Study Desk

For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

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

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

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.

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

since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel

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,

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully

for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body—for the sake of his body, the church—what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God—given to me for you—in order to complete the word of God,

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.

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form,

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

Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.