Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of [it]. But [I do] one [thing], forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead,

Only to what we have attained, to the same hold on.

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

And [the things] which you have learned and received and heard about and seen in me, practice these [things], and the God of peace will be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last {you have renewed your concern for me}, for whom also you were thinking, but you had no opportunity [to express it].

Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever [circumstances] I am.

I know [how] both {to make do with little} and I know [how] {to have an abundance}. In everything and in all [things] I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both {to have an abundance} and to go without.

Nevertheless you have done well by sharing with me in my affliction.

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.

[since we] heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints,

because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, which you have heard about beforehand in the word of truth, the gospel,

in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins,

but now you have been reconciled by {his physical body} through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on behalf of you, and those in Laodicea, and all those who have not seen my face {in person},

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, live in him,

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit [to them] as [if] living in the world?

which [things] {although they have}, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, {do not have any value} against the indulgence of the flesh.

Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

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,

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].

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

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 Jesus who is called Justus. These [are] the only ones who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God from the circumcision, who have been a comfort to me.

for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts.

{Although we could have insisted on our own importance} as apostles of Christ, yet we became infants in your midst, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

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

Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to [you] in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more.

But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

so that you may live decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.

Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose [again], thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him.

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.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need [of anything] to be written to you,

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

and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, {for not all have the faith}.

And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are both doing and you will do [the things] that we are commanding.

not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves [as] an example to you, so that [you] may imitate us.

from which some have deviated, [and] have turned away into fruitless discussion,

having faith and a good conscience, which some, [because they] have rejected [these], have suffered shipwreck concerning their faith,

among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

But [he] must also have a good testimony from those outside, in order that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.

For those who have served well acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith [that is] in Christ Jesus.

[By] teaching these [things] to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

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.

[thus] incurring condemnation because they have broken their former pledge.

For already some have turned away [and followed] after Satan.

And those who have believing masters must not look down on [them] because they are brothers, but rather they must serve, because those who benefit by their service are believers and dearly loved.

For we have brought nothing into the world, so that neither can we bring anything out.

But [if we] have food and clothing, with these [things] we will be content.

For the love of money is a root of all evil, by which some, [because they] desire [it], have gone astray from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

which some, [by] professing [it], have deviated concerning the faith. Grace [be] with you [all].

{I am thankful} to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience {as my ancestors did}, when {I remember you constantly} in my prayers night and day,

for which reason also I suffer these [things]. But [I am] not ashamed, because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard [what] I have entrusted until that day.

and [the things] which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these [things] to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also.

who have deviated concerning the truth [by] saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they are upsetting the faith of some.

But you have faithfully followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,

But you continue in [the things] which you have learned and are convinced [of], [because you] know from whom you learned [them],

and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able [to make] you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, {because they have an insatiable curiosity},

I have fought the good fight, I have completed the race, I have kept the faith.

Finally, the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

But I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

he saved us, not by deeds of righteousness that we have done, but because of his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

The saying [is] trustworthy, and I want you to insist concerning these [things], so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make haste to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

[because I] hear about your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.

For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Therefore, [although I] have great confidence in Christ to order you [to do what] is proper,

whom I have sent back to you himself, that is, my heart,

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

Yes, brother, I ought to have some benefit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

For to which of the angels did he ever say, "You are my son, today I have begotten you," and again, "I will be {his father}, and he will be {my son}"?

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 we have become partners of Christ, if indeed we hold fast the beginning of [our] commitment steadfast until the end,

{For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us}, just as those also [did], but the message {they heard} did not benefit them, [because they] were not united with those who heard [it] in faith.

For we who have believed enter into rest, just as he has said, "As I swore in my anger, '{They will never enter} into my rest.'" And yet these works have been accomplished from the foundation of the world.

For if Joshua had caused them to rest, he would not have spoken about another day after these [things].

Therefore, [because we] have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all [things] in the same way, without sin.

Thus also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you,"

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.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.

For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit,

and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age,

and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt.

in order that through two unchangeable things, in which [it is] impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before [us],

which we have like an anchor of the soul, both firm and steadfast, and entering into the inside of the curtain,

And indeed those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a commandment to collect a tenth from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, although {they are descended from Abraham}.

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

And indeed many {have become} priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing [in office],

For the law appoints men [as] high priests who have weakness, but the statement of the oath, after the law, [appoints] a Son, who is made perfect {forever}.

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 if that first [covenant] had been faultless, occasion would not have been sought for a second.

since it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world, but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.