Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while our home is in the body, we are absent from our home with the Lord.

And in this confidence we would gladly leave our home in the body, and make our home with the Lord.

Therefore, whether in our home or absent from our home, our one ambition is to please him.

And that he died for all, so that the living should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose for them.

Him who never knew sin God made to be Sin, on our behalf; so that we, through union with him, might become the Righteousness of God.

Although I have been boasting a little to him about you, you did not put me to shame; but, just as every thing we had said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has also proved to be the truth.

And his affection for you is all the greater, as he remembers the deference that you all showed him, and recalls how you received him with anxious care.

We are sending with him the Brother whose fame in the service of the Good News has spread through all the Churches;

'Let him who boasts make his boast of the Lord.'

For, if some new-comer is proclaiming a Jesus other than him whom we proclaimed, or if you are receiving a Spirit different from the Spirit which you received, or a Good News different from that which you welcomed, then you are marvelously tolerant!

I urged Titus to go, and I sent our Brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we live in the same Spirit, and tread in the same footsteps?

For though his crucifixion was due to weakness, his life is due to the power of God. And we, also, are weak in his weakness, but with him we shall live for you through the power of God.

To the churches in Galatia, from Paul, an Apostle whose commission is not from men and is given, not by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead;

I am astonished at your so soon deserting him, who called you through the love of Christ, for a different 'Good News,'

Saw fit to reveal his Son in me, so that I might tell the Good News of him among the Gentiles, then at once, instead of consulting any human being,

Three years afterwards I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter, and I stayed a fortnight with him.

But, when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face; for he stood self-condemned.

But the words of Scripture represent the whole world as being in bondage to sin, so that the promised blessing, dependent, as it is, upon faith in Jesus Christ, may be given to those who have faith in him.

My point is this--As long as the heir is under age, there is no difference between him and a slave, though he is master of the whole estate.

But now that you have found God--or, rather, have been found by him--how is it that you are turning back to that poor and feeble puerile teaching, to which yet once again you are wanting to become slaves?

The persuasion brought to bear on you does not come from him who calls you.

Brothers, even if a man should be caught committing a sin, you who are spiritually minded should, in a gentle spirit, help him to recover himself, taking care lest any one of you also should be tempted.

He, however, who is being instructed in the Message ought always to share his blessings with the man who instructs him.

To Christ's People [AT EPHESUS] who are faithful to him, from Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.

For in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offenses.

In view of that Divine Order which was to mark the completion of the ages, when he should make everything, both in Heaven and on earth, center in him.

In him, I say, for by our union with him we became God's Heritage, having from the first been destined for this in the intention of him who, in all that happens, is carrying out his own fixed purpose;

And you, too, by your union with him, after you had heard the Message of the Truth, the Good News of your Salvation--you believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the holy Spirit, which he had promised.

And the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him.

The same mighty power was exerted upon the Christ, when he raised the Christ from the dead and 'caused him to sit at his right hand' on high, exalting him above all Angels and Archangels of every rank,

And God placed 'all things under Christ's feet,' and gave him to the Church as its supreme Head;

For the Church is Christ's Body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence.

And, through our union with Christ Jesus, God raised us with him, and caused us to sit with him on high,

For it is through him that we, the Jews and the Gentiles, united in the one Spirit, are now able to approach the Father.

United in him, every part of the building, closely joined together, will grow into a Temple, consecrated by its union with the Lord.

And, through union in him, you also are being built up together, to be a dwelling-place for God through the Spirit.

And in union with him, and through our trust in him, we find courage to approach God with confidence.

So that the Christ, through your faith, may make his home within your hearts in love; And I pray that you, now firmly rooted and established, may, with all Christ's People,

To him who, through his power which is at work within us, is able to do far more than anything that we can ask or conceive--

To him be all glory through the Church and through Christ Jesus, for all generations, age after age. Amen.

But holding the truth in a spirit of love, we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head--Christ himself.

For from him the whole Body, closely joined and knit together by the contact of every part with the source of its life, derives its power to grow, in proportion to the vigor of each individual part; and so is being built up in a spirit of love.

But far different is the lesson you learned from the Christ-- if, that is, you really listened to him,

And through union with him were taught the Truth, as it is to be found in Jesus.

Let the man who steals steal no longer, but rather let him toil with his hands at honest work, so that he may have something to share with any one in want.

For of this you may be sure--that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

And submit to one another from reverence for him.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same spirit. Give up threatening them; for you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and that before him there is no distinction of rank.

I am sending him to you on purpose that you may learn all about us, and that he may cheer your hearts.

It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of Jealousy and opposition; but there are others who proclaim him from good- will.

For, on behalf of Christ, you have had the privilege granted you, not only of trusting in him, but also of suffering on his behalf.

And that is why God raised him to the very highest place, and gave him the Name which stands above all other names,

For I have no one but him to send--no one of kindred spirit who would take the same genuine interest in your welfare.

And I can assure you that his illness very nearly proved fatal. But God had pity on him, and not on him only but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

I am all the more ready, therefore, to send him, so that the sight of him may revive your spirits and my own sorrow be lightened.

Give him, then, the heartiest of Christian welcomes, and hold such men in great honour.

More than that, I count everything as loss, for the sake of the exceeding value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. And for his sake I have lost everything, and count it as refuse, if I may but gain Christ and be found in union with him;

In the hope that, if I become like him in death, I may possibly attain to the resurrection from the dead.

I can do everything in the strength of him who makes me strong!

To him, our God and Father, be ascribed all glory for every and ever. Amen.

To Christ's People at Colossae--the Brothers who are faithful to him: May God, our Father, bless you and give you peace.

For in him was created all that is in Heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible--Angels and Archangels and all the Powers of Heaven.

All has been created through him and for him. He was before all things, and all things unite in him;

For it pleased the Father that in him the divine nature in all its fulness should dwell,

And through him to reconcile all things to himself (making peace by the shedding of Christ's blood offered upon the cross)-- whether on earth or in Heaven.

And it pleased God that you, once estranged from him and hostile towards him in your thoughts, intent only on wickedness--

Since, therefore, you have received Jesus, the Christ, as your Lord, live your lives in union with him--

Rooted in him, building up your characters through union with him, growing stronger through your faith, as you were taught, overflowing with faith and thanksgiving.

And, by your union with him, you also are filled with it. He is the Head of all Archangels and Powers of Heaven.

By your union with him you received a circumcision that was not performed by human hands, when you threw off the tyranny of the earthly body, and received the circumcision of the Christ.

For in baptism you were buried with Christ; and in baptism you were also raised to Life with him, through your faith in the omnipotence of God, who raised him from the dead.

When the Christ, who is our Life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

And clothe yourselves with that new self, which, as it gains in knowledge, is being constantly renewed 'in resemblance to him who made it.'

Therefore, as God's People, consecrated and dear to him, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindliness, humility, gentleness, forbearance;

Let the Message of the Christ dwell in your minds in all its wealth, bringing all wisdom with it. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs, full of the loving- kindness of God, lifting your hearts in song to him.

And, whatever you say or do, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus; and through him offer thanksgiving to God the father.

I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement.

With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful Brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.

My fellow-prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his greeting, and Barnabas's cousin, Mark, sends his. (You have received directions about him. If he comes to you, make him welcome.)

Because the Good News that we brought came home to you, not merely as so many words, but with a power and a fulness of conviction due to the Holy Spirit. For you know the life that we lived among you for your good.

For, as we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring, with Jesus, those who through him have passed to their rest.

That, whether we are still watching or have fallen asleep, we may live with him.

When he comes to be honour ed in his People,' and to be revered in all who have learned to believe in him (for you also believed our testimony)--as he will be on 'That Day.'

Then, in the loving-kindness of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, will the name of Jesus, our Lord, be honour ed in you, and you in him.

As to the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered to meet him, we beg you, Brothers,

Then will 'Wickedness Incarnate' appear, but the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his lips, and annihilate him by the splendor of his Coming.

Yet do not think of him as an enemy, but caution him as you would a Brother.

Yet mercy was shown me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterwards to believe on him and attain Immortal Life.

Do not reprimand an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers,

Do not, therefore, be ashamed of the testimony which we have to bear to our Lord, nor yet of me who am a prisoner for him; but join with me in suffering for the Good News, as far as God enables you.

It was God who saved us, and from him we received our solemn Call--not as a reward for anything that we had done, but in fulfillment of his own loving purpose. For that love was extended to us, through Christ Jesus, before time began,

That is why I am undergoing these sufferings; yet I feel no shame, for I know in whom I have put my faith, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until 'That Day.'

If we continue to endure, we shall also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us.

There is no one but Luke with me. Pick up Mark on your way, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in my work.

Alexander, the coppersmith, showed much ill-feeling towards me. 'The Lord will give him what his actions deserve.'

Do you also, be on your guard against him, for he is strongly opposed to our teaching.

The Lord will rescue me from all evil, and bring me safe into his Heavenly Kingdom. All glory to him for ever and ever! Amen.

They profess to know God, but by their actions they disown him. They are degraded and self-willed; and, as far as anything good is concerned, they are utterly worthless.

If a man is causing divisions among you, after warning him once or twice, have nothing more to say to him.

Yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you--yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well.