Day 346 of 364

^2:1For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ^2:2that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ^2:3in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. ^2:4Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. ^2:5For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. ^2:6As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, ^2:7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. ^2:8Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ. ^2:9For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, ^2:10and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. ^2:11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, ^2:12having 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. ^2:13You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ^2:14wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. ^2:15Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. ^2:16Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, ^2:17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. ^2:18Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ^2:19and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth. ^2:20If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, ^2:21“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” ^2:22(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? ^2:23These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. ^3:1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. ^3:2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. ^3:3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ^3:4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. ^3:5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ^3:6For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. ^3:7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them, ^3:8but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. ^3:9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, ^3:10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, ^3:11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all. ^3:12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; ^3:13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. ^3:14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. ^3:15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. ^3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. ^3:17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ^3:18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ^3:19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them. ^3:20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord. ^3:21Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged. ^3:22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. ^3:23And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ^3:24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ^3:25But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality. ^4:1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. ^4:2Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, ^4:3praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, ^4:4that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. ^4:5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ^4:6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. ^4:7All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. ^4:8I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ^4:9together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here. ^4:10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”), ^4:11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me. ^4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ^4:13For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. ^4:14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. ^4:15Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house. ^4:16When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ^4:17Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” ^4:18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

¹Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, ³remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. ⁴We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, ⁵and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. ⁶You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not say anything. ⁹For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.