This

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.

Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.

As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—

In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.

This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.

Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

…in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

…by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.

Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

…and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

…... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

…of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

But this is not the way you came to know Christ.

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

…without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.

All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.

I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

…that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

…so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.

For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.

Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.

…and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.

Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.

And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

…and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels

To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,

For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,

To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.

This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,

This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.

To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,