even in one effect of grace (or: result of favor) – being ones habitually receiving and taking away into your hands from out of our Lord's [= Yahweh's, or Christ's] unveiling: Jesus Christ (or: from the midst of the uncovering and revelation of our Lord, Jesus [the] Anointed; or: forth from the disclosure from our Lord, which is Jesus Anointed), 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] ⁹ God [is] full of faith, trustworthy, loyal and faithful – through Whom you folks were called and invited into a common being and existence of (or: partnership, participation, fellowship, sharing and communion with) His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord (Owner; Master).

⁹ God [is] full of faith, trustworthy, loyal and faithful – through Whom you folks were called and invited into a common being and existence of (or: partnership, participation, fellowship, sharing and communion with) His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord (Owner; Master).

¹⁸ You see, the message (the word; the Logos) of the cross (or: the idea from, and the concept pertaining to, the execution-stake) is and continues being, on the one hand, stupidity (nonsense; foolishness) to (or: for; in) those folks presently and progressively destroying themselves (or, as a passive: being habitually lost or progressively undone); yet, on the other hand, it is and continues being God's power (or: the ability of and from God; the power which is God) in us, to us and for us: in the folks being presently delivered (or: for those being continually rescued, repeatedly saved and progressively restored to health and wholeness; or: to the ones being now salvaged and progressively restored to their original state and condition). ¹⁹ For it has been written, and thus stands, "I will undo (untie and loose away; destroy) the wisdom and cleverness of the wise ones, and I will set aside (or: displace; invalidate) the intelligence (comprehension; understanding) of the intellectual (intelligent; comprehending) people." [Isa. 29:14]

¹⁹ For it has been written, and thus stands, "I will undo (untie and loose away; destroy) the wisdom and cleverness of the wise ones, and I will set aside (or: displace; invalidate) the intelligence (comprehension; understanding) of the intellectual (intelligent; comprehending) people." [Isa. 29:14]

¹⁹ For it has been written, and thus stands, "I will undo (untie and loose away; destroy) the wisdom and cleverness of the wise ones, and I will set aside (or: displace; invalidate) the intelligence (comprehension; understanding) of the intellectual (intelligent; comprehending) people." [Isa. 29:14] ²⁰ Where [is] a wise one? Where [is] a scribe (one learned in the Scriptures; the scholar)? Where [is] a collaborating seeker (a co-investigator; a discusser; a learned sophist; a reasoner) of this age? Does not God prove (or: make) stupid (foolish; nonsensical) the wisdom (cleverness; learned skill) of this ordered arrangement (controlling System; world of culture, religion, economy and government; realm of the secular)?

²⁰ Where [is] a wise one? Where [is] a scribe (one learned in the Scriptures; the scholar)? Where [is] a collaborating seeker (a co-investigator; a discusser; a learned sophist; a reasoner) of this age? Does not God prove (or: make) stupid (foolish; nonsensical) the wisdom (cleverness; learned skill) of this ordered arrangement (controlling System; world of culture, religion, economy and government; realm of the secular)?

²⁰ Where [is] a wise one? Where [is] a scribe (one learned in the Scriptures; the scholar)? Where [is] a collaborating seeker (a co-investigator; a discusser; a learned sophist; a reasoner) of this age? Does not God prove (or: make) stupid (foolish; nonsensical) the wisdom (cleverness; learned skill) of this ordered arrangement (controlling System; world of culture, religion, economy and government; realm of the secular)? ²¹ For since, in view of the fact that – within the Wisdom of God (or: centered in the wisdom whose source and origin is God; in the midst of the wisdom which is God) – the ordered arrangement and System of secular and religious culture did not come to have an intimate, experiential knowledge of God through means of this Wisdom (or: You see, in as much as – in union with God’s wisdom – the world of mankind did not recognize, or have insight into, God through means of [human] wisdom), God delights and considers it profitable (thinks it thoroughly competent and easy; imagines it well-done) to deliver (or: save; rescue; salvage and restore to health, wholeness and their original state and condition) the folks habitually trusting, progressively believing and constantly being loyal, through the stupidity of the proclamation (or: the aforementioned foolishness of that which is proclaimed; or: the dullness of the effect of heralding; or: the "nonsense" of the result of the message preached),

²¹ For since, in view of the fact that – within the Wisdom of God (or: centered in the wisdom whose source and origin is God; in the midst of the wisdom which is God) – the ordered arrangement and System of secular and religious culture did not come to have an intimate, experiential knowledge of God through means of this Wisdom (or: You see, in as much as – in union with God’s wisdom – the world of mankind did not recognize, or have insight into, God through means of [human] wisdom), God delights and considers it profitable (thinks it thoroughly competent and easy; imagines it well-done) to deliver (or: save; rescue; salvage and restore to health, wholeness and their original state and condition) the folks habitually trusting, progressively believing and constantly being loyal, through the stupidity of the proclamation (or: the aforementioned foolishness of that which is proclaimed; or: the dullness of the effect of heralding; or: the "nonsense" of the result of the message preached),

²¹ For since, in view of the fact that – within the Wisdom of God (or: centered in the wisdom whose source and origin is God; in the midst of the wisdom which is God) – the ordered arrangement and System of secular and religious culture did not come to have an intimate, experiential knowledge of God through means of this Wisdom (or: You see, in as much as – in union with God’s wisdom – the world of mankind did not recognize, or have insight into, God through means of [human] wisdom), God delights and considers it profitable (thinks it thoroughly competent and easy; imagines it well-done) to deliver (or: save; rescue; salvage and restore to health, wholeness and their original state and condition) the folks habitually trusting, progressively believing and constantly being loyal, through the stupidity of the proclamation (or: the aforementioned foolishness of that which is proclaimed; or: the dullness of the effect of heralding; or: the "nonsense" of the result of the message preached), ²² in as much as, both Jews constantly request (habitually demand) signs, and Greeks (those of the Hellenistic culture) constantly seek (habitually try to find) wisdom!

²² in as much as, both Jews constantly request (habitually demand) signs, and Greeks (those of the Hellenistic culture) constantly seek (habitually try to find) wisdom! ²³ Yet as for us, we are constantly proclaiming (habitually heralding) Christ: One having been terminally crucified (executed on a stake) – indeed, a trap-spring (or: a snare; thus: an obstacle or cause for stumbling or being ensnared) to (or: with; for; among) Jews (those of the Jewish culture and religion); yet stupidity (foolishness; nonsense) to (or: for) [the] multitudes (among [other] ethnic groups; in [the] nations; with the non-Jews), ²⁴ and yet [it is] Christ: God's power and ability, as well as God's wisdom (or: and so [we see the] Anointed One – a power from, and which is, God, as well as understanding insight and skillful cleverness from, and which is, God), to, for, in, with and among those [who are] the called (or: invited) people!

² for I decided not to see or know anything among you folks, except Jesus Christ – and this One being one having been crucified (executed on a stake)!

⁴ so my message (word; thought) and my public proclamation [were] not in persuasive words of wisdom (or: ideas from cleverness), but to the contrary [were] in demonstration of spirit and attitude, as well as of power and from ability (or: in the midst of a display of clear and logical proof from [the] Spirit, consisting of power and ability; in union with a documented manifestation which was Breath-effect and which was a means of influence and capability),

¹³ which things we are also habitually speaking – not in words taught by human wisdom (or: not centered in learned thoughts, ideas or messages from human wisdom; or: not among those taught in, by or with words and reasons from human wisdom), but rather in those [words] taught by spirit (or: in union with and among those folks taught from [the] Spirit – from the effect of a Breath and an Attitude), habitually evaluating, deciding, combining or contrasting spiritual [matters] together by spiritual [means] and with qualities inherent in the Breath-effect (or: constantly matching or comparing/contrasting things pertaining to attitude with things in spirit, or of [the] Spirit; or: progressively making collective assessments of pneumatic [concepts] to and for pneumatic people).

¹⁸ Let no one continue to be completely cheating, tricking, deceiving or deluding himself: if anyone among you folks habitually imagines (thinks; supposes; presumes) [himself] to be wise (to exist being a clever one) within this age (this era; this period of time), let him come to be (or: birth himself) stupid (dull; foolish; a fool) – to the end that he can come to be (or: may birth himself) wise.

¹⁸ Let no one continue to be completely cheating, tricking, deceiving or deluding himself: if anyone among you folks habitually imagines (thinks; supposes; presumes) [himself] to be wise (to exist being a clever one) within this age (this era; this period of time), let him come to be (or: birth himself) stupid (dull; foolish; a fool) – to the end that he can come to be (or: may birth himself) wise. ¹⁹ For you see, the wisdom (cleverness; skill) of this world System (or: pertaining to this ordered and controlling arrangement of cultures, religions and politics; or: from this secular society) is stupidity (exists as nonsense and foolishness) [when put] beside or next to God (or: in God’s presence). For it has been written, "He is the One habitually laying hold of and catching in His fist the wise (clever) ones, within the midst of their every act (or: capability and readiness to do or work; cunning; craftiness)." [Job. 5:13]

¹⁹ Yet I will proceed quickly (speedily) coming to you folks, if the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] should intend (purpose; will) [it], and I will progress in knowing by intimate experience not the word (thought; idea; message; verbal expression) of those having been puffed up, but to the contrary, [their] ability and power.

⁹ Or have you not seen so as to know that unfair (unjust; inequitable; wrongly-turned) folks will not proceed to inherit a kingdom from God (or: receive an allotment in God's sovereign reign or activities)? Do not be repeatedly misled or constantly caused to wander (or: be deceived). Neither sexually licentious folks (paramours; fornicators), nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor unmanly (effeminate; men who wear soft, delicate clothes; catamites; men or boys who allow themselves to be used homosexually), nor men who lie with and have sexual intercourse with males,

¹³ The foods (The things eaten) [are meant] for the stomach, and the stomach [is meant] for the things eaten, yet God will make both it and them useless and unprofitable (or: will also bring this and these down to being idle). Now the body [is] not for prostitution (or: sexual immorality; or: = idolatry), but rather for the Lord – and further, the Lord [is] in (or: for; with) the body.

¹⁸ Constantly flee (Repeatedly take flight [from]) the prostitution. [note: this would also apply to idolatry in pagan temples which used prostitutes as part of the idol worship] The effect (or: result) of every sin (failure to hit the target; error; mistake) – whatsoever a person may do – exists being outside of the body. Yet the one habitually committing prostitution (practicing sexual immorality) is habitually sinning (sowing errors and mistakes) into his own body. [note: both his physical body, and the body of the called-out community]

¹ Am I not free (Do I not exist being a free man)? Am I not one sent forth with a mission (a representative; an emissary; a commissioned agent)? Have I not seen Jesus, our Lord (Owner; Master)? Are you folks not my work within the Lord (or: = in union with Christ or Yahweh)? ² If I am not one sent off with a mission to or for other folks, nevertheless I surely am to and for you people – for you, yourselves, are my seal of the expedition (the mission for which I was sent off), within, and in union with, the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh].

¹² Since, or if, others are continually sharing and participating in your privilege (right; authority), [why] not rather (or: all the more) we? But to the contrary, we do not (or: did not) make use of this right (privilege from being; authority), but rather we are habitually putting a roof over, and thus covering (perhaps: = putting up with) all people, and all things [or: situations], so that we should not give any hindrance to the progress of Christ's good news (or: would not offer any incision which blocks the way for the message of abundant goodness, wellness and fortunate ease which pertains to and has its origin in the Anointing, and which is the Anointed One).

¹⁶ for it is not the result of a boast for [other MSS: for is it not grace to...?] me if I should habitually announce good news, for a compressed necessity (a compulsion) is continuously lying upon me. For it is a woe (a condition or situation at which I would say, "Alas!") to and for me, if ever I should not constantly announce the message of goodness.

¹⁶ for it is not the result of a boast for [other MSS: for is it not grace to...?] me if I should habitually announce good news, for a compressed necessity (a compulsion) is continuously lying upon me. For it is a woe (a condition or situation at which I would say, "Alas!") to and for me, if ever I should not constantly announce the message of goodness. ¹⁷ For since (or: if) I am willingly or voluntarily performing this (executing this action) as a habit, I continually have compensation (pay; a wage). Yet if unwillingly or involuntarily, [still], I have been given faith [for] (or: entrusted [with]) the management of a Household.

¹⁷ For since (or: if) I am willingly or voluntarily performing this (executing this action) as a habit, I continually have compensation (pay; a wage). Yet if unwillingly or involuntarily, [still], I have been given faith [for] (or: entrusted [with]) the management of a Household.

¹⁷ For since (or: if) I am willingly or voluntarily performing this (executing this action) as a habit, I continually have compensation (pay; a wage). Yet if unwillingly or involuntarily, [still], I have been given faith [for] (or: entrusted [with]) the management of a Household. ¹⁸ What then is my compensation (pay; wage)? That while repeatedly announcing the message of goodness, I will continually (or: can) deposit (put; set; place) the good news (the message of abundant wellness and fortunate ease) without cost (or: expense; or: = free of charge), [leading] into the [situation so as] not to make downright use of my right or privilege within the good news (or: not to fully employ or abuse my authority from being in union with the message of goodness).

¹⁸ What then is my compensation (pay; wage)? That while repeatedly announcing the message of goodness, I will continually (or: can) deposit (put; set; place) the good news (the message of abundant wellness and fortunate ease) without cost (or: expense; or: = free of charge), [leading] into the [situation so as] not to make downright use of my right or privilege within the good news (or: not to fully employ or abuse my authority from being in union with the message of goodness).

¹⁸ What then is my compensation (pay; wage)? That while repeatedly announcing the message of goodness, I will continually (or: can) deposit (put; set; place) the good news (the message of abundant wellness and fortunate ease) without cost (or: expense; or: = free of charge), [leading] into the [situation so as] not to make downright use of my right or privilege within the good news (or: not to fully employ or abuse my authority from being in union with the message of goodness). ¹⁹ You see, continually being free from out of the midst of all things and from all people (or: from everything), I enslave myself to all people (or: everything and everyone), to the end that I can (may; would) gain [all] the more folks. ²⁰ So I come to be (or: became) as a Jew for (or: to; with) the Jews, to the end that I can (would; may) gain Jews; as under Law for (or: to; with) those under Law, to the end that I can (or: would; should; may) gain those under Law; ²¹ as without law (or: as lawless) – [though] not continually being without a law pertaining to God, but to the contrary, within a principle which is Christ (or: Christ's law; the custom which has the character and quality of Christ; or: [the] law which is [the] Anointing) – to those without law (for and with the lawless ones), to the end that I will progressively [other MSS: can; may; would] gain the folks without law (the lawless ones). ²² To (For; Among) those without strength (the weak ones), I become (or: came to be) as without strength (weak), to the end that I would (can; may) gain those without strength (the weak ones). I have become and continue to be all things for (to; among) all folks (or: peoples), to the end that I can (would; may) by every means (in every way; under all circumstances) save (rescue; deliver; restore to health, wholeness and their original condition) anybody! ²³ Now I habitually do all things (or: everything) because of the message of abundant wellness (the good news; the message of prosperous and ideal ease, and goodness), to the end that I would (could; can) for myself come to be its (or: His) joint participant (co-partner; sharer-in-common, along with others; equal fellow in communion and common Being).

¹ So I am not intending (or: willing; wanting) you folks to continue being ignorant, brothers, that our fathers (= ancestors) were all continually existing under the cloud, and everyone passed completely through the midst of the sea,

¹ Now once again, brothers (= fellow believers, or, members of the Family), I do not intend (purpose; want; desire) you folks to continue being ignorant concerning the things (or: matters) of the spirit and attitude (or: the [qualities; characteristics] which are the Spirit; the [aspects or workings] of the Breath-effect; or: spiritual folks).

¹ Now once again, brothers (= fellow believers, or, members of the Family), I do not intend (purpose; want; desire) you folks to continue being ignorant concerning the things (or: matters) of the spirit and attitude (or: the [qualities; characteristics] which are the Spirit; the [aspects or workings] of the Breath-effect; or: spiritual folks). ² You have seen, and know, that when you were being (or: continued existing being) ethnic multitudes ([the] nations; Gentiles; non-Jews) [you were] folks being constantly led astray (or: led off [the path] and away) toward the voiceless idols (silent images; mute forms) – as often as you were being periodically and progressively led.

² You have seen, and know, that when you were being (or: continued existing being) ethnic multitudes ([the] nations; Gentiles; non-Jews) [you were] folks being constantly led astray (or: led off [the path] and away) toward the voiceless idols (silent images; mute forms) – as often as you were being periodically and progressively led. ³ Wherefore, I am now proceeding to make known to you folks that no one – speaking within God's Spirit (or: speaking in union with the Breath-effect of God; speaking in the sphere of a Breath which is God) – is in the habit of saying, "Jesus [is] a result of something set up as an offering to a deity (or thus: Jesus [is] accursed)!" And no one is able (normally has power) to say, "Jesus [is] Lord (or: Lord Jesus; perhaps: = Jesus [is] Yahweh)!" except within and in union with [the] Holy Spirit (or: in a set-apart and consecrated spirit and attitude; in [the] Sacred Breath). ⁴ Now there continue being different distributions (divided-out apportionments) of the effects of favor and the results of grace, yet the same Spirit (Breath-effect; Attitude), ⁵ and there are different distributions of attending services (divided-out apportionments of dispensings), and yet the same Lord (or: Owner; Master; [= Christ or Yahweh]); ⁶ also there continue being different distributions of the results of inner workings and the effects of inward operations, and still, the same God – the One continuously working inwardly and progressively activating all things within and in union with all people (or: constantly energizing and operating the whole within the midst of all things). ⁷ Yet in, to, for and with each person the manifestation (clear display in light) of the Breath-effect (or: from the Spirit) is continuously being given [with a view] to and [leading] toward progressively bringing [folks or things] together, face-to-face with the constant mutual bearing-together for benefit, advantage, expedience and the common good [of all]. ⁸ For you see, on the one hand, in (or: to; for; with; by) one person a word (a thought, message or expression; [the] reason) of wisdom (or: a wise idea) is repeatedly or from time-to-time or progressively being given. In (or: To; For; With; By) another person, on the other hand, [is given] a word (thought; message; expression; [the] reason) of intimate, experiential knowledge, insight or realization (gnosis) – in accord with (or: down from; in the sphere of; in line with) the same Breath (or: Spirit). ⁹ In (To; For; With; By) a different person [is given] faith (trust; loyalty; belief; conviction; trustworthiness), within and in union with the same effect of the Breath (or: Spirit; Attitude); yet in (to; for; by; with) another the effects of grace, and the results of joyous favor, which result in healings – within and in union with the one Breath-effect (or: Spirit; Attitude). ¹⁰ Yet in (to; for) another person [is given] the effects and results of inner workings and operations of abilities, powers and influences; still in (to; for; by) another [is given] a prophecy (or: light ahead of time), and in (to; for; by) another [is given] thorough discernings, distinguishings or discriminations pertaining to spirits (or: separations from spirits throughout [oneself]; [the] siftings and complete separations which lead to a thorough decision or judgment of spirits or attitudes). Yet, in (to; for; by) a different person [are given] races and species (families and classes) of languages (or: tongues), then in (to; for; by) another one [are given] translations and interpretations of languages (tongues). ¹¹ Now the one and the same Spirit (or: Breath-effect; Attitude) is habitually working within (energizing, activating and operating) all these things, constantly dividing, apportioning and distributing in (to; for) each person his own [effect of grace], correspondingly as He progressively intends (is habitually willing; continuously purposes).

¹¹ if then, I may not have seen so as to know the ability of the voice (or: power of the sound; = force and meaning), to the one presently speaking (or: for the speaker [i.e., in his perception]) I shall continue being a barbarian (one who utters confused or unintelligible sounds; = a foreigner), and in me (or: in my case or view) the one speaking [will be] a barbarian (= a foreigner).

¹⁴ So if I am habitually praying in a language (or: speaking or thinking toward having goodness, with a tongue), my spirit (or: attitude; Breath-effect) is continually praying, yet my mind continues being unfruitful (or: my intellect is without fruit; = useless). ¹⁵ Which (or: What) is it, then? I will constantly pray (or: focus my thoughts on having goodness and speak toward things going well; [other MSS: I should pray]) in and by the spirit (or: with the Spirit; to the Breath-effect; for the Attitude), yet I will [other MSS: should] also repeatedly think and speak toward having good results in (or: pray by and with) the mind. I will continue striking the strings and sing (or: making melody) in and by the (or: = my) spirit (or: attitude; the Breath-effect), yet I will also habitually strike the strings and sing (make melody) in and by the (or: = my) mind. ¹⁶ Else, if you may continue to speak a good word in spirit (or: to utter eulogies within [the] Spirit; to be blessing in union with Breath-effect), how will the one normally filling up the place of the private life of a non-specialist [note: = one who occupies the ordinary position of the "average person," being unskilled, uneducated, uninitiated into the secrets of life in the kingdom or the mysteries of Christ] normally say, "It is so! (or: Amen; Make it so!)" at your speaking of the ease and wholesomeness of grace, and your expression of gratitude – since he has not perceived and does not know what you are presently saying?

²³ Therefore, if the whole called-out community (the entire local assembly) should come together at the same [place], and everyone (or: all) should be speaking in languages (or: with [ecstatic] tongues), but then ordinary folks (= unlearned people of the private sector) or unbelievers should at some point enter, will they not proceed in saying that you folks are presently being crazy (continuing to behave as insane people; now acting raving mad)? ²⁴ Now if everyone may be prophesying, one after another, and some unbeliever (person without faith) or an ordinary uninstructed person may at some point enter, he is progressively being given the proof [of the situation], being exposed to convincing arguments, by everyone – [and] by everyone continues being sifted, sorted and held up so that a decision [regarding the situation] can come to him!

²⁴ Now if everyone may be prophesying, one after another, and some unbeliever (person without faith) or an ordinary uninstructed person may at some point enter, he is progressively being given the proof [of the situation], being exposed to convincing arguments, by everyone – [and] by everyone continues being sifted, sorted and held up so that a decision [regarding the situation] can come to him! ²⁵ The hidden things of his heart are now progressively coming to be set in clear light, and thus – falling upon [his] face – he will proceed to be worshiping God, progressively proclaiming back [to you] that God is existentially within, essentially in union with, and is presently being among you folks!

² [and] through means of which you folks are also progressively, and one after another, being rescued, delivered, and made whole (saved, preserved and restored to your original state and condition) – since you people are continuously keeping [it] in possession and retaining [it] – [even] by which, and in which, Word (or: expressed message) I, myself, announced these glad tidings to you people: the message of goodness for you! [Now this is] outside of this exception: [that] you placed your trust randomly (or: Unless, in fact, you folks did believe to no purpose and express conviction feignedly)!

⁸ Yet last of all [these] folks, He was seen by me, also – as if it were by one born prematurely (or: in a miscarriage; = born too soon, and thus weak and not fully developed, or, born dead, or, aborted; or: by one forth from out of a wound). ⁹ For I myself am the smallest (thus: the least one) of the sent-forth people (envoys; representatives), who am not adequate to reach [the stature] to be normally called a sent-off representative or emissary, because I pursued and persecuted God's called-out (or: the community of the called-out whose source is God, and which have the character of God). ¹⁰ Yet in (or: by; for; with) God's grace, and joyous favor which is God, I am what I am, and His [placed]-into-me grace (or: [birthed]-into-me joyous favor) was not birthed to be empty, but on the contrary, I toiled to exhaustion by hard labor in excess of them all – yet not I, but rather God's grace and favor, together with me [other MSS read: which {is} with me].

¹⁰ Yet in (or: by; for; with) God's grace, and joyous favor which is God, I am what I am, and His [placed]-into-me grace (or: [birthed]-into-me joyous favor) was not birthed to be empty, but on the contrary, I toiled to exhaustion by hard labor in excess of them all – yet not I, but rather God's grace and favor, together with me [other MSS read: which {is} with me].

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).

²³ The joyous favor and grace of the Lord Jesus, [the] Christ (or: [the] Anointed Master, Jesus,) [continues] with you folks!

¹ Paul, one sent off as a representative from Jesus Christ (or: an emissary of Jesus [the Messiah]; an envoy of [the] Anointed Jesus) through the effect of God's will and purpose, and Timothy, the brother. To God's called-out community – the one being (existing) within the midst of Corinth – together with all those set apart (the holy ones; the saints or sacred people) being (existing) within [the] whole [region of] Achaia:

¹ Paul, one sent off as a representative from Jesus Christ (or: an emissary of Jesus [the Messiah]; an envoy of [the] Anointed Jesus) through the effect of God's will and purpose, and Timothy, the brother. To God's called-out community – the one being (existing) within the midst of Corinth – together with all those set apart (the holy ones; the saints or sacred people) being (existing) within [the] whole [region of] Achaia: ² Grace (The influence and boon of gracious 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 [= Messiah]).

⁸ For we do not continue intending (or: wanting; purposing) for you folks to continue being ignorant (unaware or without intimate knowledge), brothers (= fellow members and believers), over [other MSS: concerning] our squeezing pressure (tribulation; affliction; oppression) – referring to [that] which happened [other MSS add: to us] in Asia – that corresponding to an act of overshooting or throwing beyond the target (= something extreme and excessive) over and above [our] power and ability, we were weighted down (burdened [with difficulty]) so as to be without an exit (with no way out) for us, even to continue living!

¹⁵ So, with (or: in; by) this persuaded confidence, I had previously continued intending (planning and purposing) to come to you folks, so that you folks could have (or: may hold) a second grace (influence and boon of undeserved joyous favor, kindness and goodwill; [other MSS: {occasion for} joy]), ¹⁶ and to pass on through you [i.e., through your city] into Macedonia, and to come back again to you from Macedonia, and [then] to be sent forward with funds and supplies (perhaps: to be accompanied or escorted on part of the journey) by you folks [other MSS: from you] into the Judean [area].

²¹ Now God [is] the One repeatedly placing us on good, firm footing (constantly stabilizing and establishing us; or: confirming, guaranteeing and validating us as possessed by a purchase) and completely (or: instantly, in one point in time) anointing us, together with you folks, into Christ.

²³ Now I, myself, continue to call upon God [to be] a witness (or: [as] evidence) upon my own soul (mind, will, emotions; inner life; self; or: = I stake my life on it!), that in my continuing in holding back and sparing you folks, I no longer came (or: I did not yet go) into Corinth.

¹ So I decided this in (or: for; by) myself: not to come (or: go) to you folks again in anxiety (or: grief; sorrow; sadness; = to make another painful visit). ² For since (or: if) I, myself, continually cause you anxiety (sadness; sorrow; grief; pain), who (or: which one) [is] the person constantly putting me in a good frame of mind (habitually cheering me and putting my mind at ease), if not (or: except) the one being constantly made sorrowful, sad, upset and anxious by me? ³ And so I write (or: wrote) this very thing, so that in coming I may (or: should; would) not have anxiety, sadness or grief from those concerning whom it was being necessary and binding for me to unceasingly rejoice, having been persuaded and now placing trust and confidence upon you all, because my joy has its source in all of you folks (or: my joy exists being what pertains to all of your [situations]).

¹² Now on coming (or: going) into Troas – [proceeding] into Christ's good news (message of goodness, ease and wellness which is the Anointing), there also having been opened up, and still standing open, a door to and for me, within [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] (or: by me, in union with the Master and Owner) –

¹⁴ Now grace and favor [are] in, with and by God – in, by and with the One constantly causing us to triumph (or: progressively leading us in a triumphal procession) at all times, within and in union with the Christ (the Anointed One; = the Messiah), and progressively (or: habitually) setting in clear light (manifesting) the fragrance (aroma; odor; perfume) of His intimate knowledge (or: of the experience of intimacy and insight which has its source in knowing Him; or: the knowledge and gnosis which is Him) through us in every place,

¹⁴ Now grace and favor [are] in, with and by God – in, by and with the One constantly causing us to triumph (or: progressively leading us in a triumphal procession) at all times, within and in union with the Christ (the Anointed One; = the Messiah), and progressively (or: habitually) setting in clear light (manifesting) the fragrance (aroma; odor; perfume) of His intimate knowledge (or: of the experience of intimacy and insight which has its source in knowing Him; or: the knowledge and gnosis which is Him) through us in every place, ¹⁵ because within (or: by) God, we continuously exist being Christ's sweet fragrance (or: because we are an aroma of well-being for God which has it source in Christ; or: because by God we continue being an odor of ease, and a smell of goodness, which is Christ) within and among those being progressively delivered (habitually rescued; continuously made whole and returned to their original state and condition) – yet also within and among those being progressively loosed-away (or: habitually destroying themselves; or: repeatedly being lost): ¹⁶ to (in; for; with) these [latter ones], a stench from out of Death, [leading] into death (or: from the midst of [one] death on into [another, or, more] death); yet to (in; for; with) those [former ones] a fragrance from out of Life, [leading] into life (or: from out of the midst of [one Life] on into [another, or, more] life). So who [is] adequate, sufficient or qualified [in facing or approaching] toward these matters?

⁵ – not that we are competent (adequately enough; sufficiently qualified) from ourselves to logically evaluate or count anything as it were forth from out of ourselves – but to the contrary, our competency (adequacy; sufficiency; qualification) [is] forth from out of the midst of (having its source in) God, ⁶ Who also adequately qualifies us (or: made us fit, competent and sufficient) [to be] attending servants and dispensers of an arrangement that is new in quality (or: pertaining to a new kind of covenant that has a different character and is fresh and effective) – not of [the] letter (or: not pertaining to the result of that which is written down; not having its source in the effect of a written text), but in contrast, of a Breath-effect (or: pertaining to the result of [the] Spirit; having its source in and being the effect of spirit and attitude), for the effect of letter habitually kills (or: the result of writing something into a text repeatedly puts away in death), yet the Spirit (or: the spirit; the breath-effect; the Attitude) continuously gives life (or: repeatedly makes alive; progressively forms life; habitually creates life)!

⁴ within and among which folks the God of this age (or: the God who owns this indefinite time-period; the God Who is in relationship with this eon) blinds (or: deprived of the ability to see) the effects of the intellects and mental powers (or: the results of directing the mind to something) of those without faith (of the un-trusting ones; of the unbelieving and disloyal), [leading them] into the [situation that] the shining forth of light and the illumination of (or: the beaming forth of enlightenment from) the good news of the glory of the Christ (or: of the message of goodness, ease and wellness whose source is the glory of the Anointed One; of the glad tidings pertaining to the manifestation which calls forth praise to the [Messiah]) – Who continuously exists being God's image (a resemblance and likeness of [Concordant Text adds: the unseen; the invisible] God) – would not shine forth as the dawn to irradiate them.

⁴ within and among which folks the God of this age (or: the God who owns this indefinite time-period; the God Who is in relationship with this eon) blinds (or: deprived of the ability to see) the effects of the intellects and mental powers (or: the results of directing the mind to something) of those without faith (of the un-trusting ones; of the unbelieving and disloyal), [leading them] into the [situation that] the shining forth of light and the illumination of (or: the beaming forth of enlightenment from) the good news of the glory of the Christ (or: of the message of goodness, ease and wellness whose source is the glory of the Anointed One; of the glad tidings pertaining to the manifestation which calls forth praise to the [Messiah]) – Who continuously exists being God's image (a resemblance and likeness of [Concordant Text adds: the unseen; the invisible] God) – would not shine forth as the dawn to irradiate them. ⁵ For you see, we are not constantly preaching (proclaiming; heralding) ourselves, but rather, Christ Jesus [as] Lord (or: [the] Anointed Jesus, [the] Lord, Master and Owner; or: = [the] Lord Jesus [as the] Messiah), yet ourselves [as] your slaves, because of Jesus,

⁵ For you see, we are not constantly preaching (proclaiming; heralding) ourselves, but rather, Christ Jesus [as] Lord (or: [the] Anointed Jesus, [the] Lord, Master and Owner; or: = [the] Lord Jesus [as the] Messiah), yet ourselves [as] your slaves, because of Jesus, ⁶ because the God suddenly saying (or: the God Who once was saying),"Light will shine forth (give light as from a torch; gleam) from out of the midst of darkness (dimness and shadiness; gloom and the absence of daylight)!" [is] the One who shines forth within the midst of our hearts, with a view to illumination of the intimate and experiential knowledge of God's glory – in a face of Christ (or: [is] He Who gives light in union with our hearts, [while] facing toward an effulgence and a shining forth which is an intimate knowing of the praise-inducing manifestation whose source and origin is God, and which is God, [while] in union with face to face presence of Christ [other MSS: Jesus Christ]).

⁴ [There is] much freedom of speech, frankness, outspokenness and boldness in me, toward you folks. [There is] much boasting in me, over (in regard to) you! I have been filled full so that I am stuffed with relief, encouragement and comfort – I continue overflowing from the progressive flood of superabundance which encircles me in joy – which tops all our pressure and tribulation (or: by the joy upon every squeezing, ordeal, affliction and oppression). ⁵ For even upon our coming into Macedonia, our flesh (= physical selves, or inner natural beings) had not had a let-up or slackening (a release so as to be at ease), but to the contrary, among all people and in every situation and manner [we were] ones being continuously pressed, rubbed together and oppressed: outside, fights and battles; inside, fears! ⁶ Nevertheless God, the One continuously performing as a Paraclete for the low ones (i.e., repeatedly calling the humbled and downhearted to [His] side to give them aid, relief, ease, comfort and encouragement), paracleted (comforted, assisted and encouraged) us in the arrival and presence of Titus, ⁷ yet, not only in his presence, but further, also within the relief, comfort and encouragement (the influence of a paraclete) in which he was paracleted (comforted and encouraged) upon you folks [i.e., over your situation], repeatedly reporting back to us your longing (strong and anxious love with fond regret), your grievous expression of anguish and remorse, your fiery zeal over me – with result that it caused me rather to rejoice –

¹³ Yet, in addition to our encouragement and comfort, we rejoice still more abundantly due to the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been rested up and continues refreshed by all of you folks (or: from you all),

¹² You see, if the eagerness continues lying before [a person], [it is] well-embraced and very acceptable – in proportion to whatever one may normally possess (have and hold), not corresponding to what he does not normally have.

¹³ through the evidence which is shown by this attending service and dispensing: folks constantly glorifying God and praising His reputation because of (or: based upon) the subjoined, humble alignment, the supportive arrangement and the subjection in appended shelter – which is your accordance to the message and agreement in thought (and thus: your profession of saying the same thing), [showing] assent unto Christ's message of goodness, ease and well-being, as well as by [the] simplicity and generosity of the partnership of common-existence sharing unto them, and unto the midst of all people, ¹⁴ even by their request over [the situation of] (or: on behalf of) you folks – from people constantly longing and yearning for you. [It is] because of God's transcendent favor and surpassing grace [resting] upon you people –

⁴ for you see, the tools and weapons of our military service and warfare [are] not fleshly (= do not pertain to our human condition; [“are not the weapons of the Domination System” – Walter Wink]), but rather, [are] powerful ones and capable ones in God (or: by God), [focused] toward [the] pulling down (demolition) of effects of fortifications (or: strongholds; strongly entrenched positions [of the “Domination System” – Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers]),

⁴ for you see, the tools and weapons of our military service and warfare [are] not fleshly (= do not pertain to our human condition; [“are not the weapons of the Domination System” – Walter Wink]), but rather, [are] powerful ones and capable ones in God (or: by God), [focused] toward [the] pulling down (demolition) of effects of fortifications (or: strongholds; strongly entrenched positions [of the “Domination System” – Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers]), 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),

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),

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), ⁶ even continuously holding [them] in a ready state and prepared condition to support fairness and equity, while maintaining rightwised relationships from out of the Way pointed out, for every mishearing (or: hearing-aside; setting of our attention to the side; or: disobedience) – whenever your hearing obedience may be made full (or: as soon as the humble attentive listening and submissive paying attention has been brought to full measure, from, and with regard to, you folks)!

¹² Of course we are not daring to classify ourselves among, nor compare or explain ourselves with, some of those setting themselves together for commendation. But in fact they, themselves, are constantly measuring themselves among (or: within) themselves, and are repeatedly comparing themselves with themselves – they continue not comprehending or understanding! ¹³ Now we ourselves will not boast into what is not measured (or: about the things that cannot be measured), but rather, corresponding to the measure of the measuring rod (rule; standard; canon; = sphere of allocated influence) which God divided and gives as a part to (in; for) us – of a measure (or: = sphere of influence) to reach even as far as upon you folks. ¹⁴ Certainly we are not progressively overspreading (or: overstretching) ourselves – as if not being repeatedly reaching-on into you folks – for we advanced beforehand as far as even you people in the declaring of Christ's good news (or: the message of goodness, ease and wellness pertaining to and having its source in the Anointed One). ¹⁵ No, we are not men habitually boasting into what is not measured [off for us] – in labors (toils) belonging to other folks – but are continuously holding an expectation and having a hope of a progressively growing increase of your faith, trust and loyalty to be made great and enlarged within you (or: among and in union with you folks) – in line with and corresponding to our measured-out range and area (= sphere of allocated influence) – [leading] into abundance (being surrounded with excess),

¹⁵ No, we are not men habitually boasting into what is not measured [off for us] – in labors (toils) belonging to other folks – but are continuously holding an expectation and having a hope of a progressively growing increase of your faith, trust and loyalty to be made great and enlarged within you (or: among and in union with you folks) – in line with and corresponding to our measured-out range and area (= sphere of allocated influence) – [leading] into abundance (being surrounded with excess), ¹⁶ [increasing] into the [regions] beyond those of your area, to yourselves (or: to ourselves) cause the good news to be proclaimed – not in the midst of a measured-out range and area (= sphere of allocated influence) belonging to another – [and] to boast into things [that have been] prepared and made ready,

⁴ For if, indeed, the person periodically coming is habitually preaching (heralding; proclaiming) another Jesus – whom we do not preach (or: did not herald and proclaim) – or, [if] you folks are continuously receiving a different breath-effect (or: are repeatedly laying hold of a spirit or attitude that is different in kind and nature) which you did not receive, or a different “good-news” (a message of ease and wellness which is different in kind and character) which you did not welcome and accept, are you repeatedly holding back from [him] in an ideal way? (or: you folks are beautifully putting up with and tolerant of [it]! [other MSS: were you finely holding back from {it}?]). ⁵ Now you see, I am habitually considering and counting myself to have been in nothing inferior to or deficient from those "very-overly [pretentious and condescending] emissaries (or: super-folks sent forth with a mission)." [note: Paul is probably referring to the Judaizers – those sent out from the Jews]

¹⁰ Christ's reality (or: Truth pertaining to, originating in, and which is [the] Anointed One) continuously exists within me, so that this boast (or: boasting) will not be constantly fenced in or hedged about (thus: stopped or blocked) unto (or: for) me within the slopes (= regions) of Achaia! ¹¹ Why (Through what reason or situation)? Because I am not continuously loving you folks? God has seen and thus knows!

¹⁹ for with pleasure you folks – continuously being intelligent, sensible and prudent folks! – habitually put up with the senseless (foolish; idiotic; imprudent) people!

³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (or, in apposition: which is [the] Lord Jesus) – the One continuously being a blessed One (or: the One constantly existing being [in character and quality as] a Word of ease and a Message of wellness and goodness) on into the ages – has seen and thus knows that I am not lying.

⁸ I called the Lord [Christ or Yahweh] alongside for relief, ease and comfort, and entreated [Him] three times over (or: about) this, so that he (or: it) would (or: should) at once stand away and withdraw from me, ⁹ and yet He has said to me – and His declaration stands, "My grace is continuously sufficient in you (or: My joyous favor is constantly adequate to ward [it] off for you), for you see, ability (or: the [other MSS read: My] power) is habitually brought to its goal (or: finished; perfected; matured) within the midst of weakness (or: in union with lack of strength and infirmity)." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather continue boasting within the midst of and in union with weakness, to the end that the ability of the Christ (or: the Anointed One's power) can pitch its tent (or: should tabernacle) upon me (or: = set up residence upon me during this transient life and journey; perhaps: = fulfill the type of the Feast of Tabernacles with me; or: = be my house from heaven; [cf: ch. 5:1])! ¹⁰ Wherefore I habitually delight and take pleasure within weaknesses (or: in union with lack of strength or infirmity); in the midst of outrageous insults and ignominious situations of mistreatment; in union with pressured necessities; in the midst of pursuits for persecution and cramped situations over and on behalf of Christ, for whenever I continue being (or: may periodically be) weak, then I am powerful (or: I then exist being capable)! ¹¹ I have become unreasonable (senseless; imprudent; foolish) – you, yourselves, compel me (press and force me; = drive me to it!) – for I myself ought to have been being constantly recommended (placed together with and commended) by you folks, because not even in one thing did I come behind (or: am I deficient from or inferior to) the "very-overly" [pretentious and condescending] emissaries (or: representatives), even though I am nothing (or: since I also exist being nothing!).

²⁰ So you see, I continue being afraid, lest somehow – on coming – I may not find you folks such as I habitually intend (purpose; desire) – and I myself may be found by you [to be one] such as you folks continue not desiring – lest somehow [I may find] strife (contention; quarreling), jealousy, outbursts of emotions or swellings of anger, selfish ambition and factious rivalry, backbitings (down-babblings; slanderous conversations), whisperings (occasions of malicious gossiping), situations of puffing up (inflations of pride), disorders (situations of unrest; turbulences; losses of tranquility; instabilities).

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. ⁵ Keep on examining and making trial of yourselves, since you exist being in union with the confidence and faith (or: whether you continue being [and thus, living] within the midst of trust); repeatedly test and assay yourselves so as to approve of yourselves and come to meet the desired specifications. Or are you not now fully aware nor presently recognizing yourselves, with accurate insight: that Jesus Christ constantly exists being within the midst of and in union with you people? – since you are surely not unable to stand the test, nor are you disapproved or disqualified! (or: – except you are somewhat disqualified.) ⁶ Yet I continue expecting that you folks will progressively come to know by intimate experience that we ourselves are not unable to stand the test, nor are we disapproved or disqualified! ⁷ Now we habitually hold good thoughts and have wishes of ease and wellness toward God, asking [that] you folks do nothing worthless or of bad quality – not so that we, ourselves, can appear (or: should be made to be seen) as approved or qualified, but rather so that you yourselves can (or: should; would) be habitually doing that which is beautiful (or: constantly constructing the ideal; repeatedly making what is fine), even though we ourselves may be as ones disapproved and disqualified (= should look as if we had failed the test and are discredited).

¹⁴ The grace from, and joyous favor of, the Lord – Jesus Christ – and (or: even) the love of God (or: the unambiguous, uniting acceptance and participation from, which is, and has the character of, God), and the common-existence partnership, sharing, communion and participation of the set-apart Breath-effect (or: of and from the Holy Spirit; or: which is a sacred spirit and attitude) [continue being] with all of you folks. It is so (Count on it; Amen)! [written circa A.D. 56 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹ Paul, one sent as a representative (emissary; envoy) – not with a commission from people, nor through a human, but rather through Jesus Christ, as well as Father God (or: through Jesus, [the] Anointed One, and God [the] Father), the One arousing and raising Him forth from out of the midst of dead folks –

³ In, for and with you folks [are] (or: To you people [be]) grace and joyous favor, as well as peace (= shalom), from God, our Father and Owner, Jesus Christ (or: from our Father God, even [the] Lord, Jesus Christ; or: from God our Father, and [the] Master, Jesus [the] Anointed) ⁴ – the One at one point giving Himself, over [the situation of] (or: on behalf of; for the sake of; [p46, Aleph*, A, D & other MSS read: concerning]) our failures (situations and occasions of falling short or to the side of the target; deviations; mistakes; errors; sins) so that He could carry us out from the midst of the present misery-gushing and worthless age (or: bear us forth from the indefinite period of time – characterized by toil, grievous plights and bad situations – having taken a stand in [our] midst; or: extricate us from the space of time having been inserted and now standing in union with base qualities), corresponding to (or: down from; in accord with; in line with; in the sphere and to the level of) the effect of the will (or: intent; purpose; design) of our God and Father,

⁶ I am constantly amazed (or: I continue filled with wonder) that you folks are so quickly being progressively transplanted (or, as a middle voice: are thus now quickly transferring yourselves or changing your stand) from the One (or: that [message]) calling you people, within Christ's grace (or: in [the] favor of the Anointed One), on into a different sort of “message of goodness” (unto a different evangel, “good news,” or gospel; = into an imitation and alternative message of goodness, ease or well-being) – which is NOT "another" one of the same kind (= not just another version)! ⁷ But instead that there are certain folks – the ones constantly agitating (stirring up; disturbing) you folks – even repeatedly wanting (or: intending) to alter and distort (turn so as to change; pervert) Christ's message of goodness, ease and well-being (or: the good news which is the Anointed One; or: the evangel about and from the [Messiah]).

¹⁰ Come now, am I at the present moment habitually appealing to humans, or God? (or: am I right now constantly trying to convince and persuade mankind, or God ?) Or, am I repeatedly seeking to keep on pleasing and accommodating people (humans)? If I had been still continuing to please and accommodate people (mankind), I would not have been being Christ's slave. ¹¹ You see, [otherMSS: Now] I am habitually making it intimately known to you folks by experience, brothers: that the message of goodness and well-being – the one being announced and proclaimed as "good" news by (or: under) me – is not down from or according to a person (or: is not corresponding to something human; is not on the level of or in the sphere of humanity), ¹² for I myself neither received it to my side from a human (or: from beside a person), nor was I taught [it], but to the contrary, [it came] through an unveiling of Jesus Christ (or: through an uncovering pertaining to Jesus [the Messiah]; through a revelation from Jesus Christ; by means of a disclosure which is [the] Anointed Jesus). ¹³ For you hear (or: heard) about my former way of life (one-time conduct and behavior) within the traditional Jewish culture and religion (Judaism), that corresponding to excessive action (a throwing over and casting beyond) I was hastening in hostile pursuit, continuing to persecute God's called-out group of people (the community whose source is God; the ecclesia pertaining to God), and I kept on trying to lay it waste (or: continued sacking and devastating it). ¹⁴ And so I was progressively cutting forward and kept on advancing within Judaism (the culture and religion of the Jews) over and above many contemporaries (folks of the same age) within my race, being inherently more exceedingly zealous pertaining to the traditions of my fathers (or: for the things handed over, given alongside or delivered which originated with my ancestors). ¹⁵ Yet when God – the One marking off boundaries to separate and sever me from out of my mother's womb (or: cavity; [comment: a figure of the religion of the Jews]), and calling [me] through His grace and favor – thought well (or: delights and takes pleasure)

¹⁵ Yet when God – the One marking off boundaries to separate and sever me from out of my mother's womb (or: cavity; [comment: a figure of the religion of the Jews]), and calling [me] through His grace and favor – thought well (or: delights and takes pleasure) ¹⁶ to unveil (reveal; uncover; disclose) His Son within the midst of me (or: in union with me), to the end that I in myself (or: for myself; by myself; of myself) would announce and proclaim the message of goodness, [which is] Him, within the ethnic multitudes (or: may bring and tell the message of ease and well-being: Him [now] among the nations), I did not immediately place myself back toward flesh and blood (= present my cause up for the approval of other people; consult anyone; seek communication or advice from my race, kin or religion),

¹⁶ to unveil (reveal; uncover; disclose) His Son within the midst of me (or: in union with me), to the end that I in myself (or: for myself; by myself; of myself) would announce and proclaim the message of goodness, [which is] Him, within the ethnic multitudes (or: may bring and tell the message of ease and well-being: Him [now] among the nations), I did not immediately place myself back toward flesh and blood (= present my cause up for the approval of other people; consult anyone; seek communication or advice from my race, kin or religion), ¹⁷ neither did I go up into Jerusalem, toward those [who were] people sent off (= to face and be with the commissioned representatives) previous to me, but rather, I went off into Arabia, then later I again returned into Damascus.

²⁰ Now what I am presently writing to you folks (or: for you folks), consider! In God's sight, I am not lying!

⁸ for you see, the One working within (being active in; operating within; energizing) Peter unto a sending for a mission concerning (in reference to; or: which is) the Circumcision, also by me inwardly works (energizes; is inwardly active and operative) unto the multitudes (into the midst of the nations – the non-Jewish ethnic groups; the Gentiles) – ⁹ then Jacob (or: James), Cephas and John – those continuing to be disposed to thinking and imagination (or: those yet forming opinions) and seeming, by reputation, to be pillars (or: supportive columns [note: a figure of a living temple]) – recognizing (or: coming to know) by intimate experience the grace and favor being given by me (or: to me; in me; for me), gave to me and to Barnabas [the] right [hands] of common partnership, from common participation, in regard to common existence/situation and which signified equal belonging in fellowship, community and sharing, to the end that we [would continue] into the nations (multitudes; ethnic groups; Gentiles; non-Jews) – yet they, into the Circumcision –

² This only am I intending (wanting; purposing; willing) to learn from you people: Did you receive the Spirit (or: get the Breath-effect; take in hand the Attitude) forth from out of works of Law, or from out of a hearing of, and which is, faith or: from the midst of faith's hearing; or: from a hearing that arises from faith; (or: out of a listening which has the qualities and characteristics of trust and confidence)? ³ Are you so senseless, unreflecting and foolish? Being folks making a beginning inwardly by spirit (or: in breath-effect; by [the] Spirit; with [the] result of [the] Breath) are you folks now being progressively brought fully to the goal (being totally finished, perfected and brought to your destiny) by flesh (or, as a middle: are you now continuing to accomplish completeness in yourselves in, or with, flesh)? [note: Paul is using the word “flesh” here as a figure for “works of Law” (vs.2, above), with its circumcision, animal sacrifices, etc.; for other religions it would refer to “religious works” of those particular systems (including Christianity, in the following centuries)] ⁴ Did you folks experience or suffer so many things randomly, for no cause or purpose – if in reality [there] even [is] "for no cause," or "by random happenings"? ⁵ The One, therefore, continuously furnishing and supplying to (or: for; in) you folks the Spirit (or: the spirit; the breath; or: = attitude and vitality), and constantly and effectively energizing, being active, working and producing abilities and powers within you people – [is its source] from out of works of Law, or out of a "hearing" whose source is faith, (or: The one, then, constantly supplying the Breath-effect for you folks, and repeatedly working powers among you – [does he do it] from our of deeds based on [the] Law [= Torah], or from out of faith's attentive listening,)

¹¹ Now [the fact] that within [the] Law no one is in process of (or: in union with [the] Law or some legal practice or custom is no one normally) being rightwised (put in right relationship; made just, fair, equitable, set free from guilt, or, placed within the Way pointed out; also: = made a covenant member) at God's side (or: with God) [is] clearly visible and evident, because, "the fair and equitable man (the one in right relationship within the Way pointed out; the just one) will continue to live from out of faith (or: the one [who is] just from out of faith, trust, and conviction, will progressively live)," [Hab. 2:4]

⁴ Yet when the effect of the filling of the time came (or: that which was filled up by time reached full term), forth from out of a mission (or: from out of the midst of [Himself]), God sent-off His Son, being Himself come to be born from out of a woman, being Himself come to be born under [the rules, authority and influence of] Law,

¹⁸ The grace and favor of, and whose origin and source are, our Lord, Jesus Christ [are continually] with your spirit (or: the Breath-effect belonging to you folks), brothers (= fellow believers; = [my] family)! It is so! (Amen; So let it be; Count on it!) [written circa A.D. late 56 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹ Paul, a sent-forth person belonging to Jesus Christ (or: an emissary from, and a representative pertaining to, Jesus, [the] Anointed One [= Messiah]) through and by means of God's will (resolve; determined purpose; resultant choice), to all those who continue being set-apart folks (or: holy ones; saints) [other MSS add: within Ephesus], as well as to believing folks (or: trusting and loyal people) within, in union with and centered in Christ Jesus: 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).

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]),

¹¹ Within and in union with Whom we were (or: are) also chosen (or: appointed) by lot (or: were made an allotted portion; or: received an inheritance), being previously marked out (or: being before designated) in keeping with (or: down from; corresponding to; in accord with) a before-placed (or: predetermined-by-setting-forth) aim anddesign of the One continuously operating (effecting; energizing) all things (or: the whole) in accord with (or: down from; in line with; in correspondence to) the deliberated purpose (intent; design; plan; determined counsel) of His will (or: resultant decision of His resolve; effect of His desire), 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]). ¹³ Within and in union with Whom you also, upon hearing the Word of the Truth (or: the thought and idea of Reality; the message of the Logos) the good news (the message of goodness, ease and well-being) of your [other MSS: of our] deliverance (rescue; return to health and wholeness; salvation) within and in union with Whom also, upon trusting and believing, you are stamped (or: weresealed; marked for acceptance, or with a signet ring; = personally authorized) by the set-apart Breath-effect of The Promise (or: with the holy attitude of assurance; in the sacred essence of the promise; or: by the Holy Spirit which is the Promise)

¹⁵ On account of this, I also, on listening to (or: after hearing) along with and in accord with you folks (or: in the same sphere as you; down from you; on the same level with you people) the faith resident within the midst of the Lord Jesus (or: the trust centered in the Owner, Jesus; the loyalty based on union with the Master, Jesus), as well as the love and unrestricted acceptance [being dispersed] unto all the folks set apart (holy ones; saints), 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), ¹⁷ to the end that the God of (or: pertaining to; or, reading the genitive as in apposition: Who is) our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the Glory, might give (suddenly impart) to you a spirit (or: breath-effect; attitude) of wisdom and revelation (unveiling; uncovering; disclosure) within the midst of a full, experiential and intimate knowledge of Himself (or: in a full realization of Him; or: within and in union with His full, personal knowledge; or: resident within an added insight from Him, and which is Him), 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,

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), ²¹ up over (or: back above) every primacy (or: ruler; principality; government; controlling effect; or: beginning; origin) and authority (or: right and privilege from out of being) and power (or: ability) and lordship (or: ownership), as well as every name being continually named not only within this age, but also within the impending one (the one being presently about to come) ²² and then placed and aligned all people in humbleness under His feet (or: and arranges everyone in a supportive position by His feet; or: then by the feet which are Him He subjects all things), and yet gives (or: gave) Him, [as] a Head (or: Source; origin and beginning of a series; or: extreme and top part) over all humanity and all things, for the called-out community (or: and as a Head over all humanity, gave Him to the summoned and gathered assembly; or: and then by the called-forth congregation He gives Him [to be the] Source over [the situation] of, and for, all humanity), ²³ hich [community] is His body, the result of the filling from, and which is, the One Who is constantly filling all things within all humanity (or: which continues existing being His body: the resultant fullness, entire content and full measure of Him [Who is] progressively making full and completing all things in union with all things, as well as constantly filling the whole, in all people).

² Since indeed (or: If at least) you folks heard (or: hear; listened to) [and thus, obey] the house-law (or: the dispensing within the household; the administration; management of the household; or: the distribution) of the grace of God (or: which is God's grace and favor) which is being given by me into you folks (or: to me with a view to you folks) ³ that, in accord with an unveiling (or: down from a revelation; in keeping with a disclosure), the secret (or: mystery) was made known to me even as I before wrote (or: wrote aforetime), in brief ⁴ toward which [end] you, the folks continually reading (or: habitually reviewing and recognizing; progressively gathering up knowledge), are constantly able and continue with power to comprehend (conceive; understand; apprehend) my understanding (insight; confluence; my sending insights together) in the secret (or: mystery) of the Christ (or: which is the Anointed One [= the Messiah]), ⁵ which to other generations (or: for births of a different kind; in different generations of another nature) was not made known to the sons of mankind (humanity; the humans) as it is now (at the present time) uncovered (unveiled; revealed) in spirit (or: within a Breath-effect; or: in union with [the] Spirit) by (or: to; among) His set-apart emissaries (or: consecrated folks that are sent forth from Him as spokesmen) and prophets (folks having light ahead of time),

⁵ which to other generations (or: for births of a different kind; in different generations of another nature) was not made known to the sons of mankind (humanity; the humans) as it is now (at the present time) uncovered (unveiled; revealed) in spirit (or: within a Breath-effect; or: in union with [the] Spirit) by (or: to; among) His set-apart emissaries (or: consecrated folks that are sent forth from Him as spokesmen) and prophets (folks having light ahead of time), ⁶ (or, reading the phrase "in spirit" with the next phrase rather than the previous one: in spirit) the nations (the Gentiles; the ethnic multitudes; non-Jews) are to continuously be joint-heirs (fellow-participants by allotment) and a Joint Body (a body together) and joint sharers (partakers) of The Promise [along with the rest], resident within (or: of the assurance in union with) Christ Jesus through the good news (or: [spreading] throughout the midst by means of the message of goodness, ease and well-being)

⁶ (or, reading the phrase "in spirit" with the next phrase rather than the previous one: in spirit) the nations (the Gentiles; the ethnic multitudes; non-Jews) are to continuously be joint-heirs (fellow-participants by allotment) and a Joint Body (a body together) and joint sharers (partakers) of The Promise [along with the rest], resident within (or: of the assurance in union with) Christ Jesus through the good news (or: [spreading] throughout the midst by means of the message of goodness, ease and well-being) ⁷ of which I came to be (was birthed; became) an attendant (a server; one who renders service and dispenses) in accord with, down from, in the sphere of and commensurate with the gift of God's grace and favor that being given to me (or: by me) in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to; to the level of; in line with) the operative, effective, internal working energy of His power and ability!

⁷ of which I came to be (was birthed; became) an attendant (a server; one who renders service and dispenses) in accord with, down from, in the sphere of and commensurate with the gift of God's grace and favor that being given to me (or: by me) in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to; to the level of; in line with) the operative, effective, internal working energy of His power and ability! ⁸ To me, the one far inferior to (or: less than the least among) all of those set apart (or: the saints; the holy people), was given this grace and joyous favor: to myself address the nations (non-Jews; Gentiles; ethnic multitudes) with the good news of (or: whose source is) the untrackable (untraceable; or: not-searched-out and unexplored) riches of the Christ (or: to for myself declare and bring to the ethnic groups the message of goodness, ease and well-being of the unexploreable wealth which is the Anointed One), ⁹ and to illuminate all people (give light to everyone) [as to] what [are] the house-rules (or: [is] the administration and management of the household) of the secret (or: mystery) pertaining to that having been hidden (concealed) away, apart from the ages (or: disassociated from the [past] periods of time), within the midst of God in the One forming and founding (framing, building and settling from a state of disorder and wildness) all things (the Whole; everything)

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,) 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)!

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)!

⁵ [with] one Lord (or: Owner), one faith (or: loyalty, confidence, assurance, and trust; or: "one belief" - Bultmann), one submersion and envelopment which brings absorption and permeation to the point of saturation,

⁸ For this reason He (or: it) is constantly saying, "Going up (or: Stepping up; Ascending) into a height (unto [the] summit) He led (or: leads) captive a captive multitude (or: He led 'captivity' captive). He gave (or: gives) gifts to mankind (or: to, for and in humanity)." [Ps. 68:18] ⁹ Now (or: Yet) this "He went up (ascended),"what is it if not (or: except) that He also [first] descended (stepped down) into the lower parts (or: the under regions) of the earth (or: land)? ¹⁰ The One stepping down (descending) is Himself also the One stepping up (ascending) far above (back up over) all of the heavens (or: atmospheres; skies), to the end that He would at once fill the Whole (permeate and saturate everything; or: make all things full; bring all things to full measure and completion). ¹¹ And He Himself at one point gave (or: gives; [p46: has given and it now exists as a gift]), on the one hand (or: indeed), the folks sent off with a commission (the emissaries; the representatives), yet also those who have light ahead of time andspeak it before others (the prophets), and on the other hand those who announce goodness and well-being and bring good news, and then the shepherds, and finally teachers (or: the shepherds-and-instructors),

¹¹ And He Himself at one point gave (or: gives; [p46: has given and it now exists as a gift]), on the one hand (or: indeed), the folks sent off with a commission (the emissaries; the representatives), yet also those who have light ahead of time andspeak it before others (the prophets), and on the other hand those who announce goodness and well-being and bring good news, and then the shepherds, and finally teachers (or: the shepherds-and-instructors), ¹² facing and with a viewtoward the bringing down of the fresh and timely, for the preparation (mending; knitting together; adjusting; fitting; repairing; perfectly adjusting adaptation; equipping; completely furnishing) of the set-apart folks (the saints; the holy ones) untoa work (or: into an action; into the midst of a deed or task) of attending service, [leading] unto (or: into) construction (house-building) of the body which is the Christ (or: whose source, character and quality is from the Anointed One; or: the body formed by the Anointing),

¹⁷ This, then, I am continually saying and giving evidence of (or: attesting) within the Lord: no longer are you to be continuously walking [your path] (i.e., conducting yourself; adjusting your behavior) according to the way that the nations (the multitudes; the non-Israelites; the Gentiles; the ethnic or special or pagan groups) are continuously walking around (ordering their behavior) within the emptiness (vanity; frivolity; futility) of their mind (or: intellect), ¹⁸ being folks having been, any still yet being, darkened in (or: by) the divided thought and the thing passing through the mind, having been and continuing being alienated (estranged) away from the Life of God (or: God's life; or the life which is God) through the ignorance continuously existing (or: being) within them [and] through the petrifying (becoming stone; callousness; = insensitivity) of their heart,

¹⁸ being folks having been, any still yet being, darkened in (or: by) the divided thought and the thing passing through the mind, having been and continuing being alienated (estranged) away from the Life of God (or: God's life; or the life which is God) through the ignorance continuously existing (or: being) within them [and] through the petrifying (becoming stone; callousness; = insensitivity) of their heart, ¹⁹ which certain people, being folks having ceased to feel pain (being insensible or callous), gave themselves over (abandoned themselves) to outrageous behavior (excessive indulgence; wantonness; licentiousness), into every unclean performance (work, trade, business or labor of impurity) in greed (always wanting more; covetousness; schemes of extortion; = wanting more than ones due, in disregard for others).

¹⁹ which certain people, being folks having ceased to feel pain (being insensible or callous), gave themselves over (abandoned themselves) to outrageous behavior (excessive indulgence; wantonness; licentiousness), into every unclean performance (work, trade, business or labor of impurity) in greed (always wanting more; covetousness; schemes of extortion; = wanting more than ones due, in disregard for others).

⁴ And obscenity (ugliness; indecency; indecorum; shamefulness; baseness), even stupid (moronic; foolish) speaking (talking) or coarse joking (vulgar talking; insinuation; wittiness; quickness in making repartee; making a good turn), which things it has not been proper or fitting to have come up but rather (in preference), giving of thanks (or: conversation marked by grace, gratitude and favor in well-being).

⁶ Let no one keep on deceiving (or: seducing) you by empty words (or: messages; reasons; thoughts; ideas), for because of these things, God's inherent fervor (natural impulse and disposition; intrinsic teeming desire and swelling passion; or: anger; indignation) is continuously coming upon [note: cf John 3:36] the sons of The Disobedience (the incompliance; or: = folks having the quality of not being convinced or being disobedient and stubborn).

¹² for you see, it is obscene (base; ugly; indecent; shameful) to habitually even be speaking of the things [which] secretly (or: in a hidden manner) may be coming into existence (be occurring; be being birthed) by them.

¹⁵ Be continuously observing exactly (or: accurately), then, brothers (= fellow believers; members of the Family), how you habitually walk about [or, with other MSS: Be continually observing, then, how accurately you are conducting yourselves]: not as unwise folks, but rather as wise ones, ¹⁶ making it a habit [to be] intensively buying-out for yourselves (as at a market, exhausting the supply; redeeming; reclaiming) the season (fitting situation; opportunity; fertile moment), because the days (= present times) are of a bad quality (or: a gush of misery; unsound; harmful; or: in a sorry plight; or: toilsome). ¹⁷ On account of this, stop becoming (or: Do not continually come to be) foolish ones (folks not having common sense; people without reflection or intelligence; imprudent ones; thoughtless and inattentive folks), but rather, be constantly understanding (sending your perceptions together to comprehend) what [is] the will (result of the resolve; determination of what shall be done; design; effect of the purpose) of the Lord (= Christ or Yahweh; [other MSS: God; Christ]).

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],

¹⁸ By means of all thought, desire or imparted message toward having things be well (or: Through every prayer) and request (or: declaration) regarding need, [be] folks continuously thinking, speaking and acting toward goodness and well-being (or: praying) within every season (in union with every fitting situation; on every occasion; in the midst of every fertile moment) within and in union with [the] Spirit (Breath-effect; Attitude), while maintaining a constant alertness (or: in spirit being constantly vigilant and abstaining from sleep), also, to that end, in all focus to unremitting and stout continuance (or: in union with every view to resolute, potent perseverance which brings control) and request regarding need concerning (or: surrounding) all of the set-apart folks (holy ones; saints; sacredly different people),

²³ Peace and harmony [= shalom] to the brothers (= family or fellow believers; [p46 reads: the set-apart folks]), and love (unrestricted acceptance; [A reads: mercy]) along with faith and trust, from God, [the] Father and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: from Father God, and {or: even} [the] Lord Jesus Christ).

¹ Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus for (or: to) all the set-apart folks (the holy ones; the saints) within and in union with Christ Jesus, to those being in Philippi, together with care-givers (folks keeping a watchful eye upon [people and situations]; those noting and being concerned for others; overseers) and attending servants:

³ I constantly give thanks (or: habitually speak of the goodness of grace) to my God upon every memory (or: recollection; or: mention) of you folks, ⁴ at all times (or: always) in my every request (or: petition) over [the situation of] you all (or: on behalf of all of you folks), habitually making the request (or: petition) with joy

⁸ You see, God [is] my witness (or: evidence), how I continually long (or: yearn) for all you folks within the inner seat of Jesus Christ's tender emotions (upper internal organs – heart, liver, lungs; = compassions).

⁸ You see, God [is] my witness (or: evidence), how I continually long (or: yearn) for all you folks within the inner seat of Jesus Christ's tender emotions (upper internal organs – heart, liver, lungs; = compassions). 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).

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).

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)!

²² Yet you folks continue knowing by experience his proof by scrutinized examination and testing, that as a child for a father, he slaves (performs as a slave) together with me, into the message of goodness, ease and well-being.

²⁶ since he had been continuously having great affection and longing to see all of you folks, even being repeatedly dejected and deeply troubled because you heard (or: hear) that he fell sick (or: is ill).

³ For you see, we ourselves are (exist being) The Circumcision: the people (or: those) continuously rendering sacred service in a spirit of God (or: by God's Breath-effect; to God's Spirit; with God's breath; [some MSS: service to God in spirit; p46 omits "God," so simply: serving in spirit]) and constantly making our boast (being loud-tongued, vaunting and exulting) within, and in union with, Christ Jesus; even folks (or: those) being people having been persuaded and thus continuing to put no confidence within flesh (= having no reliance upon what is physical: e.g., religious works or natural heritage; or: the estranged human nature; [comment: this could be a reference to animal sacrifices]).

⁶ in accordance to zeal, one constantly pressing, pursuing and persecuting the called-out community; in accordance to fairness and equity in the way pointed out in the Law, one coming to be, of myself, without defect (one becoming blameless). ⁷ But to the contrary, whatever things (or: things which) were being gains (advantages; assets) to, for or in me, these things I have esteemed and now consider (or: regard) as a loss (a penalty; a forfeit; disadvantage; a bad bargain; a detriment) because of the Christ (or: on account of the Anointed One [= the Messiah]).

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 –

¹ Consequently, my brothers (= fellow believers; family) – loved ones and longed-for folks (people missed with a craving), my joy and winner's (or: festal) wreath – thus (in this way) you constantly stand within [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh]: [as or being] loved ones! (or, as an imperative: be habitually standing firm in thus manner: in [the] Lord, [B adds: my] beloved!)

⁶ Do not be habitually worried, anxious or overly concerned about anything! On the contrary, in everything (and: within every situation), by thinking and speaking toward having goodness and having things go well and with ease (or: in prayer) and in expression of need – together with thanksgiving – repeatedly let your requests be made known to (toward; face to face with) God,

¹³ I constantly have strength for all things among all people, [from being] in union with and within the midst of the One continuously enabling me (empowering me; infusing me with power and ability): Christ!

¹⁷ Not that I am in the habit of really seeking the gift! But rather, I am in the habit of really seeking the constantly abounding fruit which is overflowing into your discourse (or: your account; your word; your matter of discussion; your message; your thought).

²⁰ Now in our God and Father [is] the glory (or: Now for our God and Father [is] the reputation; Yet by our God and Father [is] the manifestation which calls forth praise; So to our God and Father [is] the good opinion; But with our God and Father [is] the imagination) on into the indefinite and unseen time periods of the ages! Count on it, for it is so!

²³ The grace of (or: The favor belonging to and having its source in; The grace which is) our Lord [with other MSS: the Owner and Master], Jesus Christ, [is] with the spirit of you folks (or: [is] with your corporate breath-effect; or: [is] with the character and attitude manifested through you folks; [other MSS: {is} with all of you]). It is so! [written circa A.D. 58 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹ Paul, one sent with a mission pertaining to Christ Jesus (or: an envoy of [the] Anointed Jesus; an emissary who has his origin in Christ Jesus) through God's will, and Timothy, the brother (or: = fellow believer; or: the brother Timothy), ² To the set-apart folks (the holy ones; the sacredly different people) within Colossae – even to ones full of faith (or: to faithful and trusting people) – to [the] brothers within Christ (or: and to loyal fellow believers [who are] in union with [the] Anointed [other MSS add: Jesus]): Grace and joyous favor (or: The act that produces happiness, which was granted [to all] as a favor), as well as peace and harmony [= shalom], to you folks from God our Father [other MSS read: from God, our Father and Lord, Jesus Christ]. ³ We habitually express gratitude for the goodness in grace, and give thanks to God, the Father [other MSS: to the God and Father] of our Lord, Jesus Christ, at all times continually thinking and speaking goodness and well-being concerning (or: praying about) you folks,

⁵ because of the expectation (or: expectant hope) – the one continuously lying stored away as a reserve – resident within the atmospheres (or: heavens), which you folks already heard (or: heard before) within the word (message; discourse; or: Logos) concerning the Truth (or: the word of truth; the idea belonging to and having its source in Reality; the message which is truth and reality) which originates in and pertains to the message of ease, goodness and well-being (or: which belongs to the good news). ⁶ This [Word; Logos] is being continuously present alongside [and proceeding] into you folks, just as it is also continuously existing within all the ordered System (within the entire world of culture, secular society, religion, economics and government; or: in the entire universe; or: = the entire Roman Empire), repeatedly bearing fruit of itself and constantly being grown and caused to be increasing, just as also within you folks, from [the] day in which you heard and at once fully experienced – in intimate knowing and accurate realization – the grace of God, within Truth (or: God's favor resident within [the] truth; God's grace in the midst of reality; or: the favor which, in reality, is God).

⁶ This [Word; Logos] is being continuously present alongside [and proceeding] into you folks, just as it is also continuously existing within all the ordered System (within the entire world of culture, secular society, religion, economics and government; or: in the entire universe; or: = the entire Roman Empire), repeatedly bearing fruit of itself and constantly being grown and caused to be increasing, just as also within you folks, from [the] day in which you heard and at once fully experienced – in intimate knowing and accurate realization – the grace of God, within Truth (or: God's favor resident within [the] truth; God's grace in the midst of reality; or: the favor which, in reality, is God).

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; 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),

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), ¹⁴ in Whom (or: in union with [which Son]) we continuously have and hold the redemption (the release and liberation procured by payment of a ransom) [which results in] the sending away of the failures (or: the dismissal of the errors pertaining to falling short and straying to the side of the target; the flowing away of the sins; the divorce from mistakes). ¹⁵ It is [this Son] Who is the Image (portrait; the Exact Formed Likeness; the Figure and Representation; visible likeness and manifestation) of the not-seen God (or: the unable to be seen God; the invisible God), the Firstborn of all creation (or: of every creature; or: of every framing and founding; of every act of settling from a state of disorder and wildness; or: pertaining to the whole creation; or: = the Inheritor of all creation Who will also assume authority over and responsibility for every creature [note: this is the duty of the firstborn]),

¹⁵ It is [this Son] Who is the Image (portrait; the Exact Formed Likeness; the Figure and Representation; visible likeness and manifestation) of the not-seen God (or: the unable to be seen God; the invisible God), the Firstborn of all creation (or: of every creature; or: of every framing and founding; of every act of settling from a state of disorder and wildness; or: pertaining to the whole creation; or: = the Inheritor of all creation Who will also assume authority over and responsibility for every creature [note: this is the duty of the firstborn]),

²¹ And so you folks, being at one time people having been alienated away (being estranged; being rendered as belonging to another; = having been put out of the family) and enemies (or: hated ones) by the divided thoughts (in the dualistic perceptions and things going through the mind in every direction) within (or: in the midst of; in union with; or: = in the performance of) the miserable deeds (gushes of wicked actions; laborious and painful works) –

²⁵ of which I am come to be an attending servant (or: a dispenser), corresponding to (or: down from; in the sphere of) God's household administration (or: God's directives for the tasks of a household manager; the stewardship whose source is God and pertains to His house; God's economy; God's scheme and arrangement which He planned for His household) – the [detailed plan] being given by me unto you (or: to me [and infused] into you) – to fulfill God's Word (or: to make full the message pertaining to God; to make a full presentation of God's message; to deliver God's thought and idea in full; or: with a view to you fulfilling God's idea):

²⁸ Whom [other MSS: Which] we ourselves habitually proclaim down the line (or: announce in accord with the pattern), constantly putting [Him] into the minds of every person (or: human) and repeatedly teaching every person (or: human), within the sphere of all wisdom, to the intent that we may place every person (or: human) finished (mature; perfect with respect to purpose; complete; as having reached the goal of destiny) by [our] side, within and in union with Christ [other MSS add: Jesus], ²⁹ unto which [goal] I habitually work hard (or: progressively toil on) and become weary, constantly struggling as in a contest, corresponding to (or: down from, yet on the level of) His inward working (or: energy and operation): the One continuously operating (energizing and inwardly working) within me – within power and in ability.

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),

⁶ – because of which things God's inherent fervor (natural impulse and propensity; internal swelling and teeming passion of desire; or: anger; wrath) is repeatedly (or: continuously; progressively) coming [other MSS add: upon the sons of The Disobedience (or: those having the condition of being unpersuaded; or: the stubbornness); note: “the disobedience” could refer to Adam and Eve eating from the tree, and thus, the “sons of the disobedience” could refer to all of mankind] –

¹¹ wherein (or: in which place) there is no Greek [figure of the multitudes who are non-Jews, and of those who are cultured and civilized] and Jew [figure of a covenant people of God], circumcision and uncircumcision [figure for religious in-groups and out-groups; there is no longer a covenant people versus non-covenant people], barbarian [foreigner who speaks a different language], Scythian [figure or example of wild, uncivilized groups], slave, freeman, but to the contrary, Christ [is] all, and within all (or: Christ [is] all humanity, and within all mankind; or: Christ [is] everything or all things, and within everything and all things; [note: the Greek is plural, and is either masculine, signifying “mankind,” or neuter, signifying all creation, in these phrases]). ¹² Therefore, as God's chosen, set-apart and beloved ones (or: God’s sacred, loved and chosen people; or: as elect... ones from God), clothe yourselves with (or: enter within) bowels (internal organs; = the tender parts; seat of deep feelings) of compassion, kindness (adaptable usefulness), humility (the minding and disposition of things of lowness or of low station), gentleness (meekness; mildness), waiting long before rushing with emotions (even-temperedness; long-suffering; = putting up with people and situations for a long time),

¹⁵ Furthermore, let the peace [= shalom] of the Christ (belonging to and originating in the [Messiah]; the harmony which is the Anointing [other MSS: God]) continuously umpire (act as a judge in the games) within your hearts (= in union with the core of your being) – into which [peace] you folks are called (were called; were invited), within one body. And progressively come to be thankful people (or: continue becoming folks expressing gratitude for the goodness, ease and well-being that comes in grace; be habitually graceful folks).

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 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}).

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),

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!

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,

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,

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).

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).

² but rather, after previously experiencing ill treatment and being outraged (subjected to insolent, riotous, or insulting behavior) in Philippi, according as you are aware, we spoke freely and boldly – publicly, as is the right of citizens – within, and in union with, our God, [proceeding at once] to utter God's message of goodness (or: the good news from God; the message of ease and well-being, which is God) toward you in the midst of much striving (conflict; arguing; or: within a large stadium or racecourse; or: in much agony of struggle).

⁵ For neither did we at any time come to be flattering in word, according as you saw and are aware, neither within pretense (held-forward specious cloak) from greed: God is witness! ⁶ Neither [are we] continuously seeking glory (or: a reputation) from among people (humans) – neither from you, nor from others – all the while being able [to be] burdensome (or: as constantly having power in weighty [matters]), as representatives of Christ (or: emissaries of [the] Anointed One; sent-off folks from [the Messiah]). ⁷ But rather, we were birthed babes (or: became infants; [other MSS: we were made to become gentle and kind ones]) within the midst of you folks, as whenever a nursing mother would constantly or repeatedly cuddle to impart warmth to her own children. ⁸ Thus, continuously being your affectionately "attached-ones" (ones having a like-flow [of nourishment from our Nursing Mother]), we were habitually delighted (thinking it good; well-pleased) to share or impart to you not only God's message of goodness and well-being [other MSS: the good news which is Christ], but rather even our own souls (= inner beings and lives; or: = selves), because you have been birthed (or: come to be) beloved ones to us (or: folks loved by us; or: = very dear to us, accepted by us and appreciated by us). ⁹ For you are remembering, brothers (= fellow believers), our exhausting labor (or: = the trouble to which we went; toil; hardship; or: beating) and hard work, continuously working night and day towards not being burdensome (or: a weight) upon any of you, [and] after the manner of a herald we proclaimed God's message of goodness (the good news from God; or: the message of ease and well-being which is God) into the midst of (or: unto) you folks. ¹⁰ You and God [are] witnesses of how appropriately and loyally (or: benignly; in accord with universal law), justly (or: fairly; rightwisedly), and blamelessly we were caused to be to you (or: for you folks), the ones continuously trusting and believing with loyal conviction.

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),

¹⁷ Now we, brothers, being deprived (or: orphaned; bereaved; torn-away) from you for a fitting situation of an hour (or: for an hour's season; = for a short spell, during a specific situation) – by face (= in presence), not by or in heart – we more exceedingly made diligent haste to see your face, in much full-desire (or: added passion)! ¹⁸ On that account we intended (purposed, willed) to come toward you – indeed I, Paul, once, even twice – and the adversary (or: "the accuser;" = the enemy or opposer; satan; [note: perhaps a code name for the hostile Jews, as in Rev. 2:9 and 3:9]) struck within us (cut in on us; = cut across our path; or: travailed and wearily toiled among us).

¹⁸ On that account we intended (purposed, willed) to come toward you – indeed I, Paul, once, even twice – and the adversary (or: "the accuser;" = the enemy or opposer; satan; [note: perhaps a code name for the hostile Jews, as in Rev. 2:9 and 3:9]) struck within us (cut in on us; = cut across our path; or: travailed and wearily toiled among us). 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? ²⁰ For you see, you yourselves are our glory (or: our reputation; our manifestation which calls forth praise) and joy!

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),

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, 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!

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!

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.

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, 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).

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).

⁴ Each one of you [is] to have seen and thus learned how, know and be aware of his own equipment (gear; utensils; instruments; vessel; = means of making a living), to progressively acquire (procure for one's self) in set-apartness (or: holiness) and honor (value, worth), 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.

⁷ For God did not call us on the basis of uncleanness (or: does not invite us [to be] on [a path lived in] a soiled condition or a dirty environment), but rather within the sphere of set-apartness (or: sacred difference; = in a manner commensurate to covenant living).

¹³ Now then, we are not wanting (or: willing, intending) you to continue ignorant, brothers, concerning the folks who are from time to time falling asleep [other MSS: those having been put to sleep (= passed away; died), and continuing made to be sleeping], to the intent that you may not continuously be made to be sad or sorrowful according as even (or: just like also) the rest (the ones remaining or left), the folks continuously having no expectation (or: hope).

¹⁷ Continuously think, speak and act with a view toward having well-being and goodness – unceasingly (or: By habit be praying unintermittingly).

²⁸ The grace of and from our Lord (or: the favor which is our Lord), Jesus Christ, [is] with you. Amen (Count on it; It is so)! [written circa A.D. 50 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

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).

⁴ the one continuously occupying an opposite position (or: constantly lying as the opposing counterpart) and repeatedly lifting (or: raising) himself up over all (or: upon everything) being normally called God or an effect of worship (or: reverent awe), so as to cause him to be seated – down into the midst of the temple of God (or: God's dwelling place) – continuously displaying himself, that this/it is God (or: continuously pointing out that he himself is a god)?

⁷ For the secret (hidden purpose; mystery) of the lawlessness (pertaining to the condition of being without law; which is the unlawfulness; having the character of being violation of the Law; whose source is the contrariness to custom) is already continuously working within (operating; energizing), [yet] only until the one (or: man; [note: masculine article]) continuously holding down in a firm grasp (detaining; restraining) at the present moment can birth himself (bring himself to be; = separate himself) forth from out of the midst.

¹⁰ and within every deception (delusion; seduction) of the injustice (wrong; thing that is not the way pointed out and which is not right) within the folks continuously or repeatedly being lost (or: by the folks progressively destroying themselves) in return for which (or: in the place of which) they do (or: did) not take unto themselves and welcomely receive the love of, and from, the truth (or: Truth's love; the Love which is Truth and Reality; or: an appreciation of and affection for reality), into the [situation for] them at some point to be suddenly delivered (restored to health and wholeness; rescued; saved; restored to the original state and condition).

¹⁰ and within every deception (delusion; seduction) of the injustice (wrong; thing that is not the way pointed out and which is not right) within the folks continuously or repeatedly being lost (or: by the folks progressively destroying themselves) in return for which (or: in the place of which) they do (or: did) not take unto themselves and welcomely receive the love of, and from, the truth (or: Truth's love; the Love which is Truth and Reality; or: an appreciation of and affection for reality), into the [situation for] them at some point to be suddenly delivered (restored to health and wholeness; rescued; saved; restored to the original state and condition). ¹¹ And so, because of this, God is continuously sending to (or: in) them an in-working (or: operation) of wandering (or: which is the source of being caused to stray; which has the character of error and deception) into the [situation for] them to believe, and to trust, the lie, ¹² to the end that all those not believing the Truth (or: having conviction of or trusting the reality), but rather approving and delighting in injustice (inequity; the thing that is not right), may (or: can; would) at some point be sifted, separated and decided about (or: judged). 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).

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).

¹⁶ Now may our Lord, Jesus Christ Himself, even (or: and) our God and Father, the One loving us and giving a calling alongside pertaining to the Age (or: performance as a Paraclete with age-lasting aid; eonian relief, encouragement, consolation and admonition) as well as a good expectation (or: a virtuous and excellent hope) in grace (or: in union with favor), ¹⁷ be at once calling your hearts alongside and establishing (making to stand fast; making stable and firm) you in every good (or: excellent; virtuous) work and word (or: thought; idea; message) [with other MSS: in all the Word and in virtuous action].

¹⁷ be at once calling your hearts alongside and establishing (making to stand fast; making stable and firm) you in every good (or: excellent; virtuous) work and word (or: thought; idea; message) [with other MSS: in all the Word and in virtuous action].

³ But the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] is (or: exists) continuously faithful (loyal; full of faith), who will progressively establish (set you to stand fast) and keep (guard; protect) you folks away from the malicious person (or: the unsound and unprofitable; the painful labor; the malignant situation).

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of the peace (or: the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] Who is peace and harmony [= shalom]), Himself, at once give the peace to you folks through everything (or: through all humanity; through all [time] and every [situation]), within every turn (or: in every way; [other MSS read: within every place]). The Lord [Christ or Yahweh] [is] with all of you.

¹⁸ The grace and joyous favor of our Lord, Jesus Christ, [is] with all of you folks! Amen. [written circa A.D. 50-51 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹ Paul, one sent away with a commission pertaining to [the] Anointed Jesus (or: Jesus Christ's representative and envoy), down from (or: in line and accord with) an imposed arrangement from (an injunction of; a decree and charge set upon [me] pertaining to) God our Savior, even (or: and) from Christ Jesus, our Expectation (or: expectant Hope), ² to Timothy, a genuine child (a legitimate born-one) within the midst of faith (or: in union with trust): Grace and favor, mercy and compassion [together with] peace and harmony [= shalom], from God, our Father, even (and) Christ Jesus, our Lord (Owner; Master).

¹⁰ for men who use prostitutes (or: who are male prostitutes; fornicators; or: = those who “worship” in pagan temples); for men who lie with males (sodomites); for kidnappers (those catching men by the foot; = slave dealers); for liars; for ones who violate their oaths (perjurers); and whatever different thing which is continually occupying an opposite position (lying in opposition or in replacement) to the sound and healthful teaching, ¹¹ [which is] in accord with (or: down from; in line with and on the level of) the good news of (or: the message of goodness and ease pertaining to) the glory and reputation of The Happy God, which I, myself, was persuaded to believe (or: upon Whom I am made to trust).

¹¹ [which is] in accord with (or: down from; in line with and on the level of) the good news of (or: the message of goodness and ease pertaining to) the glory and reputation of The Happy God, which I, myself, was persuaded to believe (or: upon Whom I am made to trust). ¹² I continue holding (or: having) grace and favor by and in the One enabling me (putting ability within me; empowering me): Christ Jesus, our Lord, because He considers me full of faith (or: deems me loyal and faithful), Himself placing [me] into a position of giving attending service,

¹⁵ The Word [is] full of faith, and [is] deserving of every welcome reception of equal value, because (or: Faithful and trustworthy, even worthy of all and complete acceptance, [is] the message and saying that) Christ Jesus came into the ordered System (the world of secular culture, religion, government and economy; or: the cosmos) to rescue failures (to deliver those missing the target; to save and make sinners healthy and whole; to restore outcasts to their rightful position), of whom I myself exist being first (or: am foremost). ¹⁶ But nonetheless, through this I was mercied (or: I am given mercy), to the end that within me first (= as the foremost case) Jesus Christ may point out so as to publicly display every emotion which is long in arriving (all long-suffering patience) with a view to being an underline (toward [being] a subtype; as facing a sketch or outline; for a pattern) of those about to be habitually believing (or: progressively trusting; one-after-another placing faith) upon Him, [that is, ] into the midst of eonian life (into Life which pertains to and has the qualities and characteristics of the Age [of Messiah]; into life of, and which lasts through, the ages). ¹⁷ So, to [the] King of The Ages (or: eons; indefinite time periods), to [the] incorruptible (undecayable; unspoilable), invisible (unseen; not-able-to be seen) One, to [the] only God [some MSS add: wise; so: only wise God], [be] honor (value; worth) and glory (reputation which calls forth praise), on into the ages (or: indefinite time periods) of the ages. It is so (Amen)! (or: Now in and by the King to Whom belongs the ages – in and by the imperishable, invisible [and] only One – in and by God [is] honor and glory, [leading] into the [most important] eons of the eons. So it is!)

⁷ into the midst of which I, a preacher (or: herald) and one sent with a mission (an envoy and representative), was placed (or: am set) – I am speaking truth, I am not lying – a teacher of multitudes (nations; the multiplied ethnic groups; non-Jews), within faith and Truth (or: in union with trust and reality).

¹⁶ and so confessedly (admittedly; with common consent and sameness of speech) great is the secret (or: mystery) of the reverence (the standing in awe of goodness, with adoration; the healthful devotion and virtuous conduct of ease, in true relation to God): which is made visible (manifested) within flesh (= a physical body), is rightwised (set in equity and right relationship in the Way pointed out; also = is placed in covenant) in spirit (in union with Breath-effect), is seen by agents (or: messengers), is heralded (preached) within multitudes (among nations and ethnic groups), is trusted and believed within [the] world (an ordered system; secular culture), is received back in good opinion and reputation. (or: Who [some MSS read: God; others: He] was brought to clear light within flesh (= the natural realm); was shown righteous and just (= set in covenant) within spirit and attitude; was seen by agents; was proclaimed among Gentiles {non-Jews}; was believed within [the] world of society, religion, and government; was taken back up again, within glory – a manifestation which calls forth praise!)

¹ Now the Spirit (or: Breath-effect) is explicitly saying that within subsequent seasons (in fitting situations and on appropriate occasions which will be afterwards) some of the faith (or: certain folks belonging to this trust) will proceed standing off and away [from the Path, or from the Community] (or: some people will progressively withdraw from this conviction and loyalty), habitually holding toward (having a propensity to) wandering and deceptive spirits (or: straying and seducing breath-effects and attitudes) and to teachings of demons (to teachings about and pertaining to, or which are, demons [note: a Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences]; or: to instructions and training which come from animistic influences [= pagan religions]), [comment: this prophesied about the future institutionalization of the called-out community, and the introduction of pagan teachings, all of which later came to be called "orthodox"] ² within perverse scholarship of false words (or: in association with overly critical hairsplitting of false messages; in the midst of gradually separated interpretations of false expressions; or: in union with deceptive decisions by speakers of lies), from folks having their own consciences cauterized (seared; branded) as with a hot iron,

² Further, let not those having believing masters (or: trusting and loyal owners who are full of faith) be in the habit of despising (having a condescending attitude about; be thinking down upon) [them], because they are brothers (= fellow believers). But rather, let them consistently perform as slaves to a greater extent, because those being continual recipients of their good service (receiving the well-doing in return; those being supported by the benefits) are believers and beloved (or: are folks full of faith and love). Keep on teaching these things, and keep on encouraging by calling others alongside to aid and exhort them (or: continually perform as a paraclete).

¹⁶ the Only One continuously holding and having possession of immortality (the absence or privation of death; deathlessness), the One continuously making inaccessible (or: unapproachable) light His home (or: dwelling), Whom not one of mankind sees, saw or perceived, nor is able or has power to see or perceive, in Whom [is] honor (value; worth), and eonian strength (might having the qualities and characteristics of the Age; strength enduring through and pertaining to the eons). It is so (Amen)!

² to Timothy, a beloved child (or: brought-forth one; born one): Grace and favor, mercy, peace and harmony [= shalom] – from Father God, even Christ Jesus, our Lord (or: from God [the] Father, and Christ Jesus, our Owner). ³ I constantly hold grace in God (or: I am habitually having gratitude to God; I repeatedly possess favor, by God), in Whom (or: to, for, by or with Whom) I continually render sacred service – [handed down] from [the] ancestors (or: those born earlier; forefathers) – within a clean conscience (or: co-knowledge; a joint-knowing from shared seeing), as I constantly hold (or: am presently having) an unceasing remembrance (or: a memory which leaves no interval) about you within my expressions of need (or: seekings of aid; requests), by night and by day, ⁴ constantly and fully longing (or: by habit yearning upon [you]) to see you – having been reminded and being caused to be remembering your tears – so that I may be filled full of joy,

⁸ Therefore, do not become ashamed of (or: You should not, then, be embarrassed by) the testimony of and from our Lord (or: the witness pertaining to our Master; the evidence which is our Owner), nor yet, [of; or: by] me, His bound-one (or: His prisoner). On the contrary, down from God's ability (or: in the sphere of power, which is God), experience things of bad quality (or: worthless encounters) together with [me] for the message of ease, goodness and well-being (or: But rather, corresponding to God's power, suffer evil and hardship with the evangel; But further, accept your share in bad treatment – in accord with the ability which comes from God – in [the Way of] the Good News), ⁹ pertaining to and from the One delivering and calling us (or: which is rescuing, healing restoring, saving and calling us) in a set-apart calling (or: to a holy invitation; for a separated and different sacred call); not corresponding to our works (or: down from our deeds; in accord with or on the level of our [ceremonial] activities), but on the contrary, corresponding to (down from; in accord with; on the level of) His own prior placing (or: previously setting-forth; thus: definite aim and purpose which He personally is bent on achieving), even grace: that [which is] being given to us within Christ Jesus (or: corresponding to His own predetermined purpose and the favor being given to us, [which is] belonging to and pertaining to Jesus, resident within Christ), before times having the qualities and characteristics of the ages (before [the] age-lasting time periods; prior to eonian times; = before [the] time segments of [the] ages [began]),

¹¹ into which (or: into Whom) I am placed (or: I was put): a herald (a public announcer; a proclaimer; a preacher) – even a person sent off with a mission (an envoy; a representative; or: = a messenger) – and a teacher [other MSS add: of the ethnic multitudes (nations; Gentiles; Goyim; non-Jews)]. 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).

¹⁶ May the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] give mercy to the house (or: household) of Onesiphorus, because many times (often; frequently) he refreshed me (he breathed back cool on me; he souled me up again), and he was not ashamed of (or: embarrassed by) my chain (= my imprisonment).

⁸ Be habitually keeping in mind (or: remembering) Jesus Christ, being the One having been aroused and raised, and now continuing risen, forth from out of the midst of dead folks: from out of David's seed! (or: = [Who came] forth from David's descendants.) – corresponding to and in the sphere of my message of goodness, ease and well-being (or: in line with the good news that came through me),

¹⁰ Because of this [fact], I continue remaining under to support all people and to patiently endure all [situations], on account of (= for the sake of) the selected and picked-out folks (the chosen-out people; the elect group; the choice ones), to the end that they, also, may hit the target of deliverance (rescue; health and wholeness; salvation) – that [which is] within Christ Jesus (or: the one pertaining to Jesus, resident within Christ: inherent in the Anointing) – together with glory (or: an appearance; an opinion; an imagination; a manifestation which calls forth praise) which has the characteristics and qualities of the Age (or: eonian glory; an age-lasting reputation).

²⁰ Now within a great house (= a palace), there are not only golden and silver containers, equipment and utensils, but also wooden ones and earthenware (ones made of baked clay). And on the one hand some which [come] into [use for] honor (things of value; = to be used on special occasions), on the other hand some which [come] into [use for] dishonor (things without value; = for everyday use). ²¹ If, then, anyone should ever clean himself out from these [aforementioned worthless, dishonorable and common] things, he will proceed being a container (or: utensil; piece of equipment) [placed] into [use for] honor and things of worth, having been set aside (dedicated and being one made sacred and holy) for honorable and valuable use by the Owner (Master of the house), one having been made ready and now being prepared, [directed and now proceeding] into every good work (or: virtuous action). ²² So repeatedly take flight away from the youthful (juvenile; adolescent) over-desires (or: rushing upon innovative things; or: full passions for revolutionary or modern wants), yet constantly run after and steadily pursue justice (fair and equitable dealings, in rightwised relationships corresponding to the Way pointed out; also = covenant participation), faith (trust; fidelity), love [and] peace, together with all those persistently (repeatedly; habitually) calling upon the Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] from out of a clean heart.

² for the people (the humans; mankind) will continue being folks that are fond of themselves (self-loving; selfish), fond of silver (= have affection for money or things of monetary value which makes them stingy), empty pretenders (impostors; ostentatious self-assumers), haughty and arrogant (superior-appearing), blasphemers (abusive slanderers; folks who defame with a false image; or: light-hinderers), uncompliant and disobedient to parents, ungrateful (or: unthankful), undutiful (disloyal; without regard for divine or natural laws; malign), ³ without natural affection, unwilling to make a treaty (implacable; not open to an agreement), devils (adversarial slanderers; folks who throw or thrust something through people to hurt or cause divisions), without strength (without [self-] control), uncultivated (wild; untamed; ferocious; fierce), without fondness for expressions of good or aspects of goodness (or: without affection for good people; unfriendly; averse to virtue), ⁴ betrayers (traitors), rash (forward-falling; reckless), folks having been inflated with the fumes of conceit (or: ones being beclouded in smoke), pleasure-lovers (ones fond of [their own] gratification) rather than friends of God (ones fond of God),

⁸ Now, in the manner which (or: by the turn or method that) Jannes and Jambres took a stand in opposition to (or: resisted and opposed) Moses, thus, also, these are continually taking a stand in opposition to (opposing and resisting) the Truth and reality: people (humans) being ones having had the mind decayed down (ruined and spoiled down; corrupted; depraved; put into a sorry state), folks failing to meet the test (disqualified ones) on all sides of (or: about) the faith (or: = ones whose trust does not pass the test from any angle).

¹⁷ Yet the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] took a stand beside me (or: stood alongside in me) – and He empowered me (enabled me; gave me inward ability), to the end that through me the message that is being heralded (the contents of the public proclamation) would (or: may; could) be fully carried throughout with complete assurance, to full measure, and with absolute certainty, and so [that] all the ethnic multitudes (nations; Gentiles; Goyim; non-Jews) would (could; may) hear [it] – and I was dragged (or: drawn) from out of the mouth of a lion!

²² The Lord [= Yahweh or Christ; A reads: Jesus; others: Jesus Christ] [is] with your spirit ([is] in accompany with your breath)! Grace and favor [are] with you folks. It is so! (Amen.) [written circa A.D. 58 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹ Paul, God's slave (a slave of God; one bound to, subjected under and owned by God), yet one sent away with a commission (as an emissary, envoy or ambassador) from, pertaining to and belonging to Jesus Christ (or: a representative of Jesus [the] Anointed), with a view to and corresponding to [the] faith of God's chosen folks (or: in line with a trust and loyalty possessed by and characteristic of God's selected and picked-out ones) and the full, accurate and precise intimate knowledge and experiential insight of Truth and Reality – the [truth and reality] corresponding to and in accord with reverence (or: down from goodness which produces virtuous conduct with devoutness, and in line with ease from a true relation to God) – ² [based; standing] upon an expectation (or: hope) of and from eonian life (life having the quality and characteristics of, and its source in, the Age [of Messiah]; life for and throughout the ages) which the non-lying God (the God without falseness) promised – before eonian times (prior to the times belonging to the ages).

⁴ To Titus, a genuine born-one (legitimate child [one born in wedlock]) down from and corresponding to a common and partnered (equally owned, shared and participated-in) faith, trust and loyalty: Grace (or: Favor), and peace [= shalom; A, C2 & others: mercy; compassion], [are; continue coming] from Father God (or: God [the] Father) – even Christ Jesus, our Deliverer (or: and [the] Anointed Jesus, our Savior, Rescuer and Restorer to health, wholeness and our original condition; as well as from [the Messiah], Jesus, our Safe-keeper).

¹⁶ They are repeatedly adopting the same terms of language, and habitually making confession and avowing to have perceived and now know God, yet they are constantly denying (repudiating; disowning; refusing) [this] by the works (in the actions and things done), continuing being detestable (abominable), incompliant (stubborn; disobedient; unpersuasive) and disqualified (disapproved; rejected after trial) with a view toward every good work (excellent and virtuous activity).

³ You see, we also were, ourselves, at one time people habitually being foolish, senseless and without understanding (without perception or proper use of our minds) – noncompliant and disobedient ones, folks being constantly caused to wander and being led astray (or, as a middle: repeatedly deceiving ourselves; habitually going astray), continuously being and performing as slaves to various (a diversity of many kinds of) full-rushing passions and pleasures (enjoyments; gratifications), habitually carrying ugly worthlessness (bad quality or malice) and envy (or: jealousy) throughout (= leading a bad life): detestable ones (abhorrent folks) continuously hating one another.

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 One [= Messiah]). ⁴ I always and progressively give thanks to (or: for; with) my God (or: experience gratitude in my God; express the ease of grace in my God; experience the happy fortune of abundant grace by my God; observe my God's competent and prosperous grace), repeatedly forming a recollection of you upon my prayers (or: habitually making mention concerning you, upon my thinking and speaking toward having things go well, and projecting goodness, ease and well-being),

⁸ through which (or: on account of which), continuing in having much boldness and freedom of speech inherent in citizenship within Christ to be repeatedly setting-on and fully arranging the thing (or: the situation) for you to be habitually coming back up to (or: = to be proceeding in progressively laying out what is proper and fitting behavior for you)

²² Now at the same time, also proceed to prepare and set in readiness a guest quarter (or: lodging) for me, for I am increasingly expecting that – through the projected thoughts and words with a view to having things go well (or: prayers) from you folks – I will, from favor, proceed being graciously given to you people.

²⁵ The grace (the influence and boon of non-deserved favor, kindness, joy and goodwill) of our Lord, Jesus Christ, [is] with the spirit of you folks. It is so (or: The act producing joy and happiness, which was granted as a favor from our Owner, Jesus [the] Anointed One [= Messiah]), [is] with your breath, and in accompany with your attitude. Count on it; Amen)! [written circa A.D. 58 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

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),

¹² For the Word of God (or: God's thought, idea and message; or: the expressed Logos from God; or: the Word which is God) [is] living (or: alive), and active (working; operative; energetic; at work; productive) and more cutting above every two-mouthed sword, even passing through (penetrating) as far as a dividing (or: parting; partitioning) of soul and spirit (or: of inner self-life and breath-effect), both of joints and marrows, even able to discern (separate; judge; decide) concerning thoughts (ponderings; reflections; in-rushings; passions) and intentions (notions; purposes) of a heart (= core of the being).

⁴ And no one takes the honor (value; worth) to himself, but rather [is] one being called (summoned; invited) by God, just as Aaron, also, [was]. ⁵ Thus also, Christ did not glorify Himself (give Himself a reputation; have an opinion of Himself) to be born (or: to come to be) a Chief Priest, but to the contrary, [it was] the One at one point speaking to Him, "You are My Son; today I have given birth to (or: conceived) You (= become Your Father)." [Ps. 2:7] ⁶ Just as also in a different place He is saying, "You [are] a Priest on into the Age, down from (or: in accord and in line with) Melchizedek's station (order; lineup; alignment; placement; appointment; succession)," [Ps. 110:4]

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,

²⁶ For a Chief Priest such as this One was, and continues to be, fitting (appropriate; proper) for us: loyal and dedicated, benign (without bad quality; harmless; without bad form; not ugly), unstained (undefiled), having been parted (severed; separated) away from those failing to hit the target (those making errors; the sinners), even being birthed higher than the atmospheres and heavens,

¹⁴ to how much greater an extent shall the blood of the Christ (Anointed One; [Messiah]) – Who through means of a spirit (or: attitude; [the] Breath-effect) pertaining to the Age offers Himself (or: brought Himself face to face and offers Himself) without blemish by and with God (or: in, to and for God) – continue cleansing and pruning your conscience and shared consciousness from works of death (or: dead procedures and activities; deeds of dead folks) [leading] into [the situation] to be continuously rendering sacred service, as well as habitually doing the business and duties of life, for, in, by, to and with the living, as well as true and real, God?

³⁸ "Now My just One who is fair and equitable and in right relationship in accord with the Way pointed out [other MSS: the rightwised person] shall continue living from out of trust and faith (or: from out of faith will be continuously living; [other MSS: out of My faith], and if he should lower his sails and shrink back (place himself under; cower), My soul is not thinking well within him (or: taking delight in him)." [Hab. 2:3-4]

⁶ Now apart from faith, trust, confidence and loyal allegiance, [one is] powerless (or: unable) to please [God] well. It is necessary and binding for the person habitually approaching God to believe (to be convinced and trust) that He is (or: that He exists), and that He habitually comes to be (or: becomes) the One who pays back wages (or: gives away rewards) to, in and for those folks repeatedly (or: constantly) seeking Him out (or: seeking from out of Him). ⁷ In faith, by trust, with confidence and loyal allegiance, Noah, being instructed (or: being managed in public affairs) concerning those things as yet not seen, acting cautiously (or: receiving carefully; being shown [as] one who is taking hold well), prepared (made ready; furnished and equipped) an ark – [leading] into a deliverance (a rescue; a keeping safe) of his house – through which he made a corresponding evaluation and a commensurate decision about the aggregate of humanity (or: separated down the secular world; condemns the System; makes a judgment which falls in line with and follows the pattern of the ordered arrangement) and came to be an heir (an enjoyer of an allotment) of fair and equitable dealings (of justice and rightwised relationships in accord with the Way pointed out; also: = of covenant inclusion) down from faith, which is in line with trust and is in the sphere of convinced loyalty.

²⁷ In faith, by trust, with confidence and for faithfulness, he left Egypt behind, not fearing the rushing fury (violent breathing, rage and angry passion) of the king, for he was strong and stout as continually seeing the invisible (or: the Unseen One).

⁹ [so] do not be carried aside (or: swept away) by various and strange (or: with many-colored [as in tapestries], intricate and foreign) teachings. You see, [it is] beautiful (fine; ideal; admirably proportionate) for the heart (= core of our being) to be continuously made firm with a fixed footing by Grace, whose source is joy and which comes with favor – not by (or: in; with) foods (= rules and regulations pertaining to eating or what is edible), in which those [thus] walking about (= occupying themselves) were not increased (or: = which have not helped or benefited those who follow this way of life).

¹⁵ Through Him, then, we may and should repeatedly (or: continuously) offer up a sacrifice of praise in God (by God; to God; for God; with God) through all things (or: through the midst of all [situations]) – that is, a fruit of lips continuously saying the same things (or: speaking alike) in His Name (by His Name; confessing to His Name; for the Name which is Him; or: = a product of speech which acknowledges His character, authority and identity). [comment: here we see a life "in spirit and truth" referred to by Jesus in John 4:23-24]

¹⁹ Yet I am more exceedingly calling you alongside, urging and encouraging you to do (or: perform) this, to the end that I can (or: would) more quickly be restored (or: returned) to you.