Set your affection on things that are above, and not on things which are on the earth.

Lie not one to another, that the old man with his works be put off,

and the new put on; which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that made him:

and the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which peace ye are called in one body: and see that ye be thankful.

Children, obey your fathers and mothers, in all things, for that is well pleasing unto the Lord.

forasmuch as ye know that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ.

But he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done: for there is no respect of persons.

Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, seeing ye know that ye have also a master in heaven.

praying also for us, that God open unto us the door of utterance, that we may speak the mystery of Christ - wherefore I am in bonds -

that I may utter it, as it becometh me to speak.

Walk wisely to them that are without, and redeem the time.

Let your speech be always well favoured and be powdered with salt, that ye may know how to answer every man.

whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know how ye do, and might comfort your hearts,

Epaphras the servant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, and always laboureth fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect, and full in all that is the will of God.

I bear him record that he hath a fervent mind toward you, and toward them of Laodicea and them of Hierapolis.

And when the epistle is read of you, make that it be read in the congregation of the Laodiceans also: and that ye likewise read the epistle of Laodicea.

And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the office that thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."

because we know brethren beloved of God, how that ye are elect.

so that ye were an example to all that believe in Macedonia, and Achaia.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not in Macedonia and in Achaia only: but your faith also which ye have unto God, spread herself abroad in all quarters, so greatly that it needeth not us to speak anything at all:

For ye yourselves brethren know of our entrance in unto you, how that it was not in vain:

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

but as we were allowed of God, that the gospel should be committed unto us: even so we speak, not as though we intended to please men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Ye are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

as ye know how that we exhorted and comforted, and besought every one of you, as a father his children,

that ye would walk worthy of God, which hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For this cause thank we God without ceasing, because that when ye received of us the word, wherewith God was preached, ye received it not as the word of man: but even as it was, indeed, the word of God; which worketh in you that believe.

and forbid us to preach unto the gentiles, that they might be saved, to fulfill their sins always: For the wrath of God is come on them, even to the utmost.

that no man should be moved in these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are even appointed thereunto.

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

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent that I might have knowledge of your faith, lest haply the tempter had tempted you, and that our labour had been bestowed in vain.

But now lately when Timothy came from you unto us and declared to us your faith, and your love, and how that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, as we desire to see you.

For what thanks can we recompense to God again for you, over all the joy that we joy for your sakes before our God,

while we night and day pray exceedingly, that we might see you presently, and might fulfill that which is lacking in your faith.

to make your hearts that they might be stable and unblamable in holiness before God our father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints.

Furthermore, we beseech you brethren, and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that ye increase more and more, even as ye have received of us, how ye ought to walk and to please God.

For this is the will of God, even that ye should be holy, and that ye should abstain from fornication,

that every one of you should know how to keep his vessel in holiness and honour,

that no man go too far and defraud his brother in bargaining, because the Lord is avenger of all such things: as we told you before time, and testified unto you.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, which hath sent his holy spirit among you.

But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you. For ye are taught of God to love one another.

Yea, and that thing verily ye do unto all the brethren, which are throughout all Macedonia. We beseech you brethren that ye increase, more and more,

and that ye study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you:

that ye may behave yourselves honestly toward them that are without and that nothing be lacking unto you.

I would not, brethren, have you ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleep, that ye sorrow not as others do which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again: even so them also which sleep by Jesus, will God bring again with him.

And this say we unto you in the word of the Lord, that we which live and are remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not come before they which sleep.

Of the times and seasons brethren ye have no need that I write unto you:

for ye your selves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord shall come even as a thief in the night.

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

For they that sleep, sleep in the night: and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night.

which died for us: that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

We beseech you brethren, that ye know them which labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the Lord,

and give you exhortation, that ye have them the more in love: For their work's sake, and be at peace with them.

We desire you brethren warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, forbear the weak, have continual patience toward all men.

See that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Examine all things, and keep that which is good.

The very God of peace sanctify you throughout. And I pray God that your whole spirit, soul, and body, be kept faultless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I charge you in the Lord, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and every one of you swimmeth in love toward another between yourselves,

so that we ourselves rejoice of you in the congregations of God, over your patience and faith in all your persecutions, and tribulations that ye suffer:

which is a token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye are counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.

It is verily a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you,

in flaming fire, rendering vengeance unto them that know not God, and to them that obey not unto the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,

when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made marvelous in all them that believe: because our testimony that we had unto you, was believed even the same day that we preached it.

Wherefore, we pray always for you that our God make you worthy of the calling, and fulfill all delectation of goodness, and the work of faith, with power:

that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, through the grace of our God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in that we shall assemble unto him,

that ye be not suddenly moved from your mind, and be not troubled; neither by spirit, neither by words, nor yet by letter, which should seem to come from us, as though the day of Christ were at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means, for the Lord cometh not, except there come a departing first, and that that sinful man be opened, the son of perdition;

which is an adversary, and is exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: so that he shall sit as God in the temple of God, and show himself as God.

Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

And now ye know what withholdeth: even that he might be uttered at his time.

For the mystery of that iniquity doth he already work, which only looketh, till he be taken out of the way

and then shall that wicked be uttered, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the appearance of his coming,

and in all deceivableness of unrighteousness, among them that perish: because they received not the love of the truth, that they might have been saved.

And therefore God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe lies:

that all they might be damned which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, for because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctifying of the spirit; And through believing the truth:

whereunto he called you by our gospel, to obtain the glory that cometh of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, brethren, pray for us, that the word of God may have free passage, and be glorified, as it is with you:

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men. For all men have not faith:

We have confidence through the Lord to you ward, that ye both do, and will do, that which we command you.

We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us.

not but that we had authority: but to make ourselves an example unto you, to follow us.

For when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any which would not work, that the same should not eat.

We have heard say, no doubt, that there are some which walk among you inordinately, and work not at all, but are busybodies.

Them that are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness, and eat their own bread.

If any man obey not our sayings, send us word of him by a letter: and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed:

As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus when I departed into Macedonia; even so, do: that thou command some that they teach no other wise,

For the end of the commandment is love that cometh of a pure heart and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

We know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

understanding this, how that the law is not given unto a righteous man, but unto the unrighteous and disobedient, to the ungodly and to sinners, to unholy and unclean, to murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, to manslayers

and whoremongers; to them that defile themselves with mankind; to menstealers; to liars and to perjured, and so forth if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholesome doctrine

This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief:

for this cause was mercy given unto me, that Jesus Christ should first show on me all long patience, unto the example of them which shall, in time to come, believe on him unto eternal life.

This commandment commit I unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which in time past were prophesied of thee, that thou in them shouldest fight a good fight,

Of whose number is Hymenaeus, and Alexander, which I have delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

I exhort therefore that above all things, prayers, supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be had for all men:

for kings, and for all that are in authority that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.