For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him,

Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,

by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.

But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need.

In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him -- and not to him only, but also to me -- so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness -- a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness.

Not that I have already attained this -- that is, I have not already been perfected -- but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.

For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need.

I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.

For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent -- a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.

My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

In him you also were circumcised -- not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days --

He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"

Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,

Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices

Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching -- like those who are strictly people-pleasers -- but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.

Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,

in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything.

For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you -- it has not proven to be purposeless.

For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.

with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God's message, which is at work among you who believe.

But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person.

For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?

We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.

not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God.

For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.

Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.

For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.

Now when they are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.

So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do not extinguish the Spirit.

Do not treat prophecies with contempt.

With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.

and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith.

But we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition they received from us.

For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,

and we did not eat anyone's food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.

It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: "If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat."

For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.

But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right.

But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed.

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.

realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle -- I am telling the truth; I am not lying -- and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing,

But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.

not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.

But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?

He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.

And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil's trap.

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain,

Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you.

Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,

Honor widows who are truly in need.

But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.

But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry,

And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.

If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.

For the scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The worker deserves his pay."

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

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.