Colossians 4 Cross References - WEB

¹ Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. ² Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, ³ praying 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 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. ⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. ⁷ All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here. ¹⁰ Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”), ¹¹ and 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. ¹² Epaphras, 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. ¹³ For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. ¹⁶ When 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. ¹⁷ Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” ¹⁸ The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

¹³ “‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. “‘The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.

³⁹ “‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave. ⁴⁰ As a hired servant, and as a temporary resident, he shall be with you; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee. ⁴¹ Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers. ⁴² For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. ⁴³ You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God.

¹² If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. ¹³ When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty. ¹⁴ You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press. As Yahweh your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. ¹⁵ You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this thing today.

¹⁴ You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the foreigners who are in your land within your gates. ¹⁵ In his day you shall give him his wages, neither shall the sun go down on it; for he is poor and sets his heart on it; lest he cry against you to Yahweh, and it be sin to you.

⁵ Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.” ⁶ I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. ⁷ Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them. ⁸ I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say. ⁹ Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? ¹⁰ I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury. ¹¹ Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.” ¹² Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. ¹³ Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even may he be shaken out and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.

¹¹ They make oil within the walls of these men. They tread wine presses, and suffer thirst. ¹² From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn’t regard the folly.

¹³ “If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me, ¹⁴ what then will I do when God rises up? When he visits, what will I answer him? ¹⁵ Didn’t he who made me in the womb make him? Didn’t one fashion us in the womb?

⁸ If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them.

³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you don’t see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you don’t notice?’ “Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and oppress all your laborers.

⁵ Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh? ⁶ “Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? ⁷ Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ Then your light will break out as the morning, and your healing will appear quickly; then your righteousness shall go before you, and Yahweh’s glory will be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly;

⁹ that every man should let his male servant, and every man his female servant, who is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that no one should make bondservants of them, of a Jew his brother. ¹⁰ All the princes and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant, that everyone should let his male servant, and everyone his female servant go free, that no one should make bondservants of them any more. They obeyed and let them go; ¹¹ but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids. ¹² Therefore Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, ¹³ “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying, ¹⁴ At the end of seven years, every man of you shall release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years. You shall let him go free from you; but your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear. ¹⁵ You had now turned, and had done that which is right in my eyes, in every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor. You had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name; ¹⁶ but you turned and profaned my name, and every man caused his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their pleasure, to return. You brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids.’” ¹⁷ Therefore Yahweh says: “You have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim to you a liberty,” says Yahweh, “to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine. I will make you be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth.

⁵ I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don’t fear me,” says Yahweh of Armies.

⁸ But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. ⁹ Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

⁴⁸ But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, ⁵⁰ the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, ⁵¹ and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

¹ He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions. ² He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ ³ “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’ ⁵ Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’ ⁶ He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ ⁷ Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ ⁸ “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light. ⁹ I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents. ¹⁰ He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. ¹¹ If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ¹² If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? ¹³ No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”

¹⁵ “When he had come back again, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.

⁸ knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free. ⁹ You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, ¹⁶ above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: ¹⁹ on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

¹³ For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

⁴ Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Armies.

¹⁴ These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful.”

¹⁶ He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

²³ Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

⁴ Yes, you do away with fear, and hinder devotion before God.

⁸ For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? ⁹ Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him? ¹⁰ Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?

¹⁶ As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. ¹⁷ Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

⁴ In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.

⁴¹ Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³³ Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.

¹ He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

³⁶ Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

¹² rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;

¹⁸ with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:

⁶ In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

⁹ 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,

⁷ rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

¹⁷ Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

¹² Epaphras, 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.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

⁷ But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.

¹¹ He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

²⁷ When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

³⁰ Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, ³¹ that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.

¹ So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.

⁹ for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

¹² Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,

¹ For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,

¹ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

⁷ It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

¹³ so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ, ¹⁴ and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

¹⁹ For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

²⁶ the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,

² that 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, ³ in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

²⁵ Brothers, pray for us.

¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you, ² and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.

¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,

⁹ in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.

²² Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. ¹⁹ I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.

⁷ “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things: ⁸ “I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name.

²⁶ Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.

²⁹ Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,

²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

⁴ My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

¹⁴ Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved and in those who perish: ¹⁶ to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

¹² Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

¹ Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint. ² But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, ⁴ in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

¹² So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

¹¹ He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,

¹⁹ For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.

¹² For what do I have to do with also judging those who are outside? Don’t you judge those who are within? ¹³ But those who are outside, God judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.”

¹⁹ However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language. ²⁰ Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. ²¹ In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even hear me that way, says the Lord.” ²² Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe. ²³ If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. ²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

¹⁵ Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

¹⁶ Let 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.

¹² that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

⁷ Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

¹ In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word,

¹³ Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt. You shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

⁶ These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; ⁷ and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

¹⁹ You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

²⁰ He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” Then they brought it to him. ²¹ He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or barren wasteland.’” ²² So the waters were healed to this day, according to Elisha’s word which he spoke.

²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

⁹ I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know. ¹⁰ I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.

² You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.

¹⁶ Come and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure. ¹⁶ I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone. ¹⁷ God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works. ¹⁸ Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.

²³ My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you! ²⁴ My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.

³ Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. ⁴ We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.

² Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.

¹³ With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.

⁴⁶ I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.

²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.

²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction. ²² Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly. ²³ The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. ²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

¹⁷ Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching. ¹⁸ For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ¹² As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

⁴ Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

¹⁶ Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name. ¹⁷ They shall be mine,” says Yahweh of Armies, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. ¹⁸ Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.

³⁴ You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.

⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

²² All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

²⁰ They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. ²¹ They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. ²² Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” ²³ But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me? ²⁴ Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” ²⁵ He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²⁶ They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent. ²⁷ Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. ²⁸ They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother. ²⁹ There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. ³⁰ The second took her as wife, and he died childless. ³¹ The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. ³² Afterward the woman also died. ³³ Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.” ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ³⁶ For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. ³⁷ But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ ³⁸ Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.” ³⁹ Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.” ⁴⁰ They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.

²⁹ Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,

⁴ These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

¹ So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries. ² Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self. ⁴ For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts. ²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁵ But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

⁹ together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

¹² But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

¹² When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there.

¹ “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

² to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.

¹⁷ Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

⁷ so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

¹⁸ I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.

²⁸ I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

² that 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,

¹¹ As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,

² and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,

⁵ For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

¹¹ Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.

¹⁴ We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.

¹⁷ comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

⁷ All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.

¹⁰ I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, ¹¹ who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, ¹³ whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. ¹⁴ But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. ¹⁷ If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. ¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

³⁶ Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

¹² Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

⁵ When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their attendant.

¹³ Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

³⁷ Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. ³⁸ But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. ³⁹ Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

²⁹ The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.

² Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

² that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.

⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.

²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. ²² I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. ²³ Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother.

¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

²⁴ as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Mark, my son.

⁸ Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. ⁹ Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

⁴⁵ They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

² When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,

¹² He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

⁵ Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him? ⁶ I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.

¹ Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain,

⁶ Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

⁷ but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised— ⁸ for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles—

¹¹ Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands),

³ Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁷ for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

¹⁰ For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

⁴⁴ Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

²⁶ If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

¹⁴ I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.

³⁰ Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,

⁶ We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.

²⁰ Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

¹¹ Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

¹⁹ My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—

¹² Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ 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, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.

⁷ even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf,

²² yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,

²⁸ We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;

¹ For 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 that 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, ³ in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. ⁴ Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. ⁵ For 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. ⁶ As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. ⁸ 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. ⁹ For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. ¹¹ In 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, ¹² having 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. ¹³ You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. ¹⁶ Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, ¹⁷ which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. ¹⁸ Let 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, ¹⁹ and 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. ²⁰ If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, ²¹ “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” ²² (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? ²³ These 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.

¹ Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. ² Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,

²³ May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

⁷ He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

¹⁴ But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

¹⁶ Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,

² For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

³ For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

¹ For 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;

¹⁵ Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. ¹⁶ When 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.

¹¹ saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

¹⁴ “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these things: ¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.

¹⁰ for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

⁵ Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ.

² to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

²⁷ I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.

¹⁴ If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

³ Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, ‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” Aaron held his peace.

⁵ “You shall perform the duty of the sanctuary and the duty of the altar, that there be no more wrath on the children of Israel.

¹¹ My sons, don’t be negligent now; for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers, and burn incense.”

²³ They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. ²⁴ “‘“In a controversy they shall stand to judge. They shall judge it according to my ordinances. They shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts. They shall make my Sabbaths holy.

¹⁷ For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry.

²³ When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

²⁸ Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

¹ So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries. ² Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

⁶ If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

¹⁴ 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.

¹⁶ Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. ¹³ I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

²⁰ Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,

⁶ For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

² The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

¹ I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: ² preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, ⁴ and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. ⁵ But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.

²⁰ And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

²³ Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother.

²¹ This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand.

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

³ praying 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,

¹⁷ The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write.

²¹ which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

⁸ Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,

²² The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

¹⁵ All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

³ Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.