Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

But, so that you people also can know how I am doing and what is going on with me, Tychicus, the dearly loved brother and faithful minister in [the service of] the Lord, will tell you everything.

I have sent [i.e., am sending] him to you for this very purpose, so you can know our situation and that he can encourage your hearts.

And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight,

so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,

Now I would have you know, brethren, that what I have gone through has turned out to the furtherance of the Good News rather than otherwise.

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.

So it is my keen expectation and hope that I shall never feel ashamed, but that with fearless courage, now as hither to, Christ may be magnified in my body, whether by my life or by my death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

If, however, it is to be life here and I am to go on living, this will mean useful and productive service for me; so I do not know which to choose [if I am given that choice].

so that [what] you can be proud of may increase in Christ Jesus because of me through my return again to you.

If then I can appeal to you as the followers of Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love and any common sharing of the Spirit, or if you have any tender-heartedness and compassion, make my joy complete by being of one mind,

Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I can be encouraged when I learn of your condition.

Him, indeed, therefore, am I hoping to send - as soon as I can look off from the things that concern myself, - forthwith.

And I can assure you that his illness very nearly proved fatal. But God had pity on him, and not on him only but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.

although I could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he can place confidence in the flesh, I have more reason to think so.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,

and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

to see if I too can attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have secured it yet, or already reached perfection, but I am pressing on to see if I can capture it, because I have been captured by Jesus Christ.

I press on to the goal, to gain the prize of that heavenward Call which God gave me through Christ Jesus.

Then God's peace, which goes far beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your hearts and minds in union with the Messiah Jesus.

Finally, my brethren, whatever has the character of truth, of dignity, of justice, of chastity, whatever can procure you esteem and reputation, in a word, if there be any thing virtuous or praise-worthy, let that be the object of your enquiry.

I can both cast down myself, I can also exceed. Everywhere, and in all things I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry: to have plenty, and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Now I can find joy amid my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my own person whatever is lacking in Christ's afflictions on behalf of His Body, the Church.

that their hearts may be comforted, they being firmly united in love in order to gain all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may acknowledge the mystery of God, even the Father, and of Christ,

So no one can call you to account for what you eat or drink, or do about annual or monthly feasts or Sabbaths.

Do not allow anyone, who delights in acting humble [i.e., living an ascetic life] and who worships angels, to rob you of your reward [in heaven]. [Note: This "angel worship" could mean holding angels in high regard because of their role as God's messengers, or the claim that God can be approached only through angelic intermediaries]. He places great importance on what he [claims to] see [i.e., visions], being inflated with pride by his fleshly mind for no [good] reason.

a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] barbarian or Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].

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 slaves should obey your earthly masters in everything, [and] do not do it just when they are looking [at you], or to gain their favor, but do it with a sincere heart, out of reverence for the Lord.

At the same time, pray for us also, that God will open up a door [of opportunity] for [proclaiming] the message, so we can tell about the [previously] hidden secret of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned.

until I can make clear to the authorities why I cannot help telling it.

I have sent [i.e., am sending] him to you for this very purpose, so that you can know our situation and that he can encourage your hearts.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.

For I can bear witness to the deep interest he takes in you and in the brethren at Laodicea and in those at Hierapolis.

And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”

for we can never forget before our God and Father your energetic faith, your loving service, and your unwavering expectation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

For as you well know, we never came with words of flattery nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness—

You can testify, [just] as God can, how holy, righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.

as they try to keep us from telling the gentiles how they can be saved. As a result, they are constantly adding to the number of sins they have committed. However, wrath has overtaken them at last!

Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a little while (out of sight, not out of mind), we were the more eager to see you. We had a keen longing for you.

for what can be our hope, or joy, what can crown our pretensions, unless it be you, when we shall appear before the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

For now we can go on living, as long as you continue to stand firm in the Lord.

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

Night and day we pray very earnestly that we will be able to see you in person, so we can provide what is lacking in your faith.

that he go not beyond and gain an advantage over his brother in the matter; because the Lord is an avenger of all these things, as we also told you before, and solemnly testified.

For we speak this to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of the Lord, can not anticipate those who are asleep,

When they may say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman in gestation; and they can not escape.

but we must be sober, we who belong to the day, clad in faith and love as our coat of mail, with the hope of salvation as our helmet ??9 for God destined us not for Wrath but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

For God has not destined us for his wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Make sure that no one does anything wrong to someone who wrongs him, but always look for something good you can do for one another and for everyone.

But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.

He who calls you can be relied on, and he will do this.

Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time.

For the mystery of lawlessness already works; only there is he who restrains now until he be gone,

It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

from which certain ones having deflected have gone out into empty talking,

I obtained mercy, for the purpose of furnishing Christ Jesus with the chief illustration of his utter patience; I was to be the typical instance of all who were to believe in him and gain eternal life.

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

[Offer them] for kings and for all people in prominent [governmental] positions, so that we can live a peaceful and quiet life in all reverence [toward God] and respectability [toward people].

not a drunkard, not contentious, not greedy of ill gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous,

managing his own house well, and keeping his children under control and perfectly respectful??5 for if a man does not know how to conduct his own household, how can he look after a church of God?

For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?

Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,

And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.

For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

No one can deny the profundity of the divine truth of our religion! "He was revealed in flesh, He was vindicated by the Spirit, He was seen by the angels, He was proclaimed among the heathen, He was believed in throughout the world, He was taken up into glory."

Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

Command these things also, so that they [i.e., the widows and their families] can live above reproach.

For already some of them have gone astray, following Satan.

If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can't be hidden.

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

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.

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can keep their hold on the life that is real.

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

I thank God, whom I worship [or, "serve"] with a clear conscience, as my forefathers did, that I can remember you [i.e., your commitment] continually in my prayers night and day.

recalling your tears and longing to see you so that I can be filled with joy.

the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that [great] day. You know very well how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus [you know better than I can tell you].

No soldier on active duty, gets himself involved in the affairs of civilian life, so that he can please the person who enlisted him [i.e., his commanding officer].

the labourer must work before he can obtain his reward.

So, I endure everything for the elect's sake [i.e., God's people], so that they can obtain the salvation which comes through Christ Jesus, with [its] never ending splendor.

This saying is trustworthy: In dying with the Messiah, true life we gain.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful. He can't deny himself."

men who as to the truth have gone astray, saying that the resurrection has taken place already; and overthrow the faith of some.

and one that can suffer the evil in meekness, and can inform them that resist - if that God at any time will give them repentance for to know the truth -

But you have followed [Note: These words mean "to observe closely, have a keen interest in"] my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,

and that from a child you have known the sacred Scriptures, which can make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I have gone through the glorious contest; I have run the race; I have guarded the faith.

for Demas has forsaken me, having loved the present age, and is gone to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.