(This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

[because you] know that each one of you, whatever good he should do, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

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.

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,

whom I have sent to you for this very [reason], that you may know {our circumstances}, and he may encourage your hearts.

convinced of this same [thing], that the one who began a good work in you will finish [it] until the day of Christ Jesus,

just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, [since] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you are sharers of grace with me.

And this I pray: that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

{What is the result?} Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But also I will rejoice,

for I know that this will turn out to me for deliverance through your prayer and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

But if [it is] to live in the flesh, this [is] fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer [I do] not know.

But I am hard pressed {between the two options}, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, {for this is very much better}.

And because I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God,

Think this in yourselves which [was] also in Christ Jesus,

Not that I have already received [this], or [have] already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of [that] for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.

Therefore as many as [are] perfect, {let us hold this opinion}, and if you think anything differently, God will reveal this also to you.

Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us [as] an example.

Because of this also we, from the day we heard about [it], did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled [with] the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight,

to whom God wanted to make known what [is] the glorious wealth of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

I say this in order that no one will deceive you with persuasive speech,

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

whom I have sent to you for this very [reason], in order that you may know {our circumstances} and he may encourage your hearts,

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.

Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us.

And because of this we also give thanks to God constantly, that [when you] received God's word {that you heard} from us, you accepted [it] not [as the] word of men, but as [it] truly is, [the] word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.

[so that] no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For [you] yourselves know that we are appointed for this,

Because of this, I also, [when I] could endure [it] no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

because of this, brothers, we have been comforted because of you in all our distress and affliction through your faith,

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: [that] you abstain from sexual immorality;

Therefore the one who rejects [this] [is] not rejecting man, but God, [who] also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord's coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep.

give thanks in everything; for this [is] the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

The one who calls you [is] faithful, who also will do [this].

I adjure you by the Lord, have this letter read aloud to all the brothers.

And because of this, God sends them {a powerful delusion} so that they will believe the lie,

For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: that if anyone does not want to work, neither should he eat.

But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame.

The greeting [is] by my hand, Paul's, which is {a sign of genuineness} in every letter: {this is how I write}.

knowing this, that the law [is] not given for a righteous [person] but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and totally worldly, for the one who kills his father and the one who kills his mother, for murderers,

But because of this I was shown mercy, in order that in me foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his total patience, for an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.

I am setting before you this instruction, Timothy [my] child, in accordance with the prophecies spoken long ago about you, in order that by them you may fight the good fight,

This [is] good and acceptable before God our Savior,

For to this [end] we labor and suffer reproach, because we have put our hope in [the] living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

Fix [your] attention on yourself and on your teaching. Continue in them, for [by] doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to show profound respect for their own household first, and to pay back recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

Command those [who are] rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all [things] richly for enjoyment,

You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

Because of this, I endure all [things] for the sake of the chosen, in order that they also may obtain salvation [which is] in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Remind [people] of these [things], solemnly urging [them] before the Lord not to dispute about words. [This is] in no way beneficial [and leads to] the ruin of the hearers.

However, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Everyone who names the name of the Lord must abstain from unrighteousness."

But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come,

On account of this, I left you behind in Crete, in order that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town, as I ordered you.

This testimony is true, for which reason reprove them severely, in order that they may be sound in the faith,

For perhaps because of this, he was separated [from you] for a time, in order that you might have him back forever,

But if in anything he has caused you loss or owes [you anything], {charge this to my account}.

I, Paul, write [this] with my [own] hand: I will pay it back, lest I mention to you that {you owe me even your very self besides}.

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; because of this God, your God, has anointed you with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.

Because of this, [it is] all the more necessary [that] we pay attention to the [things] we have heard, lest we drift away.

For this one is considered worthy of greater glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who builds it has greater honor than the house.

[for] forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and I said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they do not know my ways.'

For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh [day] in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,"

and in this [passage] again, '{They will never enter} into my rest.'"

Concerning this {we have much to say and it is difficult to explain}, since you have become sluggish in hearing.

For indeed, [although you] ought to be teachers {by this time}, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and {you have need of} milk, not solid food.

And this we will do, if God permits.

But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham [as he] was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

But see how great this man [was], to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the spoils!

And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case it is testified that he lives.

And by as much as [this was] not without an oath (for these on the one hand {have become priests} without an oath,

For a high priest such as this indeed is fitting for us, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and having become exalted [above] the heavens,

who does not {need every day} like the former high priests to offer up sacrifices for his own sins [and] then for the [sins] of the people, because he did this once for all [when he] offered up himself.

Now [this is] the main point in what has been said: we have a high priest such as this, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

For every high priest is appointed in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices; therefore [it was] necessary [for] this one also to have something that he offers.

For this [is] the covenant that I will decree with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws in their minds and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be {their} God and they will be {my} people.

Now these things having been prepared in this way, the priests enter into the first tent {continually} [as they] accomplish their service,

The Holy Spirit [was] making this clear, [that] the way [into] the holy place [was] not yet revealed, [while] the first tent was still in existence,

But Christ has arrived [as] a high priest of the good [things] to come. Through the greater and more perfect tent not made by hands, that is, not of this creation,

And because of this, he is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that, [because] a death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions [committed] during the first covenant, those who are the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

saying, "This [is] the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you."

And {just as} it is destined for people to die once, and after this, judgment,

But this one, [after he] had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,

"This [is] the covenant that I will decree for them after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

sometimes being publicly exposed both to insults and to afflictions, and sometimes becoming sharers with those who were treated in this way.

For by this the people of old were approved.

Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing [it].

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not [with] groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

And I especially urge [you] to do this, so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Understand [this], my dear brothers: every person must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

because if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer, this one is like someone staring at {his own face} in a mirror,

But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [to do it], not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed {in what he does}.

If anyone thinks he is religious, [although he] does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion [is] worthless.

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep oneself unstained by the world.

This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but [is] earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

From where [are] conflicts and from where [are] quarrels among you? [Is it] not from this, from your pleasures that wage war among your members?

Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry,