For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them.

Wherefore, remember, that ye were once the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands,

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

by setting aside the Law with its commandments, expressed, as they were, in definite decrees. His design was to unite the two sections of humanity in Himself so as to form one new man,

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],

if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

That ye were to strip off - as regardeth the former behaviour - the old man, who corrupteth himself according to his deceitful covetings,

And were to be getting young again in the spirit of your mind,

And were to put on the man of new mould, who, after God, hath been created in his truthful righteousness and loving kindness.

For this reason, laying aside falsehood, every one of you should speak the truth to his fellow man; for we are, as it were, parts of one another.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

That is how husbands ought to love their wives--as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself;

because we are, as it were, parts of His Body.

However, for you individually, let each love his wife as if she were himself; and the wife be careful to respect her husband.

Slaves, be obedient to your earthly masters, with respect and eager anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ.

not in the way of eye-service [working only when someone is watching you and only] to please men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart;

Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people,

[This letter is from] Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, [and is being sent] to all the saints [i.e., God's holy people] who are at Philippi [Note: This is a town in present-day northeastern Greece, and the first place in Europe where Paul established Christianity], along with the overseers [Note: These men were also called elders, shepherds or pastors] and deacons.

As it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, who were all partakers of my grace, both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel.

So that my bonds in Christ were manifest in the whole pretorium, and to all the rest;

I am held in constraint, however, by reason of the two, - having, the coveting, to be released, and to be with, Christ, for it were far better!

Do nothing out of a spirit of contention, or for vain-glory, but modestly look upon others as if they were better than yourselves.

Therefore, my dearly-loved friends, as I have always found you obedient, labour earnestly with fear and trembling--not merely as though I were present with you, but much more now since I am absent from you--labour earnestly, I say, to make sure of your own salvation.

because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to provide me with what you were not able to.

Watch out for the "dogs!" [Note: "Dogs" were viewed with disgust by the ancient Jews (Deut. 23:18; II Kings 8:13; Rev. 22:15), so the term is used here derogatorily for Jewish Christians who were trying to impose on the church the requirements of the law of Moses]. Watch out for the evil workers! Watch out for those who mutilate the body meaninglessly! [Note: Paul here alludes, in a derogatory wordplay, to the Jewish practice of circumcision].

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak as if I were in want, for at least have learned how to be content, whatever happens.

But you were kind enough to take your share in my trouble.

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

He is the likeness of the unseen God, born first before all the creation ??16 for it was by him that all things were created both in heaven and on earth, both the seen and the unseen, including Thrones, angelic Lords, celestial Powers and Rulers; all things have been created by him and for him;

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins,

having erased the charges that were brought against us, along with their obligations that were hostile to us. He took those charges away when he nailed them to the cross.

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.

These were a shadow of things that were soon to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

If you were made free, by your death with Christ, from the rules of the world, why do you put yourselves under the authority of orders

which yet were all made to be consumed for our use, notwithstanding the injunctions and doctrines of men:

If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ].

[In this state] there cannot be [such distinctions as] Greek [i.e., Gentile] and Jew; circumcised people and non-circumcised people; barbarian and Scythian [Note: These last two words refer to foreigners whose language was unintelligible and who were uncivilized heathens], or slave and free person; but Christ is all [that is important] and [He is] in all [of His people].

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Slaves, practice obedience to your earthly masters in everything, not as though they were watching you and as though you were merely pleasing men, but with sincerity of heart, because you fear the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].

and Jesus which is called Justus, which are of the circumcision. These only are my workfellows unto the kingdom of God, which were unto my consolation.

Give this message to Archippus--'Take care to discharge to the best of your ability the office to which you were appointed in the Master's Cause.'

We know, my brothers who are dearly loved by God, about your election [i.e., that you were chosen by God because of your obedient faith],

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

and you imitated us, and were imitators of the Lord, having receiv'd the word, notwithstanding all your afflictions, with that alacrity, which the holy spirit inspires.

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

For they themselves give the news of how we came among you; and how you were turned from images to God, to the worship of a true and living God,

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;

[And] we were not looking for honor from people, either from you or from anyone else, even though, as apostles of Christ, we could have become a burden [to you]. [Note: The idea seems to be that the apostles could have claimed financial support, but chose not to].

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

You yourselves are witnesses--and God is witness--how holy and upright and blameless our dealings with you believers were.

Even as you saw how, like a father with his children, we were teaching and comforting you all, and giving witness,

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same [kind of] persecution from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews,

But since we were taken away from you, believers, for a little while—in person, but not in heart—we endeavored, with great longing to see you face to face.

At last our desire to have news of you was so strong that, while we ourselves were waiting at Athens,

so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions, for which you are aware that we were destined.

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure the suspense, I sent someone to find out about your faith [how you were holding up under pressure], for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our work [among you] would prove to be ineffective.

But, Timothy having just now come to us from you, and having brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us at all times, longing to see us, as we also to see you??7 for this reason, brethren, we were comforted over you, in all our tribulation and distress, through your faith;

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

for now we [really] live, if you [continue to] stand firm in [the service of] the Lord [i.e., Paul could enjoy life much more in knowing that the Thessalonians were living for the Lord faithfully].

not in the affection of desire, as also the nations that were not knowing God,

But ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should come on you as it were a thief.

But we urge you, brothers, to know [i.e., appreciate and respect] those who work hard among you, and who lead you and warn you in [the fellowship of] the Lord. [Note: These men were probably the elders. See Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17].

that ye be not soon shaken in mind, nor troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as if it were by us, as that the day of the Lord is present.

[for] he opposes [the true Gospel message] and exalts himself against everything that is called "God" or that which is worshiped. So, he sits in God's temple [i.e., the church ?] displaying himself as [though he were] God.

Do you not remember that [while] we were still with you, we were saying these [things] to you?

And with every deceit of wrongdoing among those whose fate is destruction; because they were quite without that love of the true faith by which they might have salvation.

that they may be judged -- all who did not believe the truth, but were well pleased in the unrighteousness.

But we ought to thank God for you always, brothers [who are] dearly loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning [Note: Some manuscripts use the Greek word for "firstfruits" instead of "beginning" here, but it is difficult to know in what sense the Thessalonian Christians were "first"], in order to be saved through being set apart by the Holy Spirit and through belief of the truth [of the Gospel].

And in this purpose he gave you a part through the good news of which we were the preachers, even that you might have part in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],

nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, [we were] working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you,

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

by one who recognizes that laws were not made for good men, but for the lawless and disorderly, for irreligious and wicked people, for those who are irreverent and profane, for those who ill-treat their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.

This is the charge which I entrust to you, my son Timothy, in accordance with the inspired instructions concerning you which were given me long ago, that being equipped with them as your armour you may be continually fighting the good fight,

If you represent these things to the brethren, you will appear to be a true minister of Jesus Christ, brought up in the institutions of faith, and the true doctrine to which you were attach'd.

Do not be careless about the gifts with which you are endowed, which were conferred on you through a divine revelation when the hands of the elders were placed upon you.

Never administer a sharp reprimand to a man older than yourself; but entreat him as if he were your father, and the younger men as brothers;

In noble works, being well-attested; - if she hath nourished children, if she hath shewn hospitality, if, saints feet, she hath washed, if, them who were in tribulation, she hath succoured, if, in every good, work she hath followed on: