in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him.

to him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him [with reference to] all [things], who is the head, Christ,

if indeed you have heard [about] him, and you were taught by him (just as truth is in Jesus),

And masters, do the same [things] to them, giving up threats, knowing that both their Lord and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

because to you has been graciously granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on behalf of him,

Therefore also God exalted him and graciously granted him the name above every name,

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see {my circumstances}.

For indeed he was sick, coming near to death, but God had mercy on him and not [on] him only, but also [on] me, so that I would not have grief upon grief.

Therefore I am sending him with special urgency, in order that [when] you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.

Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and consider such [people] highly honored,

and may be found in him, not having my righteousness [which is] from the law, but [which is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,

so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

who will transform our humble body [to be] conformed to his glorious body, in accordance with the power that enables him even to subject all [things] to himself.

so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, {to please [him] in all respects}, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God,

because all [things] in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all [things] were created through him and for him,

and he himself is before all [things], and in him all [things] are held together,

because he was well pleased [for] all the fullness to dwell in him,

and through him to reconcile all [things] to himself, [by] making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

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

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

firmly rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding with thankfulness.

because in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily,

and you are filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority,

having been buried with him in baptism, in which also you were raised together with [him] through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

And {although you were dead} in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

When Christ, [who is] your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

and have put on the new [man] that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him,

and everything {whatever} you do in word or in deed, giving thanks [for] all [things] in the name of the Lord Jesus to God the Father through him.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions--if he should come to you, welcome him),

For I testify to him that {he is working hard} on behalf of you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

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.

who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live at the same time with him.

in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now we ask you, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to him,

And you know that which restrains [him] now, so that he will be revealed in his own time.

But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame.

And do not consider [him] as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.

But because of this I was shown mercy, in order that in me foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his total patience, for an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to [him] as a father, younger men as brothers,

May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day! And how much he served [me] in Ephesus you know very well.

No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of [everyday] life, so that he may please the one who enlisted [him].

The saying [is] trustworthy: For if we died with [him], we will also live with [him];

if we endure, we will also reign with [him]; if we deny [him], he also will deny us;

and they will come to their senses again [and escape] from the trap of the devil, being held captive by him to [do] his will.

Luke alone is with me. Take along Mark [and] bring [him] with you, because he is useful to me for ministry.

Alexander the metalworker did me much harm; may the Lord pay back to him according to his deeds,

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny [him], [because they] are detestable and disobedient, and unfit for every good deed.

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

If therefore you consider me a partner, receive him as [you would] me.

who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all [things] by the word of power. [When he] had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "And let all [the] angels of God worship him."

But someone testified somewhere, saying, "What is man, that you remember him, or the son of man, that you care for him?

You made him for a short [time] lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor;

you subjected all [things] under his feet. For in subjecting all [things], he left nothing [that was] not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all [things] subjected to him,

For it was fitting for him for whom [are] all [things] and through whom [are] all [things] in bringing many sons to glory to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.

And again, "I will trust in him." And again, "Behold, I and the children God has given me."

who was faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses also [was] in his household.

And no creature is hidden in the sight of him, but all [things are] naked and laid bare to the eyes of him to whom {we must give our account}.

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,"

who in the days of his flesh offered up both prayers and supplications, with loud crying and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard as a result of his reverence.

and being perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him,

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.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham [as he] was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

but he with an oath by the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You [are] a priest {forever}'"),

Therefore also he is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, [because he] always lives in order to intercede on their behalf.

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.

thus also Christ, having been offered once in order to bear the sins of many, will appear for the second time without reference to sin to those who eagerly await him for salvation.

But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul is not well pleased with him."

By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, [because] God approved [him] for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, [although he] is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved {as having been pleasing} to God.

Now without faith [it is] impossible to please [him], for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.

having reasoned that God [was] able even to raise [him] from the dead, from which he received him back also as a symbol.

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And have you completely forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons? "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, or give up [when you] are corrected by him.

So we must go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach.

Therefore through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise {continually} to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

equip you with every good [thing] to do his will, carrying out in us [what is] pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] the glory {forever}. Amen.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for [it] from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask for [it] in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed about.

Blessed [is] the person who endures testing, because [when he] is approved he will receive the crown of life that he has promised to those who love him.

Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

What [is] the benefit, my brothers, if someone says [that he] has faith but does not have works? That faith [is] not able to save him, [is it]?

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

Who [is] wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.

Therefore, to the one who knows to do good and does not do [it], to him it is sin.

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the elders of the church and they should pray over him, anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins {he will be forgiven}.

My brothers, if anyone among you should wander away from the truth and someone turns him back,

whom, [although you] have not seen, you love; in whom now you believe, [although you] do not see [him], and you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

And if you call on [him] [as] Father who judges impartially according to each one's work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence,

who through him [are] believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

For it stands in scripture, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen [and] precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame."

or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.

like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you have become [when you] do good and are not frightened with respect to any terror.

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.

casting all your cares on him, because {he cares} for you.

{Resist him}, steadfast in your faith, [because you] know the same [kinds] of sufferings are being accomplished by your community of believers in the world.

To him [be] the power {forever and ever}. Amen.