Study Desk

We give thanks always to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you,

that has come to you, just as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as also among you from the day you heard about and understood the grace of God in truth,

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,

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,

of which I became a minister, according to God's stewardship which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God,

to whom God wanted to make known what is the glorious wealth of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

so that their hearts may be encouraged, united in love and into all the wealth of the full assurance of insight into the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,

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 not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by the ligaments and sinews, grows with the growth of God.

Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

because of which the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God,

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.

praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am a prisoner,

and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only ones who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God from the circumcision, who have been a comfort to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you, greets you, a slave of Christ always struggling on behalf of you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.

We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention constantly in our prayers,