Being given circumcision on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in relation to the law, a Pharisee:

according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law being blameless.

Any righteousness that I have being, not the righteousness that results from Law, but the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ--the righteousness which is derived from God and is founded on faith.

to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the participation of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

For there are many whom I have often described to you, and I now even with tears describe them, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ.

whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.

So, my dearly loved brothers, those whom I long to see, [who are] my [reason for] being glad and [who are] my crown of victory; stand firm in [your devotion to] the Lord, my dear ones.

Stop being worried about anything, but always, in prayer and entreaty, and with thanksgiving, keep on making your wants known to God.

And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.

I am not saying this because of being in need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.

[and is being sent] to the saints [i.e., God's holy people] and faithful brothers in [fellowship with] Christ [who live] at Colosse. May you have unearned favor and peace from God our Father.

because of the hope being reserved for you in the heavens, which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the good-news

being present for you, just as also in all the world. And it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as also among you from the day that ye heard and recognized the grace of God in truth.

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

being strengthened in every ability, according to the dominion of his glory, for all perseverance and longsuffering with joy.

who is the image of the invisible God, being the first begotten of all creation,

For all things were created by Him; things in heaven and on earth; things visible and invisible, whether they are thrones [i.e., reigning beings], or lords, or rulers or authorities. [Note: "Authorities" here may refer to angelic beings]. All things were created by Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and in him all things have being.

And you, being formerly alienated and hostile in mind, in works, in things evil. But now he has reconciled

[and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.

He was pleased to make known to these people the wealth of His splendor among the Gentiles; this hidden secret, which is Christ among you, [is] the hope of being honored [i.e., in heaven].

So that their hearts may be comforted, and that being joined together in love, they may come to the full wealth of the certain knowledge of the secret of God, even Christ,

I say this to prevent your being misled by any one's plausible sophistry.

having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.

For in him all the wealth of God's being has a living form,

In [fellowship with] Him you people were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human beings, but performed by Christ, consisting of the removal of the body of [sinful] flesh.

being buried with him in the baptism, in which also ye rose with him through the faith of the working of God, who did raise him out of the dead.

And you, being dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you he made alive together with him, having forgiven us all the transgressions,

Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind,

and not holding to the head, from whom all the body, being supplied and held together through the connections and bonds, develops its growth from God.

"Hands off this!" "Taste not that!" "Touch not this!" ??22 referring to things that perish by being used? These rules are determined by human precepts and tenets;

(these things all perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men.

These things seem to have a sort of wisdom in self-ordered worship and making little of oneself, and being cruel to the body, not honouring it by giving it its natural use.

and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self—

Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you:

Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts, for you were called to this state as members of one body. And practice being thankful.

You husbands must continue to love your wives and stop being harsh with them.

Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.

Being certain that the Lord will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the Lord Christ.

Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Your discourse being always with benefit, with salt, seasoned, - that ye may know how it behoveth you, unto each one, to be making answer.

and Jesus who is called Justus, these being the only fellow workmen from the circumcision for the kingdom of God, men who became a comfort to me.

Epaphras greets you, he being of you, a servant of Christ, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

This greeting [is being written] by me, Paul, in my own handwriting. Remember my imprisonment. [Note: This was probably a request for them to pray for him]. May God's favor be with you.

[This letter is from] Paul, and Silvanus and Timothy, [and is being sent] to the church of the Thessalonians [Note: This was a town in present-day northeastern Greece] in [fellowship with] God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God's unearned favor and peace be upon you.

Being conscious, my brothers, dear to God, that you have been marked out by God's purpose;

since the gospel we preach'd, did not consist only of words, but was fully confirm'd by miracles and gifts of the holy spirit, you yourselves being witnesses, what we did among you and for you.

But also suffering before, being insulted in Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much agony.

we preach the gospel just as God thought fit to intrust it with us, not being studious to please men, but God, who approves our sincerity.

nor seeking of men glory, neither from you nor from others, being able to be burdensome, as Christ's apostles.

Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.

And because of this we also thank God continually that, when you people received the message of God, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as a message from [mere] human beings, but as it truly is, the message from God, which is at work in you believers.

For ye, brethren, were imitators of the churches of God being in Judea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things by your own race, as they also by the Jews:

who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, also driving us out and they do not please God and being contrary to all men,

But we, my brothers, being away from you for a short time, in body but not in heart, had all the more desire to see your face;

Therefore, when we could no longer endure our separation [from you], we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens,

to prevent anyone being disturbed by these troubles. (Troubles are our lot, you know that well;

not being able therefore to wait any longer, I sent Timothy to know the state of your faith, for fear the tempter should have seduc'd you, and all our labour have prov'd abortive.

But now Timothy being come back to us from you, and having brought us good tidings concerning your faith and love, and that ye have always a good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we indeed do to see you;

And that you may take pride in being quiet and doing your business, working with your hands as we gave you orders;

so that you will behave properly toward outsiders [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside world], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing [be self-supporting].

For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we the living being left at the arrival of the Lord shall not get beforehand with them having slept.

Then we the living being left shall be snatched up together with them in the clouds, to the meeting of the Lord in the air: and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Now as to the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.

For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night.

But we, being of the day, should be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and a helmet, the hope of salvation.

And we ask you, brethren, to know those being fatigued among you, and set over you in the Lord, and reminding you;

May God Himself, who gave you peace, consecrate your whole being. May you be safely kept, spirit, soul, and body, so as to be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back.

[This letter is from] Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, [and is being sent] to the church of the Thessalonians in [fellowship with] God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a proof of God's righteous judgment, His aim being to let you show yourselves worthy of His kingdom, for which you are suffering; since,

and to give rest to you who are being crushed with sorrows, along with us, at the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, with His mighty angels

They will pay the penalty of never ending destruction, being banished from the presence of the Lord and from His mighty splendor.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers,

the adversary of every being that is called a god or an object of worship, and so overbearing toward them as to enter God's sanctuary and take his seat there, proclaiming himself to be God??5 do you not remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you this?

Do ye not remember that, being yet with you, these things I said to you?

And you know what restrains him now [from being revealed]; it is so that he will be revealed at his own [appointed] time.

and in all deceitfulness of the unrighteousness in those perishing, because the love of the truth they did not receive for their being saved,

But it is right for us to give praise to God at all times for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because it was the purpose of God from the first that you might have salvation, being made holy by the Spirit and by faith in what is true:

that we did not eat any man's bread for nothing: but with toil and fatigue work'd night and day to avoid being chargeable to any of you:

For we hear of some who walk among you disorderly, not working at all, but being busybodies.

Do not regard him as an enemy, but keep admonishing him as a [believing] brother.

I Paul salute you, this salutation being my own hand writing, which is the distinguishing mark of all my letters, so I write.

[It is being sent] to Timothy, my true son in the faith [i.e., in the realm of Christianity, not in a physical sense]. May you have unearned favor, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

it being plain, that the law was not design'd against the just, but against the lawless and refractory, against irreligion and vice, impiety and prophaneness, parricide and man-slaughter,

the man who was formerly blasphemous, and a persecutor, and an aggressor. But I obtained mercy because I did it being ignorant in unbelief.

But for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, as a pattern to those being about to believe on Him to life everlasting.

This is the charge which I entrust to you, my son Timothy, in accordance with the inspired instructions concerning you which were given me long ago, that being equipped with them as your armour you may be continually fighting the good fight,

Keeping faith, and being conscious of well-doing; for some, by not doing these things, have gone wrong in relation to the faith:

For kings, and all them being in eminence; that we may lead a gentle and quiet life, in all devotion and gravity.

For [there is] one God and one mediator between God and human beings, the man Christ Jesus,

whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle - I tell the truth in Christ and lie not - being the teacher of the gentiles in faith and verity.

Therefore, I want the men to pray in every place [i.e., in all worship assemblies. See verses 1-2], lifting up holy hands without being angry or argumentative. [Note: This passage stresses both the physical and spiritual aspects of prayer].

A woman should learn [the Scriptures] in quietness, being fully submissive.

And Adam was not taken by deceit, but the woman, being tricked, became a wrongdoer.

Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

ruling well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity,??5 but if any one knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God???6 not a novice, lest being inflated with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Not a new convert, lest, being beclouded, into the sentence of the adversary, he fall;

And let these also first be proven, then being blameless, let them serve as deacons.