So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:

You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her:

Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.

because you know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

[This letter is from] Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, [and is being sent] to all the saints [i.e., God's holy people] who are at Philippi [Note: This is a town in present-day northeastern Greece, and the first place in Europe where Paul established Christianity], along with the overseers [Note: These men were also called elders, shepherds or pastors] and deacons.

for what you have contributed to the gospel from the very first day down to this moment;

Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose.

[I also want to hear] that you are not being frightened by those who oppose you, which [opposition] is proof that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved, and this will [all] be done by God.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts;

But, of the proof of him, be taking note, - that, as child, with father, with me, hath he done service for the glad-message;

for he came near dying for the Lord's work, and risked his life to make up for what was lacking in the service you have done me.

Circumcision done the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

It is the same to me if I am looked down on or honoured; everywhere and in all things I have the secret of how to be full and how to go without food; how to have wealth and how to be in need.

Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it].

For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you [Note: This probably refers to the great effort Paul was exerting in prayer, preaching, etc.], and for those at Laodicia [Note: This was a town ten miles west of Colosse], and for all those who have never met me in person.

Be careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

in whom also ye have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ;

Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

Let no one lay down rules for you as he pleases, with regard to fasting and the cult of angels, presuming on his visions and inflated by his sensuous notions,

“Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”?

For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God.

things that bring down the anger of God on the sons of disobedience.

Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you:

Indeed, whatever you say or do, let everything be done in dependence on the Lord Jesus, giving thanks in his name to God the Father.

Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them.

Fathers, don't provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.

Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.

Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

that I may publish it in the manner, it should necessarily be done.

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

And when this letter has been made public among you, let the same be done in the church of Laodicea; and see that you have the letter from Laodicea.

[This letter is from] Paul, and Silvanus and Timothy, [and is being sent] to the church of the Thessalonians [Note: This was a town in present-day northeastern Greece] in [fellowship with] God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God's unearned favor and peace be upon you.

For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything,

nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others. While able to bear down as apostles of Christ,

Because we were yearning for you so tenderly, we were willing, not only to share with you God's good news, but to lay down our very lives too for you, all because you were so dearly loved by us.

not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God.

About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

because the Lord himself, in a shout, in the voice of a chief-messenger, and in the trump of God, shall come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first,

You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness,

wherefore comfort and edify one another, as you have hitherto done.

maintain an intire affection for them, upon account of their office, and don't form any brigues against them.

Don't allow any one to return evil for evil, but strive to do all the good you can to one another, and to all the world.

Don’t stifle the Spirit.

Don’t despise prophecies,

taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

who opposes and exalts himself on high against all called God, or object of veneration; so that he himself sits down in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this?

and now, what is keeping down ye have known, for his being revealed in his own time,

for the secret of the lawlessness doth already work, only he who is keeping down now will hinder -- till he may be out of the way,

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray continually for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored [triumphantly celebrated and glorified], just as it was with you;

It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.

For even when we were with you, we laid down this rule for you: "If a man does not choose to work, neither shall he eat."

For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies.

But you, brothers, don't be weary in doing well.

And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

Yet don’t treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.

Knowing this, that the law is laid down not for the just one, but for the lawless and disorderly, for the profane and sinful, for the wicked and unholy, for the patricides and matricides, for manslayers,

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

Though I had said violent words against God, and done cruel acts, causing great trouble: but I was given mercy, because I did it without knowledge, not having faith;

But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.

For those who have done good work as Deacons get for themselves a good position and become free from fear in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

These having laid down to the brethren, thou shalt be a good servant of Jesus Christ, brought up in the words of faith and good doctrine, which thou bast closely followed.

Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Don't neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.

Don't rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;

So lay down the following rules, to prevent any reproach being incurred.

as for young widows, don't admit them: for being impatient of religious restraint, they will be marry'd:

If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don't let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.

Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

The vices of some men are so notorious, they prevent any inquisition: others don't discover themselves till they have been ordain'd.

And those who have believing masters must not look down on [them] because they are brothers, but rather they must serve, because those who benefit by their service are believers and dearly loved.

Those who are eager to be rich get tempted and trapped in many senseless and pernicious propensities that drag men down to ruin and destruction.

who alone has immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable, whom no man has seen, nor can see, tn whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.

So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.

for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],

and has now revealed in the appearance of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has put down death and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel.

And if anyone competes as an athlete [in competitive games], he is not crowned [with the wreath of victory] unless he competes according to the rules.

The farmer who has done the work must have the first share of the fruit.

In which I put up with the hardest conditions, even prison chains, like one who has done a crime; but the word of God is not in chains.

Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don't argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know that they produce quarrels.

He must speak in a gentle tone when correcting the errors of opponents, in the hope that God will at last give them repentance, for them to come to a full knowledge of the truth

For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses,

Alexander the blacksmith has done me a lot of harm: the Lord will pay him back for what he has done (beware of him),