Reference: Ephesians, Epistle To
Easton
was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles.
Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute certain theosophic errors that had crept into the church there. That to the Ephesians does not seem to have originated in any special circumstances, but is simply a letter springing from Paul's love to the church there, and indicative of his earnest desire that they should be fully instructed in the profound doctrines of the gospel. It contains (1) the salutation (Eph 1:1-2); (2) a general description of the blessings the gospel reveals, as to their source, means by which they are attained, purpose for which they are bestowed, and their final result, with a fervent prayer for the further spiritual enrichment of the Ephesians (Eph 1:3-2:10); (3) "a record of that marked change in spiritual position which the Gentile believers now possessed, ending with an account of the writer's selection to and qualification for the apostolate of heathendom, a fact so considered as to keep them from being dispirited, and to lead him to pray for enlarged spiritual benefactions on his absent sympathizers" (Eph 2:12-3:21); (4) a chapter on unity as undisturbed by diversity of gifts (Eph 4:1-16); (5) special injunctions bearing on ordinary life (Eph 4:17-6:10); (6) the imagery of a spiritual warfare, mission of Tychicus, and valedictory blessing (Eph 6:11-24).
Planting of the church at Ephesus. Paul's first and hurried visit for the space of three months to Ephesus is recorded in Ac 18:19-21. The work he began on this occasion was carried forward by Apollos (Ac 18:24-26) and Aquila and Priscilla. On his second visit, early in the following year, he remained at Ephesus "three years," for he found it was the key to the western provinces of Asia Minor. Here "a great door and effectual" was opened to him (1Co 16:9), and the church was established and strengthened by his assiduous labours there (Ac 20:20,31). From Ephesus as a centre the gospel spread abroad "almost throughout all Asia" (Ac 19:26). The word "mightily grew and prevailed" despite all the opposition and persecution he encountered.
On his last journey to Jerusalem the apostle landed at Miletus, and summoning together the elders of the church from Ephesus, delivered to them his remarkable farewell charge (Ac 20:18-35), expecting to see them no more.
The following parallels between this epistle and the Milesian charge may be traced:
(1.) Ac 20:19 = Eph 4:2. The phrase "lowliness of mind" occurs nowhere else.
(2.) Ac 20:27 = Eph 1:11. The word "counsel," as denoting the divine plan, occurs only here and Heb 6:17.
(3.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 3:20. The divine ability.
(4.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 2:20. The building upon the foundation.
(5.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 1:14,18. "The inheritance of the saints."
Place and date of the writing of the letter. It was evidently written from Rome during Paul's first imprisonment (Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20), and probably soon after his arrival there, about the year 62, four years after he had parted with the Ephesian elders at Miletus. The subscription of this epistle is correct.
There seems to have been no special occasion for the writing of this letter, as already noted. Paul's object was plainly not polemical. No errors had sprung up in the church which he sought to point out and refute. The object of the apostle is "to set forth the ground, the cause, and the aim and end of the church of the faithful in Christ. He speaks to the Ephesians as a type or sample of the church universal." The church's foundations, its course, and its end, are his theme. "Everywhere the foundation of the church is the will of the Father; the course of the church is by the satisfaction of the Son; the end of the church is the life in the Holy Spirit." In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul writes from the point of view of justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ; here he writes from the point of view specially of union to the Redeemer, and hence of the oneness of the true church of Christ. "This is perhaps the profoundest book in existence." It is a book "which sounds the lowest depths of Christian doctrine, and scales the loftiest heights of Christian experience;" and the fact that the apostle evidently expected the Ephesians to understand it is an evidence of the "proficiency which Paul's converts had attained under his preaching at Ephesus."
Relation between this epistle and that to the Colossians (q.v.). "The letters of the apostle are the fervent outburst of pastoral zeal and attachment, written without reserve and in unaffected simplicity; sentiments come warm from the heart, without the shaping out, pruning, and punctilious arrangement of a formal discourse. There is such a fresh and familiar transcription of feeling, so frequent an introduction of coloquial idiom, and so much of conversational frankness and vivacity, that the reader associates the image of the writer with every paragraph, and the ear seems to catch and recognize the very tones of living address." "Is it then any matter of amazement that one letter should resemble another, or that two written about the same time should have so much in common and so much that is peculiar? The close relation as to style and subject between the epistles to Colosse and Ephesus must strike every reader. Their precise relation to each other has given rise to much discussion. The great probability is that the epistle to Colosse was first written; the parallel passages in Ephesians, which amount to about forty-two in number, having the appearance of being expansions from the epistle to Colosse. Compare:
The style of this epistle is exceedingly animated, and corresponds with the state of the apostle's mind at the time of writing. Overjoyed with the account which their messenger had brought him of their faith and holiness (Eph 1:15), and transported with the consideration of the unsearchable wisdom of God displayed in the work of man's redemption, and of his astonishing love towards the Gentiles in making them partakers through faith of all the benefits of Christ's death, he soars high in his sentiments on those grand subjects, and gives his thoughts utterance in sublime and copious expression.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So they arrived at Ephesus, and those he left behind there, but he himself entered into the synagogue [and] discussed with the Jews. And [when] they asked [him] to stay for a longer time, he did not give his consent, read more. but saying farewell and telling [them], "I will return to you again [if] God wills," he set sail from Ephesus.
Now a certain Jew {named} Apollos, {a native} Alexandrian, arrived in Ephesus--an eloquent man who was well-versed in the scriptures. This man had been instructed [in] the way of the Lord, and being enthusiastic in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the [things] about Jesus, [although he] knew only the baptism of John. read more. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but [when] Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this man Paul has persuaded [and] turned away a large crowd [by] saying that the [gods] made by hands are not gods.
And when they came to him, he said to them, "You know from the first day on which I set foot in Asia how I was the whole time with you-- serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews--
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews-- how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and [from] teaching you in public and from house [to house],
how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and [from] teaching you in public and from house [to house], testifying both to Jews and to Greeks with respect to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. read more. "And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me {there}, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in town [after town], saying that bonds and persecutions await me. But I consider [my] life [as] worth {nothing} to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify [to] the gospel of the grace of God. "And now behold, I know that all [of] you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you on this very day that I am guiltless of the blood of all [of you], for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole purpose of God.
for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you [as] overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own [Son]. read more. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among you yourselves men will arise, speaking {perversions of the truth} in order to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day [for] three years I did not stop warning each one [of you] with tears.
Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day [for] three years I did not stop warning each one [of you] with tears. "And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build [you] up and to give [you] the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
"And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build [you] up and to give [you] the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
"And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build [you] up and to give [you] the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
"And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build [you] up and to give [you] the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have desired no one's silver or gold or clothing! read more. You yourselves know that these hands served [to meet] my needs and [the needs of] those who were with me. I have shown you [with respect to] all [things] that [by] working hard in this way it is necessary to help those who are in need, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
for a great and effective door has opened for me, and [there are] many opponents.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,
for the administration of the fullness of times, to bring together all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him in whom also we were chosen, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all [things] according to the counsel of his will,
who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. Because of this I also, hearing of {your faith} in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
(the eyes of your hearts having been enlightened), so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what [are] the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles --if indeed you have heard [about] the stewardship of God's grace given to me for you.
Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us,
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to live in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called:
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to live in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; one body and one Spirit (just as also you were called with one hope of your calling),
one body and one Spirit (just as also you were called with one hope of your calling), one Lord, one faith, one baptism, read more. one God and Father of all, who [is] over all, and through all, and in all. Now to each one of us was given this grace, according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "Ascending on high he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men." Now "he ascended," what is [it], except that he also descended to the lower regions of the earth? The one who descended himself is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all [things]. And he himself gave some [as] apostles and some [as] prophets and some [as] evangelists and some [as] pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed about by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of people, by craftiness with reference to the scheming of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him [with reference to] all [things], who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.
from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.
[that] you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, read more. and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.
Become kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these [things] the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be sharers with them, read more. for you were formerly darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Live like children of light
Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil.
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and singing praise in your heart to the Lord,
Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. read more. Because of this, take up the full armor of God, in order that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand therefore, girding your waist with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, and binding [shoes] under your feet with the preparation of the good news of peace, in everything taking up the shield of faith, with which you are able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one, and receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this [end] being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that a word may be given to me at the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
and for me, that a word may be given to me at the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for the sake of which I am an ambassador in chains, that {in them} I may speak freely, as it is necessary for me to speak.
for the sake of which I am an ambassador in chains, that {in them} I may speak freely, as it is necessary for me to speak.
for the sake of which I am an ambassador in chains, that {in them} I may speak freely, as it is necessary for me to speak. Now, so that you also may know {my circumstances}, what I am doing, Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all [things], read more. whom I have sent to you for this very [reason], that you may know {our circumstances}, and he may encourage your hearts.
whom I have sent to you for this very [reason], that you may know {our circumstances}, and he may encourage your hearts. Peace to the brothers and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. read more. Grace [be] with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins,
and through him to reconcile all [things] to himself, [by] making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
of which I became a minister, according to God's stewardship which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God,
having been buried with him in baptism, in which also you were raised together with [him] through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And {although you were dead} in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by the ligaments and sinews, grows with the growth of God.
because of which the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which also you once lived, when you used to live in them. read more. But now you also lay aside all [these] things: anger, rage, wickedness, slander, abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, [because you] have taken off the old man together with his deeds, and have put on the new [man] that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him,
Therefore, as [the] chosen of God, holy and [dearly] loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you [do the same].
putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you [do the same]. And to all these [things] [add] love, which is [the] bond of perfection. read more. And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, [and] spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God,
praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also {I am a prisoner}, so that I may reveal it, as it is necessary for me to speak. read more. Live with wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the time.
whom I have sent to you for this very [reason], in order that you may know {our circumstances} and he may encourage your hearts,
In the same way God, [because he] wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed [it] with an oath,
Hastings
This Epistle belongs to the group of Epistles of the Captivity, and was almost certainly, if genuine, written from Rome, and sent by Tychicus at the same time as the Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (see Colossians).
1. Destination.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
that in everything you were made rich in him, in all speech and all knowledge,
but we speak the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew. For if they had known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. read more. But just as it is written, "[Things] which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him." For to us God has revealed [them] through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all [things], even the depths of God.
For to us God has revealed [them] through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all [things], even the depths of God. For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man that [is] in him? Thus also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon [it]. But each one must direct his attention to how he is building upon [it]. read more. For no one is able to lay another foundation than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Because [there is] one bread, [we] who [are] many are one body, for [we] all share from the one bread.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit,
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord, read more. and there are varieties of activities, but the same God, who works all [things] in all [people].
For just as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, [although they] are many, are one body, thus also Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free [persons], and all were made to drink one Spirit. read more. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not [a part] of the body," not because of this is it not [a part] of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not [a part] of the body, not because of this is it not [a part] of the body.
and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues.
then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For it is necessary for him to reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. read more. The last enemy to be abolished [is] death. For "he subjected all [things] under his feet." But when it says "all [things]" are subjected, [it is] clear that the one who subjected all [things] to him [is] not included. But whenever all [things] are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected all [things] to him, in order that God may be all in all.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus:
for the administration of the fullness of times, to bring together all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him
in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. read more. Because of this I also, hearing of {your faith} in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, {the glorious Father}, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him
which he has worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating [him] at his right hand in the heavenly [places],
which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all [things] in every [way].
in order that he might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.
Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in [the] flesh, the so-called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision in [the] flesh, made by hands, that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world.
and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself.
because through him [we] both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
because through him [we] both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, read more. built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built up together into a dwelling place of God in [the] Spirit.
(which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit): [that] the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
in order that the many-sided wisdom of God might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly [places] through the church, according to the purpose of the ages which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Therefore I ask [you] not to be discouraged at my afflictions on behalf of you, which are your glory.
that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to live in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, read more. being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; one body and one Spirit (just as also you were called with one hope of your calling), read more. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who [is] over all, and through all, and in all. Now to each one of us was given this grace, according to the measure of Christ's gift.
And he himself gave some [as] apostles and some [as] prophets and some [as] evangelists and some [as] pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, read more. until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,
from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.
Therefore, putting aside the lie, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, read more. nor give place to the devil. The one who steals must steal no longer, but instead must labor, working with his own hands [what is] good, so that he may have [something] to share with the one who has need. {No rotten word must proceed} from your mouth, but only something good for the building up of the need, in order that it may give grace to those who hear, and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, and rage, and wrath, and clamor, and abusive speech, must be removed from you, together with all wickedness. read more. Become kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.
and live in love, just as also Christ loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant smell.
and live in love, just as also Christ loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant smell.
(for the fruit of the light [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
--wives to their own husbands as to the Lord, because [the] husband is [the] head of the wife, as also Christ [is the] head of the church (he himself [being the] Savior of the body). read more. But as the church is subject to Christ, thus also wives [should be subject] to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her;
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her; in order that he might sanctify her by cleansing [her] with the washing of water by the word;
in order that he might sanctify her by cleansing [her] with the washing of water by the word; in order that he might present to himself the church glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such [thing], but that she may be holy and blameless.
in order that he might present to himself the church glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such [thing], but that she may be holy and blameless.
And masters, do the same [things] to them, giving up threats, knowing that both their Lord and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. Finally, become strong in the Lord and in the might of his strength. read more. Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. Because of this, take up the full armor of God, in order that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
Because of this, take up the full armor of God, in order that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand therefore, girding your waist with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, read more. and binding [shoes] under your feet with the preparation of the good news of peace, in everything taking up the shield of faith, with which you are able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one, and receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this [end] being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this [end] being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
Now, so that you also may know {my circumstances}, what I am doing, Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all [things], whom I have sent to you for this very [reason], that you may know {our circumstances}, and he may encourage your hearts.
Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear {your circumstances}, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear {your circumstances}, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Therefore also God exalted him and graciously granted him the name above every name,
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not [put] confidence in the flesh,
For our commonwealth exists in heaven, from which also we eagerly await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
But I have received everything [in full] and have an abundance; {I am well supplied} [because] I received from Epaphroditus {what you had sent}, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
And whenever this letter is read among you, {see to it} that it is read also among the Laodicean church, and that you also read the [letter] from Laodicea.
as [he does] also in all his letters, speaking in them about these [things], in which there are some [things] hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, as [they] also [do] the rest of the scriptures.
And all those who live on the earth will worship him, {everyone whose name is not written} from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them [are] twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.