the opening of my mouth, that I may in boldness make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. 21 But that you also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known all 1 things to you: 22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know what concerns us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace to the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace with all those that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1 Paul and Timothy, servants | the fruit of righteousness, which is of Christ Jesus, to all the saints through Jesus Christ, to the glory in Christ Jesus, that are in Philippi, and praise of God. with the bishops and deacons. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 12 But I wish you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has turned out rather to the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that my 3 I thank my God on every re-bonds have become manifest in membrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 for your contribution for the gospel from the first day till now, 6 having confidence in this very thing, that he that began a good work in you will accomplish it till the day of Christ Jesus, 7 as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, that all of you are, both in my bonds and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray for this, that your love may abound yet more and more in all knowledge and understanding, 10 that you prove the things that are excellent, that you may be pure and without offense to the day of Christ, 11 having been filled with Christ in the whole of the pretorium, and in all other places, 14 and the greater number of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence in my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some both because of envy and strife, some also because of good will, preach Christ: 16 the one part from love, knowing that I am appointed to the defense of the gospel, 17 the other from contention announce Christ not sincerely, thinking to awake affliction to my bonds. 18 What then? Yet in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is announced, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice; 19 for I know that this will turn out to me for salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expecta tions and hope that in nothing shall I be ashamed, but in all boldness, as at all times, even now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if to live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my work, and what I shall choose I know not. 23 But I am in a strait between two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for this is far better: 24 yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your advancement, and the joy of your faith, 26 that your rejoicing may be abundant in Christ Jesus, in me, through my coming again to you. 27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you or be absent I shall hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and in nothing terrified by the adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and this from God; 29 for to you has been graciously given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 having the same contest which you saw in me and now hear to be in me. contention, neither according to vainglory, but in lowliness of mind esteeming one another better than yourselves, 4 not considering each of you your own things, but each of you also the things of others. 5 For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, 7 but he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, having been born in the likeness of men; and found in fashion as a man, 8 he humbled himself, having become obedient even to death, and the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also highly exalted him and gave him a name that is above every name, 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in the heavens and those on the earth and those under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling work out your own salvation; 13 for it is God that works in you both to will and to work for* his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God, un2 1 If therefore there is any rebukable in the midst of a crooked exhortation in Christ, if any and perverse generation, among comfort of love, if any fellowship whom you shine as lights in the of the Spirit, if any bowels and mer-world, 16 holding forth the word of cies, 2 fulfil my joy that you think life, for my rejoicing till the day the same thing, having the same of Christ, that I ran not in vain, love, being of one soul, thinking the one thing, 3 nothing according to *That is, because he is pleased so to do. neither labored in vain. 17 But if I am even poured out upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all; 18 and for the same do you also rejoice, and rejoice with me. 19 But I trust in the Lord to send Timothy to you soon, that I may be of good cheer by knowing of your affairs. 20 For I have no one of a like soul, who will sincerely care for your affairs; 21 for all seek their own, not the things of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know the proof of him, that as a child for a father he served with me for the gospel. 23 Him therefore I hope to send as soon as I know certainly of my matters; 24 but I have confidence in the Lord that I myself also will come soon. not burdensome, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil-workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though indeed I have confidence in the flesh. If any other one thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, according to law a Pharisee, 6 according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the rightcousness that is in law having been blameless. 7 But the things that were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yes, indeed, then I even count all things to be loss for the excellence of the for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them to be refuse, that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having my righteousness which is of law, but that through faith of Christ, the righteousness of God on faith, 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 25 But I thought it needful to send to you Epaphroditus, my knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, but your apostle and minister to my need, 26 because he was longing after you all and greatly grieved, because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For he was sick near to death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. 28 More diligently therefore did I send him, that on seeing him again you might rejoice and I be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor, 30 for because of the work he came near to death, not regarding his life, that he might fill up that which was wanting of your service to me. 3 12 Not that I have already grasped (the prize) or have already become perfect, but I am pursuing if I also may apprehend, because I was also apprehended by Christ. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; 14 but one thing I do; forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching myself forward to those that are before, I 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is press along the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this mind; and if as to anything you have a different mind, God will reveal even this to you; 16 but to what we have attained, walk by the same. God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever honorable, whatever right, whatever pure, whatever lovely, whatever of good report, if there is any virtue, and if any praise, think on these things; what things you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do; and the God of peace shall be with you. 17 Become imitators of me, brethren, and consider those that so walk, as you have us for an exam ple. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you, and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end greatly, that now at length you have is destruction, whose god is their flourished* in your care for me; in belly, and whose glory is in their which you also cared, but lacked shame, who mind earthly things. 20 opportunity. 11 Not that I speak For our commonwealth is in the in respect to want; for I have heavens, whence we look for a learned in what condition I am to Saviour, also the Lord Jesus Christ, be content. 12 I know how to 21 who shall transform the body of our humiliation, that it may be like the body of his glory, according to the energy of his ability, even to subdue all things to himself. 4 1 So then, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. be abased, I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things I have been instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer want. 13 I have strength for all things in him that gives me power. 14 Nevertheless you did well in communicating with my affliction. 15 But you also know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as to an account of giving and receiving, but you only; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need. 17 Not that I desire the 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: gift, but I desire fruit that may again I say: Rejoice. 5 Let your abound to your account. 18 But I moderation be known to all men: have all in full, and abound; I have the Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for been filled, having received of nothing, but in everything, by Epaphroditus your gifts, an odor of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of leaves. 2 I exhort Euodia and I exhort Syntyche, that they have the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, I beseech thee also, true yoke fellow, aid these women, who aided me in the gospel, with Clement also and the rest of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life. *A figure from the putting forth of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, 21 Salute every saint in Christ well-pleasing to God. 19 But my Jesus. The brethren that are with 22 All the saints salute you, but especially they of Cæsar's household. God will fill all your need according 1 me salute you. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS 1 Paul, an apostle of Christing forth fruit and increasing in Jesus through the will of God, the knowledge of God, 11 in all and Timothy the brother, 2 to the power made powerful according to saints that are in Colossæ and the the might of his glory for all pafaithful brethren in Christ. Grace tience and longsuffering, with joy, to you and peace from God our 12 giving thanks to the Father who Father. made us fit for the portion of the inheritance of the saints in light, 13 who delivered us from the authority of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, 14 in whom we have redemption, the remission of sins, 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, 16 for in him were all things created that are in the heavens and that are on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or lordships, or principalities or authorities: all things have been created through him and for him, 17 and he is before all things, and all things in him consist; 18 and he is the head of the body, and the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he himself might become in all things pre-eminent; 19 for he was well pleased that all the fulness should dwell in him 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether 3 We thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope that is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which is present among you, as also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit and increasing as also among you, from the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 as you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is faithful in behalf of you, a minister of Christ, 8 who also made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9 Wherefore we also, from the day we heard, cease not to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to all pleasing, in every good work bring |