I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.

although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

The things you have learned and received and heard 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 revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

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

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,

These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking 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.

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;

For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;

and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.

When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.

Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

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

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

nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

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

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,

according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.

for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.Grace be with you.

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which 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 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

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

because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,

For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”? And again,“I will be a Father to Him
And He shall be a Son to Me”?

“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.