Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

I am astonished you are hastily shifting like this, deserting Him who called you by Christ's grace and going over to another gospel.

For I would like to clarify for you, brothers, the situation regarding the Gospel that I have preached: It did not originate from man.

And I advanced in Judaism above many like in my race, being more abundantly zealous of paternal traditions.

but on the contrary, seeing that I am intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, like Peter of the circumcision,

But when I saw that they were not being straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas (Peter) in front of everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live [as you have been living] like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how is it that you are [now virtually] forcing the Gentiles to live like Jews [if they want to eat with you]?”

But, if while we were trying to be made right with God through a relationship with Christ, we were discovered to still be sinners [by acting like unsaved Gentiles], does that mean Christ is responsible for our sin? Of course not.

The only thing I would like to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Holy Spirit [into your lives] by [meeting the requirements of] the law of Moses or by hearing [and obeying the message] of faith [in Christ]?

For if the inheritance [of what was promised] is based on [observing] the Law [as these false teachers claim], it is no longer based on a promise; however, God granted it to Abraham [as a gift] by virtue of His promise.

So, the law of Moses became like our "transportation to school," bringing us to [the school of] Christ where we [learn how to be] made right with God by faith [in Christ].

So also we [whether Jews or Gentiles], when we were children (spiritually immature), were kept like slaves under the elementary [man-made religious or philosophical] teachings of the world.

I ask you, brothers, become like me, because I also [have become] like you. You have done me no [wrong]!

And you did not despise or disdain [what was] a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus.

I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

And we, [believing] brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children [not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born] of promise [born miraculously].

The sins of our earthly nature are unmistakable. They are sins like these--unchastity, impurity, indecency,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

and how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe; like the mighty strength

Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].

So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].

Therefore, I tell you and insist on in the Lord not to live any longer like the gentiles live, thinking worthless thoughts.

But you did not learn about Christ like this,

and to be renewed in your mind, by living like men formed anew,

And you should put on the new person who has been [re-] created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Since, therefore, you have cast off what is false, 'you must every one of you speak the truth to your neighbors.' For we are united to one another like the parts of a body.

banish all resentment and indignation, anger, vehemence, detraction, and every thing like malice.

Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children;

Live in a loving way, just like Christ loved us and gave Himself up [to die] for us as an offering and fragrant smelling sacrifice to God.

for you were formerly darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Live like children of light

Be strictly careful then about the life you lead; act like sensible men, not like thoughtless;

that He might present the church to Himself as a splendid bride without a blot or wrinkle or anything like it, but to be consecrated and faultless.

In like manner husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself;

Do not do this only while you're being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah, who are determined to obey God's will.

Stand, therefore,

with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,

Only, do lead a life that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Whether I come and see you or only hear of you in absence, let me know you are standing firm in a common spirit, fighting side by side like one man for the faith of the gospel.

make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God;

but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].

and being found in form like a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient even till death, and the death of the cross.

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.

And even if I am offered like a drink offering, giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy with you all:

In like manner do ye also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

For I have no one like-minded who will care with genuine feeling how ye get on.

But you know his proven character, that like a child with a father he served with me for the gospel.

Welcome him home in the Lord with great joy, and appreciate and honor men like him;

Beware of those that are like dogs, beware of evil doers, beware of the concision.

That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death;

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

For there are many who live, as I have often told you, and tell you now with tears, like enemies of the cross of Christ.

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be like-minded in [fellowship with] the Lord.

But I have everything [I need], and in abundance; I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts that you sent, [which are like] a fragrant-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and very pleasing to God.

To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face.

These things are [only] a shadow of future things, but the body [i.e., the real substance of things] belongs to Christ. [Note: The idea here is that the ritual observances of the Mosaic law were like shadows pointing to the reality of life in Christ].

As you died with Christ to the Elemental spirits of the world, why live as if you still belonged to the world? Why submit to rules and regulations like

Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

You used to behave like them as you lived among them.

and have clothed yourselves with the new self which is being remoulded into full knowledge so as to become like Him who created it.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching -- like those who are strictly people-pleasers -- but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.

Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, salutes you ??a servant of Christ Jesus who is always earnest in prayer for you, that you may stand firm like mature and convinced Christians, whatever be the will of God for you.

Because our good news came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you were completely certain of it; even as you saw what our behaviour to you was like from our love to you.

But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother tenderly caring for her own children.

just as you know how [we treated] each one of you, like a father his own children,

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

May the Lord make your love for one another and for all men wide and full like my love for you,

not [to be used] in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God and are ignorant of His will;

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

Whenever they say "Peace and security," then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of {a pregnant woman}, and they will not possibly escape.

But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief;

So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

May the Lord guide your hearts into a sense of God's love and into a steadfastness like Christ's.

For also when we were with you we enjoined you this, that if any man does not like to work, neither let him eat.

For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

Yet, don't treat him like an enemy, but warn him like a brother.

They would like to be teachers of law although they do not understand the words they use or the matters they insist upon.

with faith and a good conscience. By ignoring their consciences, some people have destroyed their faith like a wrecked ship.

like Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I turned over to Satan, to be taught not to blaspheme.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Do not sharply reprimand an older man, but appeal to him as [you would to] a father, to younger men as brothers,

to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, in all purity [being careful to maintain appropriate relationships].

In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.

I thank God, whom I, like my forefathers, worship with a clear conscience, when I remember you, as I constantly do, in my prayers.

So do not be ashamed to testify to our Lord, and do not be ashamed of a prisoner of the Lord like me; join me in bearing suffering for the gospel by the power of the God

The Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and showed me kindness [comforting and reviving me like fresh air] and he was not ashamed of my chains [for Christ’s sake];

Join me in suffering like a good soldier of the Messiah Jesus.

for that [gospel] I am suffering even to [the point of] wearing chains like a criminal; but the word of God is not chained or imprisoned!

and their teaching will spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus,

If, then, a man has escaped from the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, he will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose.

They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.

Moreover, like as, Jannes and Jambres, withstood Moses, so, these men also, withstand the truth, - men utterly corrupted in their mind, disapproved concerning their faith;

But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.

and those who will live like Christians, shall generally suffer persecution.

I for my part am like a drink-offering which is already being poured out; and the time for my departure is now close at hand.

that the elder women in like manner be in deportment as becoming those who have to say to sacred things, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is right;

The younger men in like manner exhort to be discreet:

For you know that a person like this is corrupt and keeps on sinning, being self-condemned.