But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him

to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;

in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;

which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,

He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the church,

which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

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

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

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

but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;

if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,

Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

I have sent him all the more eagerly, therefore, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and that I may be less anxious.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor,

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

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

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers; all things have been created by him and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;

and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.

yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him,

As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,

rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

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

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

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

Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts,

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"),

For I testify about him, that he has worked hard for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.

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

who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

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

Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."

If any man does not obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

Do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

And I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service;

However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;

For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.

(the Lord grant to him to find the Lord's mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.

No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

This saying is faithful: "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.

in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works,

holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,

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

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

For to which of the angels did he say at any time, "You are my Son. Today have I become your father?" and again, "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?"

Again, when he brings in the firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of God worship him."

But one has somewhere testified, saying, "What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.

You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not see all things subjected to him, yet.

But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Again, "I will put my trust in him." Again, "Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me."

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.

There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

So also Christ did not glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your father."

In the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,

About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.

and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, "The Lord swore and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"

Therefore he is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.

so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.

For we know him who said, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay." Again, "The Lord will judge his people."

But my righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."

By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he would not see death, and he was not found, because God took him away. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.